Back in 2010, we hit the headlines with our article about how resignations usually occur in the third week of September and the first week of February, both of which coincide with the end of traditional holidays. This year, we have reviewed our statistics to see whether this theory still holds true; that extend family holidays often give us time to reflect on our careers, and plan for change.
In 2010, February and September each accounted for 21.6% of resignations, whereas in 2011 February and September accounted for 29.48% and 18.11% of resignations respectively.
Whilst the Christmas and summer holidays appear to be our most reflective periods, there seems to be another contender – the Easter Holidays. Figures show that the Easter break accounted for 16.2% of resignations in 2010, 15.8% in 2011, and this year is looking no different.
But before making that change, it is important that you are doing so for the right reasons. Often people fall into a career and end up frustrated because they have no direction or clear career plan. Understanding the reasons of why you feel frustrated, such as being ‘stuck in a rut’, ‘burnt out’ or no ‘work-life balance’, will help you understand what you are looking to achieve from your next role, and be able to plan accordingly.
Returning from a holiday, can often leave us with the ‘post-holiday blues’, which can result in rash decisions being made as we try to recapture that holiday mood. So, before you rush back from the airport after your Summer break, with resignation letter in hand, give yourself a cooling off period, and make sure you have a proper plan in place (see our previous article: Essential guide to planning your future).