Leaving Your Job

Leaving your current position without causing problems for you or your employer is a tricky situation.  You never want to leave on bad terms because you never know when this might come back to haunt you in the future.  Even if you never plan to work for this company again, you might need them for a reference later.

We have listed a few tips below we think will help you leave your current position gracefully and on good terms. Always try to make this time the most stress-free as possible for you and your employer.

Do not tell anyone at work you are thinking of leaving.

Even your closest friends might slip-up at the wrong time.  Your direct boss should the be the first to hear this information and might feel betrayed if employees are aware of this first.

Do not announce you are leaving until you have completely secured your new position.

Never announce you are leaving until you are completely sure.  You would never want your new position to not be available after announcing you are leaving to your current employer.  Complete all negotiations and have your new employer secure your position before announcing anything to your current employer.

Never use company time to conduct your job search.

Not only is it disrespectful to use paid time to conduct a job search, many employers monitor web traffic, e-mail, and phone usage.   You do not want an excellent work relationship ruined because of job search misconduct.  You might need a good reference from them in the future.  Try to schedule meetings and interviews around your normal work schedule if possible.  Make sure your new employer is made aware of your current position and they will most likely work with you when scheduling appointments.

Put your resignation in writing.

Always discuss your resignation with your direct boss personally, but have a written resignation handy.  This will allow your boss to quickly send the notification and reasons why you are leaving quickly.  The resignation letter should indicate the reasons you are leaving in a polite and tactful manner.  DO NOT attack the company or any employee in this letter, any outburst will look unfavorably on your professionalism.   Reasons such as “better opportunity” or “more possibilities of advancement” are good to use.

Organize your work area.

Organize your work area and project documentation so your boss and your replacement can find everything quickly.  Remember, this new employee will need all of the assistance you can provide during his/her first few days.  Even if you are not training this new employee, it will look favorably on you to help in this small manner.

Plan to give two-weeks’ notice.

The standard notice is a full two-weeks.  Make sure you are not required more due to company policy or contractual obligations before resigning.  Once you have resigned, speak with the Human Resources department to get any information you might need before leaving.

Review the corporate exit policy to identify what benefits you are allowed.

Items such as accrued vacation pay and continuation of benefits are important factors.  Be sure to check your employee handbook if available and speak with Human Resources as soon as possible.