Methodology & Dimensions

The instrument distills your answers and professional status into five decision dimensions and from there into a decision indication. Each dimension draws on established constructs in work and organizational research. The concrete calculation is deliberately not disclosed here; what matters is the conceptual anchor of each dimension.

Foundations of the five dimensions

The choice of dimensions reflects the finding that decisions about job changes are not driven by a single factor, but emerge from the interplay of strain, alternatives, anchoring and readiness to act. This interplay is exactly what established explanatory models of turnover research describe.

D1 — Internal prospects

Captures visible development and advancement opportunities in the current employer. Conceptually, the dimension draws on research into internal labor markets and on perceived organizational support, which shows that recognizable internal prospects raise engagement and reduce turnover intentions.

Doeringer & Piore (1971), Internal Labor Markets and Manpower Analysis. · Eisenberger et al. (1986), Perceived Organizational Support, Journal of Applied Psychology.

D2 — External marketability

Captures market value and realistic options outside the current employer. The basis is human-capital and employability research, in which the availability and quality of perceived alternatives is a central and distinct driver of turnover decisions.

Becker (1964), Human Capital. · Forrier & Sels (2003) and De Vos et al. (2011) on employability, Journal of Vocational Behavior.

D3 — Exit pressure

Measures strain and misfit — the forces pushing toward a move. The dimension follows the Job Demands–Resources model and Person–Environment Fit research: high demands paired with low resources, and a poor person-environment fit, raise strain and the propensity to move.

Bakker & Demerouti (2007), Job Demands–Resources Model, Journal of Managerial Psychology. · Kristof-Brown et al. (2005), Person–Environment Fit, Personnel Psychology.

D4 — Personal / financial anchors

Describes binding factors that limit the room to move — financial buffer as well as personal and location-related commitments. Anchors here are the Three-Component Model of organizational commitment (particularly its continuance component) and the concept of Job Embeddedness.

Meyer & Allen (1991), Three-Component Model of Commitment, Human Resource Management Review. · Mitchell et al. (2001), Job Embeddedness, Academy of Management Journal.

D5 — Readiness to act

Captures the actual energy for change. The basis is the Theory of Planned Behavior and turnover research, according to which intention is the strongest direct predictor of subsequent behavior — pressure alone, without readiness to act, rarely leads to a move.

Ajzen (1991), Theory of Planned Behavior, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. · Griffeth, Hom & Gaertner (2000), meta-analysis of turnover, Journal of Management.

From dimensions to indication

The five dimensions are combined into one of five decision indications — from stabilizing the stay through to an active move. What matters is not a single number, but the pattern: e.g. high exit pressure combined with strong external marketability and clear readiness to act. This approach reflects the research view that turnover decisions are best explained as an interplay of multiple factors — prominently in the "Unfolding Model" of turnover.

Lee & Mitchell (1994), An Unfolding Model of Voluntary Employee Turnover, Academy of Management Review.

How your status feeds in

Industry, region, function, seniority, capability profile and age band adjust the dimension values. These adjustments follow the same constructs — e.g. a broad, current capability profile raises external marketability, a later life stage raises anchoring. In the result, the adjustments made are transparently disclosed.

Relevant studies & sources

A curated selection of robust surveys that support the dimensional design of the instrument. The tags show which decision dimension each source touches. Figures may have changed since publication.

Legal Notice (Impressum)

Information pursuant to § 5 of the German Digital Services Act (DDG). This site is operated by a German company; the legal entity details below are provided in their original form.

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AutoProfessor UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
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Jan Sebastian Steffen (Managing Director)

Contact

Email: info@autoprofessor.de

Responsible for content per § 18 (2) MStV

Jan Sebastian Steffen
AutoProfessor UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
Wiesendamm 152, 22303 Hamburg, Germany

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Privacy Policy

This privacy policy informs about the nature, scope and purpose of the processing of personal data in connection with the online service should-i-leave.com, in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

1. Controller

The controller for the data processing in the sense of Art. 4 (7) GDPR is:

AutoProfessor UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
Wiesendamm 152
22303 Hamburg
Germany
Represented by Managing Director Jan Sebastian Steffen
Email: info@autoprofessor.de

2. Principle: Processing in the browser

The self-assessment offered on this site (the "10-question check") runs entirely locally in the browser of your end device. The profile inputs you make (such as industry, region, function, seniority, age band, capability profile) and your answers are used exclusively to immediately compute the analysis.

These inputs are not transmitted to a server operated by AutoProfessor UG (haftungsbeschränkt) or to third parties and are not permanently stored. Closing or reloading the page discards the entered data. To this extent, no processing of personal data by the controller takes place beyond the purely technical delivery of the page.

3. Hosting and server log data

This website is provided via Netlify, Inc., 512 2nd Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA ("Netlify"). Netlify delivers the static site content and accepts form submissions. A data processing relationship under Art. 28 GDPR exists with Netlify; Netlify's standard DPA is incorporated by reference into the Netlify Terms of Service and applies automatically upon entry into contract.

Netlify operates its infrastructure across multiple locations and serves content via a globally distributed content delivery network. A transfer to the United States is therefore not excluded. The transfer is based on Netlify, Inc.'s participation in the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework. Standard contractual clauses agreed in Netlify's terms apply in addition.

When the website is accessed, Netlify processes technically necessary data that your browser transmits automatically, in particular IP address, date and time of access, transferred data volume, page accessed, referrer URL, and browser and operating-system information. This processing serves to ensure a smooth connection, system security and technical stability. The legal basis is Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest in the secure and functional operation of the website). Server log data are stored according to Netlify's rules and subsequently deleted or anonymized. There is no further processing of these log data by the controller.

4. Cookies, local storage technologies and web analytics

Technically necessary mechanisms are used to operate the site. In particular, your decision regarding the web analytics described below is stored locally in your browser (localStorage) so that you are not asked again on every visit. This strictly necessary storage does not require consent under § 25 (2) TDDDG.

In addition, we use the web analytics service Google Analytics 4 to statistically evaluate and improve the use of our website. Google Analytics sets cookies and similar identifiers and collects information about your use of the website (e.g. pages viewed, approximate region, device and browser type). The provider is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. The IP address is processed in truncated form (IP anonymization).

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Your consent is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time with effect for the future. You can withdraw it via the “Cookie settings” link in the footer, which lets you reopen and change your choice. The lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal remains unaffected.

Using Google Analytics may involve a transfer of personal data to Google LLC in the United States. Google LLC is certified under the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework; supplementary standard contractual clauses apply in addition. Further information is available in Google's privacy policy at policies.google.com/privacy.

5. Optional email reservation

At the end of the analysis, you may voluntarily leave an email address to be notified about the availability of a more detailed deepening analysis. Providing this is optional; using the check is fully possible without it.

If you submit your email address, the processing is based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR. You can withdraw consent at any time with effect for the future, e.g. by an informal message to the email address listed above. The lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal remains unaffected. The email address will be used solely for the stated purpose and not shared with third parties.

The form submission is collected and stored via the Netlify Forms service. The provider is Netlify, Inc. as named under Section 3 above. The framework conditions described there apply, including the data processing relationship, the transfer to the United States based on the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, and the supplementary standard contractual clauses. Reservations are retained until you object to processing or until the deepening review becomes generally available and you have been notified, in any case no longer than 24 months.

6. Recipients and third-country transfers

Your data is not shared with third parties, with the exception of the processing by Netlify, Inc. (USA) as processor described under Sections 3 and 5, and — where you have given consent — the processing by Google as part of Google Analytics described under Section 4. A transfer to the United States is therefore not excluded. The safeguards under Art. 44 et seq. GDPR are provided through the participation of Netlify, Inc. and Google LLC in the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework as well as through supplementary standard contractual clauses.

7. Retention periods

Profile and answer data processed in the browser are not retained beyond the session. Server log data are kept according to Netlify's rules and subsequently deleted or anonymized. An optionally submitted email address is retained as described under Section 5, no longer than 24 months. Where you have consented to Google Analytics, the usage data collected there is stored according to the retention periods configured in Google Analytics (by default up to 14 months) and then deleted automatically.

8. Your rights as a data subject

Subject to the statutory conditions, you have the right of access (Art. 15 GDPR), rectification (Art. 16 GDPR), erasure (Art. 17 GDPR), restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR), data portability (Art. 20 GDPR), and the right to object to processing (Art. 21 GDPR). Any consent granted may be withdrawn at any time.

To exercise these rights, an informal message to the controller named above is sufficient.

9. Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

Without prejudice to other legal remedies, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority. The authority responsible for the operator's seat is:

The Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (HmbBfDI), Ludwig-Erhard-Straße 22, 20459 Hamburg, Germany.

10. Currency and changes

This privacy policy is dated June 2026. Further development of the service or changes in legal requirements may make adjustments necessary.

Disclaimer

Notes on the content, function and limits of the instrument as well as liability for content and links.

No individual advice

The assessment provided on this site serves solely as structured orientation. It does not replace individual career, legal, tax or financial advice and does not constitute a recommendation in an individual case. Decisions about staying with, moving internally within, or leaving an organization remain your own responsibility.

Not a diagnostic instrument

The analysis is structured orientation, not scientific or psychological diagnosis. Results are based exclusively on your self-assessment and profile inputs and should be understood as indicative, not as an objective measurement.

Content and currency

The contents of this site have been compiled with care. No guarantee is given as to their accuracy, completeness or currency. Market data, studies and examples cited may have changed since publication.

Named providers and external links

Providers or platforms cited as examples serve only to illustrate categories. There are no business relationships, and no recommendation or warranty is given for their services. Operators of linked external pages are solely responsible for their content; no unlawful content was apparent at the time of linking.

Crisis situations

In case of acute mental health strain or crisis, please contact professional support directly, such as medical or psychotherapeutic services or a crisis helpline. The instrument is expressly not intended for such situations.

Limitation of liability

Use of the instrument is at your own responsibility. Liability for damages arising from use or non-use of the information provided is excluded, except in cases of intent or gross negligence and where mandatory statutory provisions do not require otherwise.