You may be terribly tempted to leave a job with a two-fingered salute, telling your colleagues and boss how much you dislike them and how dreadful the place is, but DON’T DO IT.
Believe it or not, it is terribly important for your career to resign in an appropriate manner and to ensure that you don’t say or do things that may haunt you later. There’s even a website full of advice on how to do it http://www.i-resign.com/uk/home/.
First of all, whatever you may think of the company now, you may need a reference later and you may, in five years’ time, want to come back – higher up the career ladder, of course.
Second, the people you work with are also likely to move around, and you may well encounter them further along your career path.
It’s important to consider why you are resigning in the first place.
• Make a list of reasons of why you are going.
• Is it an issue of advancement? Have you discussed career progression with your manager or the personnel department? There may be opportunities you are unaware of.
• If the boss offers you more money or a promotion, will you stay? Are there other issues that need to be addressed?
• Be careful not to use the threat of resignation as a way of getting promotion or more money, however. In some cases, you will be regarded as less than 100% committed to the company, and this may affect your future standing.
• If you’re looking at other jobs, make sure you work out why you will be better off there – more money, better position, location, time off and personal development.
When you resign, either verbally or in a letter, you need to think carefully about what you want to say – and stick to it. Don’t get into the negative aspects of the job, and never make personal comments about your boss. In some cases, it may be wiser not to disclose all the reasons behind your decision.
This is particularly true if you leave because you are being treated unfairly and you want to sue the company. In this instance, hire a solicitor, gather information and evidence quietly, and stay cheerful.
Notice period
Make sure you check the company handbook to see how much notice you are legally required to give, and stick to it. Allow two to four weeks if none is given.
If you decide to write your resignation, keep it extremely simple. Your name, the date, the person to whom it is addressed, notice that you are terminating your employment, when it is effective from, and your signature are all that is necessary. If your working relationship has been positive, you may want to thank your boss for the opportunities he/she has given you.
If the boss doesn’t know you’re going, expect him or her to react. Whatever the reaction, you should stay composed and stick to what you’ve rehearsed.
At the end of a resignation meeting, be sure to promise to finish any work that is incomplete and also to spend time doing a handover with your successor. This will leave a good impression with your boss.
Holiday owing
Be sure to check the employee handbook and know what payment you may be entitled to after resigning – unused holiday time, etc. You may need to negotiate if you are owed commission payments as well.
Before you go, get someone in the company to agree to give you a reference – sometimes, HR departments will only confirm length of time worked.
And a tip from top executives: keep in touch with business contacts and mentors, not just your friends. Start a contacts book of those who might help you later on in your career.