How To Quit Your Job - Gracefully ...
Quitting a job gracefully and professionally are essential because you want to:
Leave with a professional last impression
You never know where your career is going to lead. In today’s connected world, you’ll likely encounter one or more of your coworkers in the future. Don’t let a poor current situation dictate a future amazing situation because you didn’t exit gracefully.
Further, companies change. Leaving on a professional note keeps all door open for you.
and get a good reference.
Leave on professional terms with your former manager so you can feel comfortable asking them to be a reference. That’s why you should give a two week notice.
Here is the right way to quit your job gracefully and give two weeks notice:
1. Schedule a specific time to talk to your manager (ideally in-person)
Send an email to your manager with something like,
“Hi <NAME>,
Can we talk for 15 minutes this afternoon? I need to speak with you in private.”
This establishes that the meeting is for something specific and significant. Don’t bring up the topic at the end of another meeting or conversation with your manager - this makes them feel blind-sided.
Be strategic about your resignation timing. I suggest your timing to be after the 1st of the month (for healthcare reasons) and on a Friday afternoon. This way you and your manager have the weekend to process the decision and take a mindful approach to the transition come the new week.
2. Prepare a printed letter of resignation
Here is one template you can use but there are plenty of others on the internet with a simple google search:
<Today’s Date>
Dear <Your Manager Name>
Please accept this letter as formal notification that I am resigning from my position as <Your Current Job Title> with <Your Company Name>. My last day will be <Two Weeks from Today’s Date>.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to work in this position for the past <#> years. I’ve greatly enjoyed and appreciated the opportunities I’ve had to grow our <your niche service, product, or team>, and be a part of creating a <your team’s vision>.
I’ll do everything possible to wrap up my responsibilities and train other team members over the next two weeks. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help during this transition.
I wish the company continued success, and I hope to stay in touch in the future.
Sincerely,
<Your Name>
Keep it short, simple, professional, and positive. The company will keep this document on file!
If you’re resigning, there is no reason to vent or voice your dissatisfaction. It’s no longer your problem or concern. Just keep it generic and polite and non-emotional. There is also no need to mention going to a new company or job.
3. Have the conversation
Don’t let anxiety take over. This is a chance to leave a great final impression with your Manager and even suggest keeping in touch if you feel it’s appropriate. Lead with gratitude if you can. Gratitude for the opportunity you have had - even if unpleasant, you still likely learned something.
If your manager is half-decent, they’ll ask what you’re going to be doing in your next opportunity, they’ll wish you luck, etc.
4. Submit your resignation letter to your manager before you share the news with your colleagues
News travels fast. Don’t open up the risk of them someone before you inform your manager. It’s a fast track to making a BAD last impression. If this happens before you personally tell your manager, it’ll leave them feeling betrayed and hurt, and will make you look extremely unprofessional. The only guaranteed way to avoid this is: Resist the urge to tell friends before you tell your boss.
5. Stay in touch with former colleagues and managers
Your network is the easiest and fastest way to find jobs in the future – IF you stay in touch with people and make an effort to maintain relationships. So as a final step, think about who you want to keep in touch with and get their contact info. Connect with them on LinkedIn if you haven’t yet, or exchange emails or phone numbers. Each job you leave can be a boost to your network if you follow the steps above and quit your job gracefully and professionally.
6. Send “Thank You” Emails
I’m a fan of sending “thank you” messages because I think it can boost your final impression when you resign from a job. Take a few minutes to write up an email personally thanking them for their time, telling them you enjoyed working with them, learning from them, etc. This is a great step toward being able to reconnect with them in the future for networking, references, etc.
