04 August, 2005

How To Quit A Job Gracefully

There are two things in our working life that we need to write well. One is a good resume and the other is a resignation letter. While one (the CV) indicates a start, the other (resignation letter) indicates an end. The common factor here is both need proper forethought and planning. Once you have made the decision to quit, it becomes imperative that you do it gracefully and professionally. The primary reason for this is obvious; you are a professional in everything you do and quitting your job is no different than anything else. You want to do it right. You will also need references in the future, and quitting with style and grace will help you immeasurably when the time comes for a positive review of your past work. So before you take that final leap, here are a few things that can help you bid farewell to your old job in a pleasant fashion. But first of all, are you ready to quit? Before you rush in to write your resignation letter, be absolutely POSITIVE that you want to quit, and make sure you've done your homework. You should be confident that the next job you have is better than your present one and if you aren't, then it makes sense to hang around until you?re certain. Writing a Resignation LetterYour resignation should be handled in person. Ask your direct supervisor if you can speak with him or her privately in their office. When you announce your intention to resign, you should also hand your supervisor a letter that states your last date of employment with the company. Remember to keep your resignation letter short, simple and to the point. There's no need to go into details about your new job, or what led to your decision to leave. Let them Know speaking to your boss face to face might be the most difficult part. However, make sure your boss knows that your reason for leaving is that you've outgrown your position and are looking for a more challenging job. Don't blame your boss or your colleagues for anything. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything bad either. Remember, you may be in need of a reference from your current boss in order to get your next job, so do everything you can to make the process as smooth as possible. In addition, you never know who you might end up working with (or for) down the road. The boss you dislike today could well be the one that accepts a job as your supervisor at your new organization!
Give Notice Many jobs require a month's notice before quitting. This is standard in the corporate world, and even if your employer doesn't ask for any notice, you should at least give him a week or two to tie up loose ends and find someone to replace you. If yours is a job that no one else at the company knows how to do, you may be asked to train your successor, and unless it is impossible, you should do so. Praise Your CompanyLet your supervisor know that you appreciate all that the company's done for you and that you'll do everything in your power to make your departure as smooth and painless as possible. Be ResponsibleFinally, ask if there's anything that you can do during the transition period (until you leave), such as help train your successor, tie up loose ends, or delegate tasks. Make sure that you provide a copy of your resignation letter for your company's personnel file. This way, the circumstances surrounding your resignation will be well documented for future reference. In all likelihood, the human resource department will want to meet with you to process your departure papers, or cover any questions you may have, like the transfer of your superannuation. Keep in TouchKeep writing an e-mail to your boss every now and then to let him or her know how your new job is going. If possible, ask for advice on your career, as you never know when you might need his or her help in the future.
Finally, be certain that you're making the right career move. If your job is monotonous but will likely get more and more challenging in the coming months, you probably should stick it out in expectation of the coming rewards. If your job has brought you to a complete dead-end, however, don?t hang in there. So, even if you accept a pay cut to move to a more challenging job, your career will benefit from the added experience and you will likely be rewarded in the future.

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