A man looking tired and fed up due to stress. Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Are you currently demotivated? Are you working 60 hours plus a week doing something you dislike? Are you looking for a career change?

If so, you're in the same position I was in just over a year ago.

Because staying in a career you dislike can make you feel:

  • depressed

  • unmotivated

  • lost in yourself

Before you quit, there are a few things you need to consider.

1. Ask yourself why you want to quit

A man pointing his fingers. Photo by Antonio Araujo on Unsplash

There may be many reasons why you want to quit a job you dislike. It could be due to financial, social, health, or character reasons. Either way, you are justified to feel the way you feel, and walking away may be the best decision.

If you are planning to quit, ask yourself these questions:

  • Why do you dislike the job?

  • Why do you feel lost in this job?

  • Why does the job not align with your values?

Your responses could be varied. But in general, you should respond using the following starter sentences.

  • I dislike the job because of....

  • I feel lost because of...

  • The job doesn't align with my values because of....

When I decided to leave teaching, I reflected on my reasons and what my next steps could be for the future.

I left teaching due to burnout and I decided to work in learning design to combine my passion for education and design.

2. Prepare your exit plan

When I quit my job, I had a rough idea of what I wanted to transition into. I wanted to move into the world of educational technology. But for many others, they simply quit with no plan.

Image of Jackie Chan with text, Are you serious?

If you're ready to embark upon a new line of work, create a solid exit plan that includes the following:

  • What field you'd like to go into

  • How long you plan to be out of work

  • What certifications or training you'll need to complete

  • Remote/hybrid/in-person opportunities

  • Salaries

Make sure your new career aligns with your new career goals. Of course, you don't want to dodge one bullet for another.

Keanu Reaves in the Matrix using a forcefield to dodge bullets.

3. Get your resume sorted

Your resume needs updating if you want to embark on your new career.

Photo by Resume Genius on Unsplash Photo by Resume Genius on Unsplash

Here’s how to make your resume work for you:

  • Lead with a strong summary.

  • Focus on transferable skills (soft vs hard skills).

  • Reframe past roles — translate your experience into language that fits your new career.

  • Add relevant extras — courses, certifications, side projects, or volunteer work that show you're serious about the shift.

  • Tailor it for every application.

Make your pivot look intentional, strategic, and full of value.

Personally, when I left teaching, I looked for internships/jobs online via LinkedIn and connected with people in the field of educational technology. This helped improve my resume so that I could target EdTech jobs.

I focused on transferable skills like communication and collaboration in teams, in addition to my online creativity skills, so that I could appeal to EdTech employers.

Quiz

Sarah is a high school teacher who wants to become a college student advisor. What are some transferable skills to highlight on their resume?

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