Scared to Leave a Comfortable Job? You’re doing the right thing.

Change is always scary. We often overthink it when we’re about to take the leap into something new. You’ve probably been working at the wrong place for a while. Deep down, you know you’re not working in an environment that’s right for you and your career growth. So, naturally, you started exploring other opportunities. And finally, you found a good fit. Yet, suddenly, the job you’re working at seems more attractive. It’s kind of like how sometimes you miss your ex, even though the breakup was probably for the best. By leaving this role, and moving onto something new, you can start building towards the life you want. In this post, we’re going to explain why you’re doing the right thing when you’re scared to leave a comfortable job.

Scared to leave a comfortable job? Consider these.

1. Go in with no regrets

Fear is often the thing that holds us back. What if something goes wrong? What if the new job is worse? And we’ll catastrophize every possibility in the worst way imaginable. Something to remember in life is that when one door closes another one opens. So, if your next job does suck, you’ll be pushed into a new direction that could change your life. Going with the flow every now and then can lead you down an adventurous path, one you couldn’t have possibly imagined, that could become your greatest life story. Along the way of changing jobs, you’ll meet people who will help you, direct you, and move you closer on your personal life journey. Saying goodbye to a company and your favorite work friends can be hard, but sometimes, destiny’s waiting for you to make your next move. Stop hiding at your company when you know it’s not the right fit for you, go take the leap and see what your career has in store for you.

2. Assess your situation honestly

Taking the plunge into something new can be a bit intimidating. But if you find yourself with Sunday scaries each week or daydreaming about making more money or having a better job in a new field, it’s probably best to cut ties with your current employer. In life, we often settle for what we think we deserve. Right now, you’re settling for a comfortable job you don’t really want to work at, but the unknown is holding you back. You can’t stay stuck in life, you’ll never grow that way. The biggest mistake isn’t ending up somewhere worse (because that’s easy to fix), it’s actually never taking risks. You’ll never amount to greatness if you always stay within your comfort zone. Success is found outside of the comfort zone. Growing into a leadership role requires you to develop new skills, so does changing career paths, and earning more money. All growth in life starts with a risk. And if you assess your situation honestly, right now, you’re afraid of taking an important risk to help you move from point A to point B. In point A you’re Afraid and to get to point B you need to be Brave.

3. Think about your career goals

When you’re scared to leave a comfortable job, it’s time to think about your career goals. Whether you’re thinking about starting a new career, leveling up on your current path, or making a change that’ll set you up for long-term success, it’s crucial that you consider leaving your job to get closer to achieving your main career goals. Life isn’t about standing still. It’s about making forward progress. Change is inevitable. And the more comfortable you get with change, the more experienced you’ll become in your career. Challenging yourself to aim higher can force you to do things you’ve never done before, which can be intimidating. Being new at a company or doing something new for the first time can feel kind of awkward. But there’s something cool about doing something new. It’s the feeling you get when something clicks for the first time. Or you solve a problem you were stuck on for hours. It’s that little joy that gets your momentum going, so you start achieving even greater results. You can become so satisfied and fulfilled in your career when you’re okay being the new person at a company or trying a new role for the first time. To achieve big goals, you’ve got to take new steps, learn new skills, and make hard decisions. Leaving your comfortable job is one of those new steps and hard decisions you’ll need to make to help you elevate to the next level.

4. Understand that getting another job isn’t hard

When you’re considering leaving a comfortable job but suddenly getting second doubts, it’s normal to worry that maybe the next job won’t be as good. It’s true that there’s been more layoffs lately and searching for a job can be tough if you’re unemployed. But getting another job isn’t the hardest thing you’ll ever do. If the job you move into doesn’t work out, you’ll be pushed into another direction that’ll be better for you. And with time, you’ll realize that you end up somewhere better than you could’ve imagined. The secret to finding a good job is to apply when you’re employed, write an original cover letter alongside your resume with a personal touch, and practice interview questions for hours every day. The more well rehearsed you are, the better you’ll come across in interviews. It’s all about being personal and prepared. So, as long as you’re doing those things, you’ll find that leaving your comfortable job for the possibility of working your dream job with your best salary ever is worth it.

5. Leave on a happy note

When we’re comfortable at a job, we’re getting closer to becoming complacent. Often, what happens when we become complacent is that layoffs and terminations happen. And if you’re feeling comfortable at your job, you might not think it’s necessary to leave for another role. But it’s better to leave a job on a positive note than via a layoff you need to prepare for. If you leave a company by landing another job, you’ll transition into a better position and have great references from your current employer. In the event that a mass layoff happens instead, you’ll be looking for jobs alongside others of coworkers. And often when this happens, hiring managers often give preference to people who are still employed rather than those who are unemployed. Starting the job search while employed gives you a competitive advantage.

6. Avoid asking others for their opinions

When it comes to making decisions that are best for you, avoid seeking external opinions from friends and family. People will influence you in the direction that’s best for them instead of what’s best for you. Often, our family will tell us to stick out a job because it pays well when we’re not happy there. If your job change is too different from what you’re used to doing, they might feel intimidated or threatened by this new change in you, and try to convince you to stay where you are instead of growing. You’re Googling about being “scared to leave a comfortable job” because deep down you want to leave but you’re hoping the transition will work out but you can’t predict if it will or not. Don’t let outside opinions influence your decision. You know what’s best for you. Being afraid of change is normal but that doesn’t mean it’s not a step in the right direction. You can’t have other people making your career decisions for you. You’ve got to make the choices that are best for you. After all, you’re the one spending 40 hours a week at that company. So you’re going to have to live with your decision (or change directions).

7. Be prepared with a safety net

If you’re worried about changing jobs or setting on a new path altogether, you need to be prepared with a safety net. For example, if you’re planning on leaving a comfortable job to become an entrepreneur, you’ll want to make sure the business you’re going to work on full-time already exists and is already making you enough money that you can count on. Or if you’re not taking that kind of plunge, having some emergency savings can be helpful to set you up for success if the role you move into doesn’t pan out. Being financially prepared to weather any storm is what can help you breathe a sigh of relief when you take risks in life or make bold decisions. As long as you have enough money in savings to pay for rent or your mortgage you should be secure enough to take the leap whenever you feel like stretching yourself or evolving into something greater in your career.

8. Make sure you have a new job lined up

Having a new job lined up before leaving a comfortable job can be helpful. You’ll want to make sure you’ve received a formal offer of employment from another company to reduce your fears of leaving a comfortable job. Having that formal offer letter lets you know that you can get a better opportunity easily and you’ve got something good going for you on the way. Securing your next opportunity can help you transition into a new company without having to worry about a loss of income or anything like that. Provided that the company seems financially stable and there aren’t any existing layoffs there, it could be a sign that you can have a smooth transition into a better role for you.

9. Plan a positive first impression

Without realizing it, sometimes you carry baggage from one company to the next. If you’ve gotten comfortable at a company, you might have developed bad habits that you don’t want to carry out into your next role. When you’re scared to leave a comfortable job, you need to prepare for the next one a bit more. One thing you can do is come up with a list of habits and actions you’ll do in your next role to create a positive first impression. This might be vocalizing praise to people as you get to know them. It could also be putting emphasis on relationship building and getting to know people on your team well. You could also take initiative on projects to help ensure you get high priority stuff done. You might choose to build a habit of asking for feedback everytime you meet with your boss so you always know what else they need from you and what their expectations of you are. Compiling a list of all the new habits you’ll do can help set you apart in those early months to ensure you really have a positive impact and attitude at your next company.

10. Think about what you can gain

When you’re scared to leave a comfortable job it’s time to double down on what you can gain from changing roles and leaving your comfort zone. There’s so many things you can gain, such as better work-life balance, better mental health, new coworkers and connections, higher pay, new hard or soft skills, a better boss, and so on. When you look at all the new possibilities of what you can get from taking the leap and overcoming your fear of leaving a comfortable job, you can transition from fear to peace or even excitement. When you look at new opportunities from a glass half-full perspective it can be what makes the difference in your career. From a networking perspective alone, meeting new people can bring you new opportunities. So, it’s good to change jobs just for the networking opportunities alone. But there’s so much upside from taking on new job opportunities.

Next steps

While you might be scared to leave a comfortable job, it’s important to sometimes take the leap. If you’re thinking about transitioning to another career or climbing the corporate ladder, you should consider building your resume. You can use a tool like Huntr to build your resume, create a cover letter, access tailored interview questions, autofill job applications, and track your jobs. If you’re looking for your next job opportunity, sign up for Huntr today!