INTERVIEW Ready to move on? How to leave your job wisely

Seo Eu-ra (Seo Merry), the author of the book "Working for a Company Is Just Not for Me" / Courtesy of Seo Eu-ra

By Jung Min-ho

The cover of the book "Working for a Company Is Just Not for Me" by Seo Eu-ra

A good job isn't good for everyone. Seo Eu-ra learned this the hard way after working for more than five years at a major law firm in Seoul.

“There are some things you just know,” Seo, 30, said in a recent interview. “It was not about the company or the benefits it offered, because I knew I would not want to commit myself to any company. Just like a peach allergy, some people just can't take it, but it is hard to explain why.”

But Seo, a freelance translator and author of the book, “Working for a Company Is Just Not for Me,” did not leave without preparation. Here are the things she is now glad that she did ― and didn't do ― before quitting her job.

Know your skills for the next job

Some people quit their jobs to pursue their dreams. This wasn't the case for me. I just figured that I was the type of person who would never be happy working at a company. So I started to think about which of my skills could be useful for building my career as a freelancer. After writing them down ― drawing, writing (Korean and English), cooking and handcrafting ― I did some market research. In doing so, I realized there is a big demand for translation and places to learn translation techniques. It took longer than I thought ― about a year ― to equip myself with the necessary skills not just to do this but to survive in the market, but I'm glad that I had a concrete plan for my next career.

Get your finances in order

If you have a stable job at a major company, you may not know how difficult it is to take out loans or get a credit card without that job. It is important to assess your financial needs from a long-term perspective and do your financial work before leaving the company. In hindsight, it was one of the best things I did. You also need enough savings to survive sometimes without an income. In my case, I had enough money to get by at least for two-and-a-half years without an income.

Don't burn bridges

Don't burn any bridges on your way out. You may think you will never need a “bridge,” but I did, and I'm sure you will too. After spending months for job training and making business plans without an income, I started to become inpatient and worried. But thanks to an ex-colleague, I got a part-time job when I badly needed it. Since I started my career as a translator, some of my former co-workers have given me work; they are still part of my business network.

Think twice about 'traveling around the world'

I have to admit that I also thought about traveling overseas, which I believe could be a good opportunity for some people to refresh themselves, but not for me. I did not want to spend my hard-earned money on traveling, knowing that I would one day return to the same place I left and face the same concerns.

Be prepared mentally

It may take longer than expected. Every day could be a battle to stay calm and at least take one step in the right direction. You should be mentally strong. I was able to handle the stress mainly because I had low expectations. All I wanted was to live my life doing things I enjoy. I didn't think that I would be able to make much money. But now I do make more money than I expected while writing, drawing and sharing my talent with other people. For that, I'm so grateful.