How To Resign From A Job

We all come to a point during our working lives when we see a dead-end looming ahead, most of us decide, at this point, to leave. This may be because you need a change, or circumstances within your workplace have made it impossible and unpleasant to work there, either way you need to know the right way to say goodbye without harming yourself or appearing to be trouble to future employers.

Think About Your Options

You need to identify your reasons for leaving first; this must be a solid and reasonable argument which will convince others in your life and most importantly, your employer. Do you want to leave because you believe you do not get paid enough or you do not have the responsibilities or position you deserve? It could be a more direct reason such as being skipped for promotion or personal difference with certain elements of your workplace. Location and personal reasons are also common motivations for leaving a job. If you have a reasonable relationship with your boss or Human Resources department then you should discuss all of the above reasons with them before you make any decisions – this way you’ll not only be giving them plenty of notice  you may also find yourself negotiating a better position for yourself instead of leaving at all!

How to Say Goodbye

Once you’ve made a decision by yourself you should make yourself familiar with any resignation procedure already in place in the company. Make sure you are aware of the notice period, if there is no particular time allotted for this then giving two weeks’ notice is customary.
Speaking to your employer in person is common courtesy; this should be supplemented by an official letter of resignation. Make sure you have a clear argument for leaving and that you are ready for any questions which might get thrown at you. If you think there is a chance that you would stay make sure you are aware what you want before you enter the meeting – also, offer a deadline in the not-too-distant future for any offers.
If you intend to leave make sure you state your reasons clearly to your boss – otherwise it might be seen as a personal insult. They may become confrontational or even aggressive if they take the news of you leaving badly. The best way to deal with any over-reaction is to remain calm and composed and offer help towards the hand-over process in a reasonable way. Be positive about the company and you and your boss might even part on friendly terms.

Leaving and Colleagues

Leaving those who work around you daily can be the hardest part of leaving a job. You may be asked by management to not disclose your leaving for a short period of time, this is important as they may be putting together a counter offer.

You may have already discussed leaving with your co-workers, hopefully you have made your intentions and reasons clear and keep comments about the company positive. The workplace rumour-mill is one which can turn the smallest negative statement into a fully fledged scandal. The best way to beat this is to only offer kind words about the company and state your reasons for leaving rationally – in short: be as boring and dull about the matter as you possibly can!

Getting what you are Owed

Leaving a job can be stressful and our first impulse is to try and get out of their as quickly as possible. Unfortunately this might not always be the case – as soon as you are ready to leave request a list of all  outstanding bonuses, commission, holiday pay, time off in lieu or any further benefits you may be owed. You may have to return and apply pressure for some of it – while it may be tempting to cause some internal company damage on any return trips after leaving it is best to be friendly and polite.

Once you have all you are owed you are free to hunt for another job!