Quitting a job is something almost everyone has to face at some point in their career. It’s important to remember that no matter what the reason for quitting is, leaving in a professional manner is essential for your future. What are the right moves to make in this process? With a knot in your stomach and the feeling of guilt taking over, try not to forget these important steps.
- Be Sure– Are you sure you want to quit? Before handing in your letter of resignation, you need to be sure that moving on is in fact the right decision for you. If you received an offer elsewhere, take the time to weigh the pros and cons of both positions. If you don’t have a job lined up, make sure your savings account can take the heat. Many say it’s best to have at least six months worth of your monthly finances saved up if you are going to quit without a plan. Remember, it’s always easier to find a job when you have a job.
- Be Prepared – You need to be prepared for your manager to ask you to leave immediately following your resignation, whether you gave a two weeks notice of not. To prepare for this, make sure you think of all of the company’s property in your possession that you will need to give back and have it ready. This includes important documents, keys, phone, laptop, etc. It’s likely they will let you work your remaining two weeks, but it’s helpful to be ready.
- Give Your Resignation Letter– Write your letter of resignation and give it to your supervisor in person. Try to make sure your supervisor is the first person to hear the news to avoid them hearing from someone else. Keep the conversation as positive as possible as there is no point to be negative now. If possible, give two weeks notice to stay on better terms, which is standard. Offer to help with the transition in your remaining two weeks. You can start by making a list of your duties and passwords to company websites/programs only you have access to.
- Inform Co-workers and Clients – After management knows, be the one to tell your co-workers and clients that you are leaving. It’s always awkward to have co-workers or clients call in asking for you, not knowing you left the company. This makes you look unprofessional. Let them know it was a pleasure to work with them and ask to stay in touch.
- Don’t Slack Off – Don’t use your 2 week notice period as a free pass, completely dropping all work at hand. Work hard in your remaining 2 weeks and finish off as many projects as possible. If you are unable to finish, let your team know exactly where you left off. Be responsible and do the right thing. It could come back to haunt you if future employers call for a reference.
- Don’t Badmouth – On your final day, don’t go home and post how relieved you are that you’re done on social media. Chances are, this will get back to the company and you never know when you will have to cross paths with those people again. Keep it professional.
Remember that people quit often and it’s not the first time your supervisor has dealt with this, so don’t stress too hard. As long as you handle it professionally and offer as much help as you can with the transition, you have successfully quit the right way.