A new study from Resume.io has found that millions of UK residents are unhappy in their current job. Analysing search-engine terms, the researchers found that workers in Bristol were most likely to look for new roles, with more than 4% of the population looking for tips on resignation letters, or reasons for leaving employment.

In a trend which has continued since the pandemic, the majority of workers are unhappy in their present role. While many people were suddenly shown that their work was actually essential to the functions of the firm they were with, most employers baulked at requests to reflect this importance with improved offers of pay and conditions. After two years of the cost-of-living crisis, where this resulted in a real-terms pay-cut for many people, it might not be surprising that data suggests people are now even less content with their current employers.

Recent research from Gallup found that 90% of employees in the UK were unhappy in their current role – an estimated 27 million people. Delving further into this, experts at Resume.io have performed an analysis of the most commonly Googled terms related to resigning or quitting a job in the UK, to analyse which cities people are most likely to be researching vacating their present roles.

London had the largest number of searches. According to the researchers, the capital city hosted an estimated annual 289,680 searchers looking into quitting a job. However, the UK capital has a higher population than any other city in the country, so that is to be expected. Proportionally, it is much further down the pecking order, though.

Taking account of population size, Bristol and Manchester have a higher portion of residents looking for a way out of their current work. In Bristol, 4.1% of people are estimated to have searched for how to exit a role – with leading searches including 1.47% of people annually searching for resignation letter recommendations and 0.22% simply Googling what reasons for exiting a job might be. Meanwhile, Manchester saw 1.49% of people searching for resignation letter resolutions. In contrast, London had a lower 3.2% of its population searching for ways to quit.

Seeking to answer some of the most common questions around resignation letters, Amanda Augustine, a careers expert at Resume.io, explained, “First, carefully consider your reasons for leaving to ensure you’re confident in your decision. If there’s room for negotiation, discuss your concerns with your line manager to see if any changes can be made. If you find that you and your manager are at an impasse after you’ve requested changes to your role, your working arrangement or your compensation, then it’s time to make your move.”

She added that it is typically easier to secure a new job while still employed, so ideally staff should hold off on handing in a notice at work until they land their next job opportunity. At that point, they should draft a formal resignation letter, clearly stating their intention to resign; final working day; and expressing appreciation for the opportunities they’ve had. After all, they may still need a reference from this employer in the future.

Augustine concluded, “Express your gratitude to your colleagues and employer, as a sincere ‘thank’ you can help maintain positive relationships and leave a lasting impression. Finally, consider requesting a reference. Leaving on good terms makes it easier to secure recommendations that will be valuable in your future job search. This approach ensures a graceful exit while maintaining your professional reputation and keeping future opportunities open.”