We recently read an article in Stylist magazine about Quick Quitting; 4 women who chose to walk out of their jobs shortly before the one year mark. And ever since we’ve been reflecting on the changing professional environment and how we now live in an era where it’s arguably better to follow your gut and quit quickly if you just don’t think things are working out in your role as an accountant.
Always applying our advice and counselling to our niche area of public practice recruitment for accountants, we’ve taken a moment to consider the issues around quick quitting as well as the instances when it might be the best way forward.
How quick does the decision to leave have to be, to qualify for a quick quit?
We’d describe any decision to leave a new role within the first year as a quick quit. In our professional opinion, unless there are serious issues in your new organisation or you feel vulnerable, bullied or your position is just untenable we would always advise candidates to give every new role at least six months. A terrible induction period could just be an unfortunate instance of timing. Sometimes key players are going through something challenging that you might not be aware of and deciding to walk away after just the briefest snapshot of time could be a wasted opportunity.
Doesn’t hopping around from job to job create a big red flag for future employers?
Gone are the days where you would reasonably expect to work for the same firm from the start of your career right to the very end. It still happens, but rarely, and there are many valid opinions that suggest this way of working isn’t healthy for employees or businesses.
So modern employers will relish the opportunity to work with candidates who have a wealth of experience and have the perspective that working across multiple firms can offer.
Having said that, evidence of repetitive quick quitting will be a real problem for hiring managers so make sure this isn’t a pattern you’re developing.
When I’ve given a new role a fair chance, how can I decide whether to act on my instinct and quick quit or whether I should stick it out?
There’s a few questions to ask yourself here:
1. Imagine that you’ve resigned today. You go home, make a cup of tea and sit down. How do you feel? Elated and excited for your next step? Hugely relieved – even if you don’t find something else straight away you just couldn’t sustain that any longer? Or regretful that you may have thrown a big opportunity away due to a problem you could have tried harder to resolve?
2. Financially, how well prepared are you to take some time to find the next role – and to make sure it’s the right one this time? If you have a slush fund built up you’ll find it much less stressful to make that decision to quick quit and prospective employers will love the idea that you’re ready to start straight away.
3. How many of the circumstances around your decision to quit can you reasonable expect to change in a new role? Is it definitely the role that’s not working or is it an issue of your mindset or your life direction that you need to pay attention to? Would some counselling or coaching be a good idea to help you get to the bottom of exactly what it is that’s making your feet so itchy!?
Ultimately, we all make mistakes and as long as you’re not a serial quick quitter, there is no shame in deciding that you made the wrong choice.
And for accountants who do decide that it’s time to move on, the great news is that there opportunities a plenty, up and down the UK and a quick registration call with the team at Public Practice Recruitment Ltd will ensure that you’re the first one to hear about the right roles for you. Or you can upload your CV directly here and we’ll be in touch.
Ad if you decide that you’d like to scan the recruitment horizon before you quick quit, just to get an idea of which firms might be keen to meet you, you can rest assured that a quick career counselling call with our team is always 100% confidential and there is never any obligation to take it further.
Ultimately, if you’re unhappy in your job, our message to you is don’t despair – the future is bright and we can help you find it.
