How to Quit Your Job

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Sometimes in life, it is necessary to quit. This may be because you are relocating, you have found a better opportunity, you're retiring or it just isn't the right fit anymore. Regardless of the reason, it's important when you decide to leave a job to do so in a way that allows both you and the employer to maintain good terms. After all, you never know what the future holds and may one day want to return to this employer. Never burn your bridges as they say.

While it may be fun to watch videos or read posts about interesting and fun ways people have quit their jobs, sending a marching band through the office to announce your resignation is not recommended. Instead, you want to get your point across effectively and professionally. You've decided to go, and you don't want there to be any ambiguity. You also want to ensure that your employer appreciates the notice and won't hold it against you.

How do you quit your job the right way?

First: Get Ready

The first thing you need to do is get ready for quitting your job. Ask yourself why you are quitting. Remind yourself that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Can you make it work in your current role? Can you find a way to be happy and maximize your potential in this role, or do you need to move onto the next role. It's important that you feel fully convinced that you are making the right decision in moving on to your next role. Go back through the reasons you are leaving and what you're gaining by moving on. 

Second: Write a Great Resignation Letter

Most organizations require that you submit your resignation in writing. This is called a resignation letter. Before speaking to your boss about quitting you'll want to be sure that you have prepared a solid resignation letter. Your resignation letter should include who it's addressed to, your clear intent to leave your current position, your last day of employment, gratitude for having had the opportunity to work there, your future contact information, and of course your signature. You generally do not need to provide the reasons for why you are leaving and should be careful here as you don't want to cast any negative light on the employer. If pressed for this, simply state that you had an opportunity for advancing your career goals and leave it at that. Here are some great examples of resignation letters. 

Third: Provide Ample Notice

You do not need to provide any notice when quitting a job. Unless you've signed a contract you are free to quit and walk out immediately. That, however, is unprofessional and a sure-fire way to ensure you can never return and never use them as a reference. It's customary to provide a minimum of 2 weeks when quitting, but you might want to extend this if your role is very complicated, and training a replacement will take a considerable amount of time. You want to ensure that your exit from the organization is as low impact as possible so they can continue in your absence. This helps ensure that they maintain a positive perception of you once you've left. 

Fourth: Wind Down

Now that you've quit and provided ample notice it's time to wind down your responsibilities. You'll want to look at all of the things you're responsible for on a daily, weekly, monthly and ongoing basis. Document them, the steps necessary to complete, your current progress, and all resources needed to complete them. if you're training your own replacement be sure to cover this with them directly. If your organization is searching for a replacement work with your supervisor to identify where these responsibilities should go and provide both them and your manager with the documentation you've created. You, again, want to ensure your exit is as painless for the company, your boss, and your coworkers as possible. 

Next Steps 

Once the final day comes, be sure to say goodbye to your coworkers and clean out your desk or personal spaces. You'll want to ensure you chat with your manager and thank them for everything they've done over the course of your career there. Ask them if they would be willing to provide a professional reference as well. Hopefully, your work and your process of leaving have left them feeling positive towards you. In some companies, Human Resources will request an existing interview. You are not obligated to provide one, but if you do, remember to keep it positive. You do not want to complain or air your grievances here. Simply provide short, honest answers. Focus on why your new opportunity will be a better fit, not why your current role was a bad git. Remember that these answers will be shared with your boss and could be the last thing they remember of you.  Lastly, ensure that you understand what will happen with your benefits and retirement accounts, so you don't lapse in coverage or lose any important money that you are owed. 

Leaving a role that you have been in for even a short time can be stressful. You don't know exactly how your boss and peers will react. You are anxious about what the future holds. There are a lot of variables that can impact the final outcome. By following these steps you will help to ensure that you can leave effectively and professionally and maintain a good reputation throughout the process. Have you ever left a job? What was it like for you?  I want to hear about it! Post below or contact me!