Released On 24 November 2025
Anushka's blog: Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
I recently left a job after 14 years and, whilst weighing up the decision, I realised that much of the thought processes were akin to leaving a long-term relationship. Whilst many people can’t financially afford to separate, the same is true of leaving a job without another to go to.
I found I was weighing up the security of the salary and working within my comfort zone against the opportunity of novelty, potentially greater progression and happiness. It was the proverbial bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
There is also something about being at a certain life stage and finding yourself questioning, ‘is this it?’ more often.
If you have a coaching or mentoring scheme at work, I’d recommend using this to work through what you need to do on a confidential basis.
Sometimes you just need the time to work through your options. It can be hard to do so when you are on the hamster wheel and institutionalised in the mindset of your current workplace. For this reason, if you can afford it and your company offers the opportunity to take a sabbatical, parental or some other right to unpaid leave, this could be the perfect opportunity to take a break and look at your career with fresh perspective. The one caveat I would advise in requesting such leave is to be sensitive as to whether your company is going through redundancy processes or you request leave during a particularly busy project or period as this could undermine your position in your current role.
Keep your CV and LinkedIn up-to-date before you need to, pay attention to how both align with jobs on LinkedIn and get feedback from recruitment agencies too. I would take the time to connect with others you know who are job-hunting for their insights. Job-seeking can be quite alienating, almost all of us will find ourselves looking at some point and the connection could one day pay you back. I would also ask advice from people who know you well and are prepared to give you honest feedback as to your strengths.
When at interviews, you will be able to speak far more persuasively and confidently about your skills when recounting feedback that you have received rather than providing your own estimation of your abilities.
It’s not easy to step off the travellator and change course, however, course -correction is probably necessary for most of us in our careers to avoid stagnation and to gain new experience. The break may result in the realisation that there were opportunities in your current workplace that you never thought about or the gratitude that you actually have it pretty good where you are.
Either way, you will dispel the nagging feeling of ‘what if?’.
Good luck to all those on that journey right now, whether enforced or chosen. I look forward to hearing your stories as to how things pan out and will relay my own once I know where it ends!
Anushka is a lawyer, married, with two teenage kids and is currently available for work.
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