Many people make the choice to leave their current job on a daily basis. This isn’t something that should be frowned upon, as long as it is done in a professional manner. Poor work-life balance, a need for more money, lack of opportunity for growth, and overall better offers are all valid reasons to leave a job. Whether you’re feeling guilty about leaving or simply despise your job, you still need to pull it together and give notice in a professional and respectable way. It’s never a good idea to burn bridges with former bosses or colleagues, especially when staying in the same industry. You never know who could help you down the road.

Quitting a job is nerve-wracking. There’s no arguing the facts. There can be so many mixed emotions depending on the situation. Despite these feelings, just remember that you are not the first person to leave the company you work for and you are certainly not the last either.


Know Your Next Steps

There is a reason you’re leaving your job. If it’s for a pay raise or a more flexible schedule, you should make sure you have an offer locked in. The last thing you want is to quit your current job without a rebound and end up in even worse standing.

Landing a new job can take weeks or even months. If your goal is to find a new role with a new company, get on top of this early. There is no point in leaving a job, even if you hate it, without a backup plan. In cases where your company is unethical or makes you feel abused, this is an exception and you should get out of there.

Create a Transition Plan

When you’ve finally figured out your next steps and secured a new job, it’s time to start the actual process of leaving your current job.

An employee leaving is a big change for any company. Think about your managers and co-workers. How will this affect them? What can you do to make things go smoother once you’re gone? If you go to your boss to explain that you are leaving the company and have an outline of how to transition the work from you onto whoever fills your position, chances are they will feel a lot more at ease and you’ll be making your best effort to leave on good terms.

Completing any work you have in progress, prepping training guides or notes for the next employee, and showing that you care about the companies wellbeing even though you left, says a lot.

Tell Your Boss First

No leader should have to hear whispers from employees about a colleague quitting. This leads to lots of rumors ad grey areas that can turn out bad for you. Two weeks’ notice Is typically sufficient, but companies may have more specific policies so be sure to look into yours. And if you know sooner than that, tell them then! It’s never a bad idea to do this sooner rather than later.

Additionally, always remain calm, clear, firm, and thankful when explaining things to your boss. Like mentioned before, even if you hate your job or your boss with a burning passion, put it aside and do things professionally. At the very least, thank them for the opportunity that gave you experience and income.

Some companies may also require formal letters of resignation. In this case, you should complete this immediately after your in-person confrontation.

Meet With HR to Tie Up Loose Ends

At this point, you’re past the hardest part of the process. There are still a few things to handle before your completely done with this company, however.
Talk to someone in HR about your ex-employee benefits. If they have outplacement services, a bonus to be paid on the last day, or anything else, now is the time to find out. This is also a good chance to get up to speed regarding your 401(k). Be sure to find out if and how it can be transferred. Last but not least, find out when you’ll get your last paycheck. You don’t want to go unpaid your last two weeks or forget to pick it up.

Final Advice:

Don’t be so afraid to quit your job that you’d rather be miserable there than make a move. People leave jobs all the time, and it is nothing to be ashamed of when done the proper way. As long as you have a game plan, do things in a timely fashion, stay professional and cover all your bases, you can leave with peace of mind.

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