resignation | Journey

Whether you are ready for a career change or have been offered a new job, leaving your current one can be both exciting and tricky.

Sometimes, it’s tempting to get all the negative things off your chest about everything you think is wrong with the company in your resignation letter, but it’s in your best interest to remain professional, polite, and unemotional. With the right wording, you can leave your job on good terms and ensure a positive reputation, so take a look at these tips to help you write your resignation letter.

Keep letters of resignation positive. Don’t burn your bridges with allegations of mistreatment or insults. By keeping resignation letters positive, you also avoid the risk of libel or defamation, and you increase the likelihood that your boss will give you a future reference.
Give verbal notification of your resignation to your immediate supervisor first. After the verbal notification, follow up with resignation letters to your boss, other managers, and the human resources department.
Keep it simple. Although you’ve probably shared your reasons for leaving with your boss, you don’t have to share them in your letter. Just simply state the position you are resigning from and the date of your last day.
Don’t forget gratitude. It’s always a good idea to thank the company for the job and the opportunities you were given. Add a few things you enjoyed about the job or a few successes you achieved. Remember – you want to leave a positive impression.
Offer to help with transitions. Another way to leave with a glowing reputation is to offer to ease the challenges of your leaving. Don’t promise anything you don’t want to do, but add that you’d be willing to help with the transition and a smooth wrap-up of all your duties.
End with a smile. At the conclusion of your letter, thank the organization again for the opportunities you were given and wish them luck and success.

Here’s a good example of a basic resignation letter that covers all our tips.

Dear (Boss),

Please accept my official notice of resignation. I am grateful for all the work we have been able to accomplish at (company name). However, I (have accepted another position) (have decided to move forward with my career) and plan to leave in two weeks. My final date will be (date).

I will work with you to wrap up as much as possible in the next two weeks to make my resignation as smooth as it can be. If you have any suggestions on how we can best accomplish that goal, please let me know.

I appreciate all the opportunities this position has granted me, and I wish (company name) success in the future.

Sincerely,

(Your name)

Have you ever written a resignation letter? If so, share your experiences with us in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Giving your resignation to your boss is never an easy thing to do.

You may not get along with your boss or you may dislike your job, but it’s still important to quit your job professionally and with tact. If you’re preparing to resign from a job, plan it out and handle it as carefully as you would any other business decision. Don’t burn your bridges, because you never know when a former employer will come in handy for as an ever-important reference.

If you are absolutely certain that it’s time for you to resign from your job, here are some tips to make quitting a little easier and more professional.

Always give notice.
Chances are, your employee handbook spells out how much notice you should give. If it does, then abide by it or offer at least two weeks of notice. If you absolutely cannot stay a minute longer, here are some acceptable reasons for not giving notice.

Stick to your guns.
Sometimes, your boss might ask you to stay a little longer than two weeks. You have no obligation to stay, but the decision is ultimately up to you. Offer to help your previous employer by training someone during your two weeks or answering questions that may be emailed to you in the coming weeks.

Write a formal resignation letter.
Be professional in the letter, submit it, and tell your immediate supervisors about your decision. Need tips on how to write a resignation letter? Check out these tips.

Keep it short and sweet.
Emphasize the positive things you gained at the company, but be firm about your decision to leave. Offer to help during the transition, and try to keep negativity out of the letter. You may have great reasons for leaving, but there’s no point in hashing it out – you’re leaving anyway, so make sure you leave on good terms.

Ask for a reference.
Always ask for a written letter of recommendation for future employers.

The devil is in the details.
Before leaving, get your employee benefits, unused vacation, sick pay, and retirement funds all in order. Some great tips about employee benefits are available here.

Don’t take what doesn’t belong to you.
Sure, this may seem like common sense, but even your email list might fall under this category. Before you leave, return important documents, property like cell phones, keys, and anything else that you didn’t personally buy.

Stay present.
It’s easy to check out that final week of work, but keep doing your best. Being professional up to the very end will pay off.

Leaving a job and turning in a resignation is a stressful transition. Take time to decompress and renew your spirit to make sure you have the right state of mind to hit the ground running at your new job.

Have you ever resigned from your job? How did you handle it? Share with us in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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