How to Quit a Job

Feeling it’s time to move on from your current job?

Curious about how to part ways while maintaining positive relationships? We’ve compiled the best practices for informing your boss about your decision to resign, addressing various scenarios—including those where you may have had a challenging experience but aim to handle it gracefully.

This guide offers insights on:

– Gracefully quitting a job to facilitate a smooth transition.
– Accessing the best resignation letter sample available online.
– Resigning from a job without regrets.
– Identifying the optimal timing for a seamless transition to your next opportunity.

And once you’ve resigned, you’ll need a resume—

Ensure that resigning is the most suitable decision

“Why are you quitting?”

“Why did you leave your last job?”

“Yikes! I made a mistake!”

These are the questions you may encounter when resigning from a job. The first two are often posed by employers, while the last one originates from within yourself.

Before making the decision to quit, it’s imperative to ensure it’s for the right reasons.

When communicating with your present or prospective employer, it’s essential to articulate the best rationale for your departure. Here are some valid reasons for quitting a job:

1. Better opportunity: You’ve found another job that offers higher pay or better aligns with your career aspirations.

2. Health: Either you or a family member is facing health issues, or your current job is detrimental to your physical or emotional well-being.

3. Schedule: Your current work schedule, such as working nights or weekends, is challenging, and you seek a change that your current employer cannot accommodate.

4. Education: Pursuing further education is a legitimate reason for resigning from your current job.

5. Family: You desire to allocate more time to your family. Despite requesting flexible work hours or a remote work arrangement, your current employer declined.

6. Career change: You’re seeking a different type of role, which your current employer cannot offer.

7. Relocation: You or your family are planning to move to a different city, state, or country.

8. Need for change: If none of the aforementioned reasons apply, simply state, “It’s time for me to move on.”

Avoid informing your colleagues

Avoid making a mistake!

Refrain from informing your coworkers about your decision to quit before notifying your boss.

Additionally, asking them to keep it confidential won’t be effective because they’re likely to share it with others.

Therefore—

Keep it under wraps until you’ve had the conversation with your boss.

Quit in Person

“You don’t want your former boss warning potential employers against hiring you.”

Therefore—

Avoid resigning via phone or email!

While quitting in person can be uncomfortable, it’s the only proper way to handle it.

How to Tell Your Boss You’re Quitting

Maintain politeness.
Avoid damaging relationships.
Refrain from speaking negatively about the company or department.
Express gratitude for specific aspects.
Provide a valid reason for your resignation.
Require an example of resignation communication? Here it is:

Best Way to Quit a Job Example

Here’s how to inform your boss about your resignation.

Maintain politeness and assertiveness. Avoid delving into specifics about the job’s shortcomings, interpersonal conflicts, or dissatisfaction with compensation.

Quitting a job via email is discouraged. Instead, resign in person and follow up with a formal letter of resignation sent via email. Sending a resignation email without a prior in-person conversation is considered tactless and unprofessional. When crafting a two-week notice email, ensure it maintains a polite, professional tone and includes words of appreciation.

Resigning from a job over the phone is also not recommended, except in remote work situations. In such cases, maintain professionalism and courtesy. Express gratitude for aspects of the job you appreciated, then provide a clear reason for your resignation.

Give Two Weeks Notice

What’s the appropriate notice period?

A minimum of two weeks.

Giving less notice can damage the relationship.

Providing more notice strengthens it.

Why?

Even if your boss believes two weeks is sufficient, they’ll appreciate the gesture.

Here’s an illustration of what to communicate when resigning from your job with more than a two-week notice:

Guidelines for Resigning from a Newly Started Job:

Resigning shortly after starting a new job isn’t ideal. If necessary, conduct the resignation in person and be prepared with a valid explanation. Maintain a positive attitude and refrain from criticizing the position. Highlight aspects of the job you enjoyed, but provide a reason for resigning that is beyond your control.

Protocol for Immediate Resignation:

If an immediate resignation is unavoidable, do it in person. Inform your boss that you’ll be departing immediately. If the reason is a serious medical emergency or significant life event, provide an explanation. Otherwise, refrain from providing excessive details and simply state your need to leave.

Compose a resignation letter

What to include in a resignation letter?

This is a critical step.

Handle it incorrectly, and you might harm your future prospects.

Handle it adeptly, and you’ll leave a positive lasting impression. This could prove beneficial if you ever require your job back or seek a reference.

How to Write a Letter of Resignation

• State your intention to resign.
• Specify your last working day.
• Express appreciation for the company or job.
• Extend assistance to ensure a seamless transition.
• This exemplar resignation letter follows the appropriate protocol:

Set Your Employer Up for Success

You aim for your employer to express willingness to rehire you without hesitation.

To achieve this, ensure a seamless transition:

1. Maintain high productivity until your departure. As my swim coach used to emphasize, “Finish strong.”
2. Provide thorough training to your replacement to facilitate a smooth handover.
3. Organize files systematically for easy accessibility.
4. Extend your availability for questions and assistance even after leaving.
5. Offer to continue handling work emails for an extended period, perhaps one or two months.

Compose a farewell email to colleagues

Enhance your professional trajectory.

Craft a farewell email to colleagues to demonstrate respect and bolster your networking efforts.

Follow these guidelines to create a memorable farewell email:

1. Keep it concise.
2. Utilize email instead of paper correspondence.
3. Address individuals personally rather than sending a group email.
4. Express positivity about your colleagues.
5. Refrain from boasting about yourself or your future endeavors.
6. Express a desire to stay connected.
7. Include ample contact information.

Don’t Trash-Talk When You Quit Your Job

“I feel compelled to caution you regarding your recent hire.”

This scenario can be a nightmare, can’t it?

However, it’s plausible—especially if you disparage your former employer.

Hence—

Refrain from speaking negatively:

To coworkers, both before and after your resignation
To your former employer upon tendering your resignation
On social media platforms concerning your former employer
To your new employer about your previous one
To your new colleagues about your prior job

Why?

Because negative remarks reflect poorly on you. Even if your grievances are valid, such comments may cast doubt on your character.

Instead, consider employing these examples of appropriate communication when resigning, rather than engaging in disparagement:

What to Say to Stay Positive Examples

To former supervisor: I am sincerely grateful for the invaluable lessons in graphic design you imparted to me. Thank you for your guidance and support.

To current supervisor: While I thoroughly enjoyed my time with [previous company], I believe this new opportunity will foster further development of my skill set.

To former colleagues: There were numerous positive aspects to my tenure at [previous company], and I would eagerly consider returning under favorable conditions.

To new colleagues: While I hold fond memories of my previous role, I am genuinely enthusiastic about joining my new team and the promising projects ahead.

On social media: Embarking on a new chapter in my career today! Thrilled to be part of the team at XYZ Company! #ExcitedForTheFuture

Clean Up Money Details

This is crucial.

If you overlook the finer points, you’ll likely regret it later.

When resigning from your job, ensure you address:

Your final paycheck. Familiarize yourself with when and how you’ll receive it. Confirm if there are any outstanding payments owed to you to avoid unexpected surprises down the line.

Your accrued vacation days. Determine if your accrued vacation days will be forfeited upon resignation or if you should utilize them before tendering your notice. Review the company’s HR policies regarding this matter.

Your benefits. Investigate whether your 401k plan will transfer to your new job and inquire about the status of your healthcare coverage. Avoid encountering any unforeseen complications in these areas.

Company-owned items. Return any company property in your possession, such as computers, phones, and accessories. It’s essential to uphold honesty and integrity by not inadvertently retaining items that do not belong to you.