We all go through difficult times in our careers. Everyone will occasionally get the feeling that they just want to throw in the towel and head for greener pastures. It’s natural and shows you that something isn’t right.

The truth is, leaving a career isn’t as simple as riding off into the sunset and enjoying a quiet life. You still have responsibilities, ambitions and a professional itch that needs to be scratched.

Recruitment gets a bad rep for being a tough, often cut-throat job. But, that’s not necessarily the case.

If you wake up every morning dreading the daily grind, getting tired of the stuffy commute, and can’t seem to find the energy to continue, we’re here to help.

You may be asking if leaving recruitment is a good idea or not. Let’s dig into that a bit deeper and help you to understand whether it’s a move that will genuinely work for you or not.

Be realistic about your future

It’s easy to think the grass is always greener, but that’s not necessarily the case.

If you switch industries, you’ll need to start from the ground up. That might work out if you’re only a year or two into the job, but if you’re any further into your career, you’re going to have one hell of a learning curve when you switch roles.

This doesn’t mean it’s the wrong thing to do. You should always prioritise your own happiness over money, title or ego. But it’s important to be realistic about what that means for you, both financially and emotionally.

Recruitment isn’t hard, being successful is

Recruitment is often touted as a difficult job. The truth is, it really isn’t that bad. Being successful is the difficult part and that’s something felt across all industries.

To be successful, you need to put yourself out there, take the knock backs, grit your teeth and struggle through the tough times, and above all, work long hours.

Those in marketing, private equity, banking and estate agency can work far longer hours than recruiters at times. If you want to get ahead, that’s what it takes in these careers. It’s time, effort, resilience and a sprinkle of talent – nothing more.

Moreover, there aren’t many careers out there that offer the type of work/life balance that’s seen in recruitment. If you transition to a new career, you’ll feel this loss. Celebrating success and building team morale is so deeply ingrained into the recruitment industry that you’ll be forgiven for thinking this is the case in all sectors. It simply isn’t.

You won’t find these rewards anywhere else

Many people join recruitment because the rewards are so tangible and frequent. High commission payments, bonuses, share schemes, career progression, incentives. There’s no industry quite like it. It’s incredibly difficult to find another sector where the rewards are so transparent.

In recruitment, if you do X you’ll get Y in return. It really is as simple as that. Anywhere else, you’ll be made to jump through a series of hoops over the course of years just to get a sniff of a 5% pay rise.

When we see grads who come into the industry, only to leave after a few months it’s clear they weren’t honest with themselves about their level of drive. Plenty of people talk about their appetite to work hard for a high earning role but once the hard work starts, they’re found wanting.

If you’re genuinely financially driven and don’t possess a 1st degree from Cambridge or Oxford, there really isn’t another career out there that will pay you up to six figures after only three years in the role.

Identify the cause of your concerns

Before you make any hasty decisions, sit and think about the reason you want to leave recruitment. Is it really the industry as a whole or are you struggling with the team you’re surrounded by?

Do you have a toxic manager or are you in a company that doesn’t treat its employees very well?

Go a step further and think about your sector. Is it just that you’re stuck in a market which you don’t enjoy or can’t connect with?

Also look inwards. When we struggle with our mental health, our jobs can become far more difficult than they need to be. Look to see if there’s a deeper underlying issue that needs to be resolved before you take a life changing professional decision.

Periods of transition can also become difficult for us. If a relationship has ended or family member passed away, we can often view things like work with a hyper-critical lens. Sometimes this isn’t a bad thing, however it can also become a type of scapegoat for your negative emotions.

When you know, you know

If you’ve thought about all of the above and you’re still dead set on leaving the industry, then it’s the right thing to do. You shouldn’t be stuck in a job for the rest of your life if you’re not going to get any enjoyment from it.

Take the time to do your research, understand what you want to do next and make an informed decision to move when the time is right. Don’t rush this, it’s worth doing properly, however it’s also very important not to procrastinate taking the step either.

Use the skills you’ve gained from your time in recruitment

Recruitment is a great sector for teaching people business skills. You’ll have experience in selling, negotiating, understanding niche industries, handling objections and reservations, taking detailed specs and briefs, managing your own fees and many more.

Write up a list of all the tasks you do on a daily basis and look at the skills you use for each. Understand what you enjoy and use this as the basis for what you’ll do next.

Sales and estate agency are clear direct parallels with the recruitment industry, but we know of ex-recruiters who have gone on to work in marketing, television, customer success and more.

Will yourself to change

If you’re now having doubts about leaving the industry, use this as an opportunity to will yourself to make a change.

Whether you approach each day with a renewed drive and fresh mentality, or whether you use this as motivation to find a new agency, it’s entirely up to you. However, the one thing you must do is change something. Stagnation and burnout are the enemies of progress.

If you’re looking for your next role, we’re here to support you. Reach out for a no-obligation, confidential conversation about what’s working and what needs to be different in your next role. We’ll happily advise you and recommend an agency which suits you. Alternatively, browse our job board to get a feel for the type of roles we currently have on offer.