Endings and new Beginnings - How to quit

Sometimes an ending is exactly what we need to make a new beginning. In this blog post, I want to share my personal journey with you – from inner dissatisfaction, to the decision to quit, to starting fresh and looking forward to what’s next. I’ve learned a lot about myself – and maybe you’ll see parts of yourself in this story, too.

How I Was Doing

For a long time, I was unhappy with my professional situation. I felt internally blocked – my work no longer aligned with my own standards, and I felt like I was stuck in place. This dissatisfaction slowly but steadily crept into my personal life and affected areas where I actually wanted to recharge.

The seemingly clear solution: quit, let go, start over.But it’s not that simple. Even though my mind was telling me, “You need to change something!”, countless doubts began to surface:

• I like my colleagues and didn’t want to disappoint them.

• I owe a lot to my employer – how could I just leave?

• What if I don’t find a new job?

• Maybe this is just a phase, and everything will be fine again soon?

• What if I won’t be happy anywhere else either?

• What if I’m the problem?

...and many more thoughts like these swirled around in my head.

I’m also an excellent procrastinator – which made it easy to delay this decision even more. What made it especially hard was that, at first, it was just a vague feeling I couldn’t put into words. I had great colleagues, exciting projects, and objectively, a good life. So why wasn’t I feeling okay?

I had to do some deep self-reflection to identify the issues that really mattered to me (more on that in section 1 of the next chapter). At some point, I had to honestly admit to myself: This can’t go on. Something needs to change.

How to Quit

Quitting isn’t always the right choice. But if it becomes unavoidable, I recommend the following steps. Personally, this approach worked well for me.

1. What do I actually want?

Before you even think about quitting, you need to understand what you truly want – both professionally and personally. Is it more appreciation? More flexible working hours? New challenges? Or do you want a fundamentally different lifestyle – less stress, more time for yourself? Or simply more money?

This honest self-reflection is crucial – only if you know what you’re looking for can you tell whether it’s possible to change it within your current job or if you need to look elsewhere.

For me, personal growth was key. I wanted to take on a new role. I already had a certain reputation and external perception as a technical expert, which made it hard to shift into a management or leadership role.

2. Talk to your boss

An open conversation with your manager can be surprisingly helpful – even if it takes courage. Share your thoughts, wishes, and concerns. There might be options you hadn’t considered: a new project, a role change, a shift in focus.

Even if it ultimately leads to parting ways, at least you tried. And handling this phase respectfully is often remembered positively.

That’s actually one of the first things I did. I went to my manager and shared the thoughts and feelings described above – even though I have to admit I wasn’t as clear at the time as I make it sound in hindsight.

He helped me organize my thoughts. Together, we explored whether there was a realistic way to adapt my position to my needs (Spoiler: In the end, it didn’t work out).

3. Research & Benchmarking

What’s happening out there? Which companies, positions, or industries appeal to you? Look into what’s currently available – in terms of content, salary, benefits, company culture, and development opportunities. Compare that to your current job.

Not everything that glitters is gold – but comparisons can reveal how much you’ve grown (or how stuck you are).

This was a key step for me to clearly understand what I was doing – and why. In addition to conversations (see section 4), this meant a lot of in-depth online research.

4. Have conversations (internally and externally)

Activate your network, talk to former colleagues, acquaintances, or headhunters. Attend some initial interviews – without the pressure to quit right away.

These conversations provide insights into other companies, and also feedback on your profile, your market value, and your chances. Often, this is encouraging – or clarifying.

For me, conversations with headhunters were especially helpful in gauging my market value – I hadn’t had a job interview in ten years. I also spoke directly with companies and professionals. Internal discussions helped me better understand my personal needs and options.

A positive side effect: colleagues could start thinking about potential successors for my projects early on.

5. Compare & Revisit Step 1

Now it gets concrete: does what you’ve found really match the goals you set in step 1? It’s not just about salary and responsibilities. Culture, team spirit, leadership, and flexibility matter too. Reflect honestly: is this real progress or just an escape?

For me, salary was an important factor, but the role was more important. Was I being offered the role I truly wanted? More management, less tech. More consulting, less implementation.

I compared external offers – and also discussed internally what future collaboration could look like.

6. Make a decision

At some point, you have to jump. There will never be perfect certainty – but the better prepared you are, the more likely it is that the leap will be successful. Trust your gut. You know your worth, you know your reasons.

Decision day was emotionally very hard for me – because I had to say goodbye to colleagues who had become friends over the years.

Was it really about the role, or just a longing for something new? I can’t say for sure. When it came time to deliver my final decision, I could barely get the words out.

7. A fair and respectful farewell

Quit cleanly, with respect and dignity. Say thank you, hand over your work properly, stay professional. You never know when your paths may cross again – and a graceful exit always leaves a positive impression. At the same time, a clean goodbye brings you inner clarity, too.

This is where the circle closes. Because I involved my colleagues early in the process, things went much more smoothly: projects were transitioned properly, and there was enough time for meaningful conversations. Despite the difficult circumstances, it couldn’t have gone better.

In my view, this is the most important point – and the result of all the previous steps. Early, open, and fair communication is the key.

Phoenix from the Ashes

The title might sound dramatic, but it captures my feeling pretty well. I made a conscious decision for a new employer and left my old situation behind.

And what can I say? I feel energized, curious, and motivated again. In my first few days, I met fascinating people – and even ran into an old schoolmate (the world really is a small place!). I can focus on new topics again and continue my growth.

Whether it was the right move, or whether the saying “It sucks everywhere” turns out to be true – time will tell.

My Personal Conclusion

If you realize you’re not doing well – don’t wait too long.

Be honest with yourself.

Appreciate the people around you.

Don’t be afraid of change – keep moving forward!