7 Things to Consider When Resigning from Your Job

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median number of years that salary workers are at a company is 4.6 years up from a median of 4.4 years in 2010. That means that most working professionals will at some point be faced with the prospect of having to resign from their company as they look to reposition themselves and build their career. When facing this stressful and uncomfortable task it is important to consider 7 important items.

1. Don’t cut corners.

It is very easy to burn out and many times people know when it is time to move on from their present employer. When a person finds themselves in this situation it is very easy to check out. Do not check out. It will affect all of the great work you have done in the past and potentially cause frustration with management and coworkers. Don’t let years of service be remembered by weeks of discontent. Continue to do a great job, work hard and don’t get frustrated. Recognize that you are leaving and you must keep your composure until you do so. All professional environments respect and appreciate a genuine and honest teammate.

2. Have a written offer in hand and background check complete.

Cross your T’s and dot your I’s. Do not jump the gun and make an impulsive decision to resign until you have signed an offer letter and have been given the green light from human resources that you have passed the background check. No matter how much you want to resign use constraint and protect your professional career and financial stability. It is not uncommon for an offer letter to have discrepancies that need to be discussed or for a background check to come back with concerns. Do not resign until you have completed the entire employment process at your new company.

3. Mentally prepare.

Resigning is never easy, so expect to be overwhelmed with a sea of emotions from many different people. If done correctly expect coworkers to be both happy and sad. Expect management to be surprised, distracted and potentially expressing anger, disappointment and rejection. Expect yourself to feel nervous, happy, relieved and worried. This is why it is incredibly important that you are 100% confident in your decision when resigning. This is also why you should never consider a counter offer. If you make the decision to leave a company then make the decision with no doubt. Counter offers are not an option if you plan to move forward in your career. Make a decision and stick to it.

4. Be the ultimate professional.

The business community is smaller than you may know and this has been multiplied with social media. What this means to you is that for the rest of your life you will need good references. When you resign make sure you are leaving on good terms. Make sure you have a manager that is 100% comfortable recommending you for this position and for a different position five years from now. There is a very good chance that you are going to need this person as a reference at a later time in your career.

5. Give notice.

Regardless of circumstances make sure you offer your current employer two weeks notice. Try to avoid leaving your present employer in a bad situation. Leave amicably and with a management team that is thankful for your hard work and eagerness to achieve a smooth exit.

6. Review your benefits.

When exiting your present company make sure you understand the details of your benefits package. Review your vacation and sick policy, and know how to rollover your 401k. These are all very critical as you transition into your new company and important to have documented before leaving.

7. Put it in writing.

It is a necessity to have a resignation letter to accompany your verbal resignation. Have it in writing and in your records. Protect yourself and save it in case you ever need it for future employment or employment verification.

Example:

Date

Company
Street Address
City, State

Dear Manager:

This is to inform you that I will be resigning from my position with Company Name as Job Title which will become effective as of Date of Last Day.

I appreciate all that Company has afforded me, but after careful consideration, I have made a decision to accept a new position. I sincerely believe that this career move is in the best interest of me and my career. I know that you will respect my decision.

I wish all the best for Company in the future, and I will do my best to have all my work in order before my last day.

Sincerely,

Your Name

If you are planning to leave your present employer for a better opportunity then Congratulations! We wish you great success.

If you find yourself in need of advice we welcome your email ([email protected]) or phone call (781-876-8100).