Time to Move On From Your Job? 6 Tips for Resigning Gracefully

Changing employers is not something uncommon today but resigning can still be a sensitive situation for many professionals. The reason why you want to resign can depend on many factors. It may be because you want to change jobs, study, relocate, or simply because the job no longer suits your needs. Regardless of the reason you have for handing in your resignation, the resignation must be done professionally.

In the article below, we go over some points and tips on how to plan your departure and resign thoughtfully and gracefully.

Plan Ahead

It is rarely wise to resign in haste. Even if you’ve received a better job offer, before you hand in your resignation, you must be sure that you’ve made your decision and that it’s the right one. If you know why you want to quit, you’ll feel safer quitting, and you won’t be persuaded to stay by a counteroffer.

Make sure to get your new job offer in writing, check the notice period, and practice what you want to tell your boss beforehand. Then you can feel more comfortable when you resign and it will be easier to answer your employer’s questions.

Meet With Your Boss

Choose a suitable time to meet with your boss, and talk to them before you let your colleagues know that you intend to quit. Explain why you’re resigning politely and professionally, and state that you are willing to finish the projects you are currently working on before you quit. 

Set a time for a follow-up meeting where you hand in your resignation letter and discuss how the transition should take place.

Write a Resignation Letter

After meeting with your manager, the next step would be to submit a concise and professionally-written resignation letter.

A resignation letter is an official document that you write to announce that an employment contract is to end. It is often used to clarify that you choose to end the service but also to guarantee that you can leave the service after the employment contract’s notice period. Feel free to start the resignation letter by extending your gratitude for the time you spent at the company. It is important that you are professional and do not write anything negative about any of your coworkers or the company itself.

You can use a resignation letter generator to ensure that you’ve covered all the essential aspects and clearly explain why you want to move on with your career while maintaining positive relationships with the employer in the future.  

Consider Your Reputation

The last days at your job can feel difficult and overwhelming. Many people might just want to leave and move on, some feel a sense of sadness and others can find it difficult to get motivated to do a good job. For this reason, do your best to leave politely and gracefully. 

This can protect your reputation with your peers, help you with future references, and your personal brand. Leaving the workplace on good terms with old colleagues and managers is very important.

Complete Your Responsibilities

The impression you leave behind when you quit can play a big role in what kind of reference you get in the future. Try to finish as much as possible of the work you have left during your notice period. Offer to train your replacement, hand over unfinished tasks to colleagues, or write a detailed description of the tasks for the person replacing you.

Let your contacts and clients know that you’re leaving the company, and tell them who they should contact in the future instead. You can also ask to add them as contacts on professional platforms such as LinkedIn if you don’t already have each other as a contact there.

Feedback and References

Before leaving, schedule a closing interview where you offer developing feedback, that can highlight what you’ve learned and appreciated about the workplace and what didn’t work. Ask your manager for a written letter of recommendation even if you have already found a new job, it is good to have it for future recruitment interviews and ask them if they can consider being a verbal reference in the future.

Don’t underestimate the importance of a thank you, make sure to thank your contacts and nurture the relationships you’ve gained. It will be positive for your future career.

Conclusion

Many professionals resign when new opportunities arise. However, you should never break the trust and reputation you’ve built. If you talk negatively or take shortcuts toward the end of your working days at a company, that’s the image your colleagues will remember and share. Not how good and committed you were in the beginning. Through a neat finish, you strengthen both your reputation and future opportunities.