You had an opportunity for a promotion, and you were not the chosen one, so you are now P.O.P.O: passed over and pissed off. You deserved it, so now what?

If you are feel P.O.P.O., you have choices whether you stay or go. The best way to evaluate your situation is to write everything in your head and then have conversations with others.

Leaving a job can be a terrifying experience, or it could also be a liberating experience, especially if it’s a toxic work environment or you do not have good chemistry with your immediate supervisor. The promotion might have been an opportunity for an internal change.

Feedback is always good to hear from others who can provide a more objective opinion.

As of August 2022, six million were unemployed, according to the Department of Labor Statistics, and 898,000 were job leavers. The new figures are constantly being released, so check back on the same link.

Although there are many things to think about listed below, this may not be a complete list, and situations may vary by individual, but it will provide food for thought.

Pros of Staying

There are advantages to hanging in there:

• Responsibilities are known
• Steady income while you work on starting/building a side gig or explore new opportunities
• There may be a severance package if there is a pending merger, acquisition, or restructuring
• Earned PTO and vacation time for longevity
• Consider proposing job crafting
• Engage in quiet quitting and doing the bare minimum at work
• Potential for a promising future

Cons of Staying

There are downsides as well:

• Toxic supervisor
• Toxic co-workers
• Toxic work environment
• Mandate of local, remote, or hybrid
• Salary not keeping up with inflation
• Stress and work/life balance
• Feeling stuck, especially if the company is in a downturn

Pros of Going

Walking out may precipitate career advantages such as:

• Signing bonus potential with the new company
• Higher salary with the new company to better meet inflation
• Negotiating other or better benefits
• Negotiating more time off with the new company
• Garnering a more prestigious job title
• Choice of local, remote, or hybrid
• Stress relief and improvement in health
• Different responsibilities
• New industry
• New role better fits your areas of interest or passions
• More opportunities to advance

Cons of Going

But the career shift may not be all that rosy, either:

• The job isn’t how it was described; fear of buyer’s remorse
• Mandate of local, remote, or hybrid
• Income loss if you quit before securing another job
• Career gap
• Effect on pension contributions
• Loss of career network
• Missing relationships with co-workers
• Missed opportunities for mentorship
• Uncertainty where the grass may not be greener on the other side
• Loss of references for being disloyal
• Under- or overqualification for duties assigned

What to Do If You Want to Quit

If you’re being drawn to a career shift:

• Make sure your resume is up to date and your LinkedIn profile is optimized if you are joining the Great Resignation
• Do your research: Look up the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, Glassdoor, and salary sites
• Engage in informational interviews
• Start learning current career trends and networking on Great Careers Group’s Event Page
• Review your NDAs and other legal documents you signed with your company and hire an employment attorney to review them if needed
• Draft a resignation letter
• Talk to your supervisor
• Give at least two weeks’ notice
• Review your benefits, unused PTO, etc., before leaving
• Leave with class, and don’t burn bridges

Next Steps

• Subscribe to Lynne’s newsletter on LinkedIn for bright ideas to manage your career
• Join as a member at https://greatcareers.org/membership of the #1 business networking association on the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Book of Lists two years in a row
• If you need a resume or LinkedIn profile to get you to your next step, book a call to chat
• Follow #GreatCareersPHL
• Register on the events page for upcoming online events:
  • Fri. Oct 7: Interviewing Techniques
  • Sat. Oct 8: The Power of of Pull Marketing in Your Job Search
  • Mon. Oct 10: Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
  • Tues. Oct 11: Does Your Resume Pass the 6-Second Test?
  • Tues. Oct 11: Business Executives Networking Group (BENG)
  • Wed. Oct 12: PowerThinking: Rejuvenating Your Amazing Mind Weekly Resilience Building Call-In
  • Wed. Oct 12: Tips on How to Build an Impressive Digital Career Portfolio
  • Thu. Oct 13: Career Success Group
  • Fri. Oct 14: Interview Techniques
  • Sat. Oct 15: LinkedIn Part 2 of 3
  • Mon. Oct 17: Career Success Group
  • Mon. Oct 17: What’s Your Shtick? Personal Branding Online and Off