Quit or Stay? Do This Career Check-in Before You Decide

Do you stay, or do you quit? Welcome to Part 2!

If you read Part 1, you know that if you're uncertain about your current role or future career direction, you are among friends!

Maybe you’re questioning whether your job is still the right fit, or you don’t feel as engaged as you once did.

Are you tempted to quit? To do a 180 into a new career path?

Career decisions can put us at a crossroads, unsure of which path to take. The tendency to make snap judgments based on immediate frustrations or surface-level factors is strong.

Resist thinking your job is solely about the work itself! It's about so much more: how it fits into your long-term vision for your life, where it challenges and supports you, and how it prepares you for your future–the one you want.

Choose to be Intentional!

Many professionals haven't taken the time to define these crucial elements clearly. If you're unsure what you truly need to thrive in your career, how can you assess whether your current role meets those needs? How can you make the next best choice for you?

Practice 'as if'

Start by considering these areas as if your current job/career is a completely new opportunity.

The Six Key Career Areas to Evaluate

🔸 Alignment with Personal Vision, Purpose, & Professional Calling

🔸 Development & Skill Mastery

🔸 Work Satisfaction & Engagement

🔸 Workplace Community & Shared Principles

🔸 Compensation & Benefits

🔸 Trajectory & Tomorrow's Possibilities

Each area requires deep reflection and honest self-assessment.

What Your Career Check-in Answers Reveal

💎 If you feel confident in your answers and see a clear path forward, that's great!

💎 If some questions felt difficult to answer, it might indicate that you need help identifying what's truly important to you.

💎 Did you answer "I don't know?" You could be dealing with an internal obstacle.

Meet Sydney! (I used AI to create a headshot for this client's confidentiality)

A sample of what Sydney's answers revealed:

Missing: a clear enough vision of how they wanted to express themselves and contribute to the world through their work.
They didn't feel they were developing the skills they were most interested in growing.
They felt disconnected from their current company and industry.

Sydney also said, "I've never thought about my work this way before!" Many people haven't been coached on thoroughly and strategically evaluating their careers or jobs.

Sydney's first step was to craft their answer to #1; essentially laying the foundation for all the next choices. Here's what they said:

I realized there was more fundamental work to be done; I needed more clarity on what I was looking to do next and why. At first, I resisted getting help because I thought I should and could do it on my own. Ultimately, choosing to work with Judy is the gift that keeps on giving, even now while I'm launched into my new career.

Assessing your current situation isn't just about listing pros and cons. It's about understanding your unique priorities, values, and goals. To determine whether you need to stay or go, it helps to assign different weights to what you uncover.

UP NEXT! What are the signs it's time to walk? Are you ignoring them?

Could a comprehensive career check-in be an eye-opening next step for you?

Judy Garfinkel helps you clarify "what's next." Her expertise in building confidence and resilience supports personal development and the ability to navigate career and work transitions, especially now! She is a certified Trauma-Informed Coach. Judy also crafts bespoke resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and bios that open doors for her clients and land jobs. Judy is a Past President of the International Coaching Federation - Connecticut Chapter, where she led 250+ member coaches. You can reach her at judy@moveintochange.com.

MOVE INTO CHANGE