Tips for Leaving A Job After A Long Time: Guide

Updated on 06/02/24

Did you know that the average person changes job about twelve times during his or her career? That includes promotions or internal transfers as well as moving from one company to another.

Even though that number suggests that the idea of joining one firm and staying there until retirement has long since passed, many people still worry about the stigma associated with “job hopping.” Leaving jobs often may make a company think twice about hiring you. Quitting one job for a good reason, however, almost certainly won’t.

I myself left my last position after around four years of service: when you've been unhappy with your job to the point where it's impacted your daily life, it's time to start planning your escape. I'm not saying quit on a whim, because frankly, you should really have a backup plan. Rather, I'm suggesting you figure out what it'll take to allow you to quit your job, and who knows? It just might end up being the best thing you ever do for your career. I have certainly found this to be my case.

6 Tips for Leaving A Job After A Long Time

It's fair to say that leaving a job after a significant amount of time at the company can be both exciting and emotional. It's normal to feel a whole range of different emotions as you embark on this next chapter. And we're here to help you!

So, here are our 6 top tips for leaving a job after a long time:

1. Talk to a Recruiter

First things first, get in touch with a professional i.e. recruiter.

Talking to a recruiter helped me a great deal. As a former solicitor myself, of course, I am naturally risk adverse when it comes to change and I found that a specialist in the industry could tell me everything I needed to know about my new potential firm, the culture and what I would be doing from day one.  It also allowed me to go about my day to day work and life without the pressure of researching individual firms and knowing what cultures would be right for me.

Discover how our recruitment consultants can support you, or upload your CV to our website today!

Talking to a recruiter can be incredibly helpful when planning to leave a job after a long time, as they offer valuable insights, guidance, and support to ensure a smooth career transition.

2. Do Not Feel Guilty

It’s normal to feel anxious or guilty about leaving a job, but there’s no need to stress out needlessly. You may be considering making a move from a London firm to a regional firm or vice versa.  Whatever the case may be, the good news is that in the current market firms are keen to hear from legal professionals who have experience in growing transactional areas like real estate, corporate, commercial and residential property. In addition, areas such as private client, family and employment are also growing and lawyers who specialise in these areas are also in high demand.

Locally, firms are putting a lot more trust in their recruiters to find them the right “fit”, so get to know your recruiter. Ask them very specific questions about every aspect of the firm. If they know their clients well they will be the best ambassador for the firms.

3. Understand Your Feelings

Leaving a job takes courage and change is difficult even if you’re moving on to something that you really want to do and is the right decision. Some people might not be fazed when they leave behind a role they considered profound. Others might feel sadness or a sense of loss they don’t understand. The important thing is to plan and recognise that this is all totally normal.

My advice for anyone thinking about making a move is to reach out and speak with someone. You never know where it may lead. And who knows? It just might end up being the best thing you ever do for your career.

Leaving a job after a long time can stir up a complex mix of emotions, often blending excitement with uncertainty.

4. Plan Your Exit Strategically

Now the slightly more serious stuff.

When leaving a job after a long time, careful planning is essential to ensure a smooth and stress-free transition, and if you've been somewhere for a long time, you'll want as smooth exit as possible.

Start by securing your next opportunity, if possible, to maintain financial stability and avoid unnecessary pressure. This could mean landing a new job, starting your own business, or having a clear plan for your next steps.

It's also a good idea to consider the timing of your departure—leaving during a critical project or busy season might strain relationships, so if possible, plan your exit when it will cause the least disruption.

This leads us nicely onto point number 5...

5. Leave on Good Terms

This is a really important part of the process.

Leaving a job after a long time is not just about transitioning to a new role—it’s also about preserving the relationships and reputation you’ve built over the years. Maintaining professionalism until your very last day is key, especially if you've built relationships and friendships with your colleagues.

Continue to deliver quality work, meet deadlines, and support your team as you normally would, demonstrating reliability and integrity.

Avoid the temptation to mentally "check out" or disengage, as how you handle your departure can leave a lasting impression.

6. Prepare for the Exit Interview

An exit interview happens in most companies, and is an opportunity for you to provide feedback about your experience with the company, and preparing for it thoughtfully can make a meaningful impact.

Approach the meeting with professionalism and a constructive mindset, thinking about how your feedback can help improve the organisation rather than using it as a platform to vent frustrations (if you have any).

Reflect on your overall experience, identifying both the positive aspects—such as supportive leadership, learning opportunities, or a strong team culture—and areas where the company could improve, like communication gaps, workload management, or professional development resources.

Written by Dan Mason, Principal Consultant here at Yolk Recruitment.

How We Can Help

We’d love to work together to help you find your next job. Discover our range of roles here or get in touch with our recruitment specialists to review your CV.

Feel free to check out our other recruitment services on our website, and for more tips and insights, head over to our career advice blog page, including articles such as 'How much do qualifications matter?' & 'Surviving job loss'.