7 signs your colleague is about to quit

In most cases, it is fairly easy to tell when someone is about to get the sack. They’re not doing a good job, your boss is getting irritated with them, they walk into work an hour late etc. But the signs of someone about to quit are harder to pick up on, especially when it is one of the most valued employees. If you pick up on a few of these signs, prepare yourself for the “What?! Noooo!” conversation you will having soon…

1. They suddenly look much better
Not like they’re a scruff every day, but suddenly it is like they’re making a real effort with their appearance and their outfits. Unless they’re trying to impress someone in the office, chances are they’re doing this because they’re off to an interview in their lunch hour and want to look the part.

2. They’re never in the office
Dentist three times in one week? Yeah, right. They’re out and about at interviews or catching up with contacts who could land them a decent role. Alternatively, they could be very happy in their job and just need braces or something.

3. It feels like they are avoiding you
There is no easy way to say this, but if you feel like you’re being avoided, you probably are. If you see them running for the toilets every time you walk down the corridor, they probably don’t just need a comfort break. They’re avoiding you because they don’t want to admit that they’ll be leaving soon, especially if you’re best mates.

4. What upcoming projects?
They’re keeping suspiciously quiet about a project that the team has coming up and it is not because they’re busy doing other things. They don’t want to get too involved with things that they won’t be around to see the finished product in a few months.

5. They have been staring out of the window for 20 minutes
This person has seriously switched off from work mode. They’re not being productive or can even be bothered to put the effort in because they know they’ll be out of that place soon, so why care about it? If they seem to be slowing down every day, it’s because they are done with the job.

6. They haven’t emailed you back and it’s been at least 6 hours
Unless it is the weekend, they’re looking at their emails fairly often surely?! If it looks like their communication skills have come to an almighty halt, it is because they’re too busy getting prepared for their next step and have other things to worry about than drinks after work on Friday.

7. Who even are they?
Oh the laughs you used to have on your lunch break together and now they’re hiding away in their car outside the corner shop. Their behaviour has completely changed, they’re unenthusiastic and no longer has an interest in their colleague’s personal lives let alone work. It is time to accept that they’re off – another one bites the dust.