Introduction
Quitting your job can be a scary decision. After all, leaving your employer with no notice could put your career in jeopardy and could even lead to legal action against you. However, quitting is sometimes the best option for everyone involved. If this sounds like it applies to you, follow these steps to ensure that the process goes smoothly:
Take the time to consider your decision.
In the world of work, there are many reasons to quit your job. It could be that you don't like your boss, coworkers or the company culture. It could be that you're bored with what you do every day and want to try something new—or maybe even go out on your own as an entrepreneur!
But before quitting, take some time to consider if this decision is truly right for you. If it's not a sure thing and if you're still not sure whether or not it's what will make you happy in life then don't quit just yet—take some more time and talk with trusted friends or family members about it first so they can help guide their thoughts too because sometimes we have our own biases about situations when really there is another side we haven't considered yet.
Know your reasons for resigning.
Know your reasons for quitting.
Before you quit, be clear on the reasons why you want to leave and what you want to do next. This can help protect you against feeling regretful or second-guessing yourself later down the line. Make sure that you're confident in your decision and know what steps are needed for you to achieve your goals. Be aware of how quitting will affect others as well as yourself—and keep in mind that there may be some circumstances where quitting isn't an option at all
Draft a resignation letter.
Include your name, the date and a brief statement about why you are leaving.
Include a thank you for the opportunity to work at the company.
State that it has been an honor to work with them, if true.
State that you will be leaving on x date and send your contact information so they can contact you with any questions or concerns in the future.
Develop your exit strategy.
You should make sure you have a plan in place for when it's time to leave. This includes:
Leaving on good terms. When quitting a job, it's important to remember that the company is not your enemy and they're not out to get you. It's important not only because it helps keep your credibility intact, but also because any unresolved issues might come back and haunt you later on down the road.
Preparing for the transition—especially if there are other people involved (i.e., human resources). If there are others who will be affected by this change, then be sure that all parties understand what the plan is moving forward in terms of how things will work or shift now that someone has left their position at the company. For example, if there are other employees who used to report directly into one person and now no longer do so anymore because she has left her job as well; then those individuals need information about where they should go with questions/concerns moving forward since no one else will likely know as much about them or their needs than her former boss did before she left!
Leave on good terms.
Remember to leave on good terms. You don't want your last impression of your former job to be a sour one and you don't want people to think badly of you by association.
Don’t burn bridges. If possible, try to maintain a cordial relationship with everyone at the office after leaving. This will help you stay in contact with some of your former colleagues, which may come in handy down the road if they need someone to help them out with something or are looking for a reference for another job opportunity.
Don’t gossip or badmouth your former employer while employed there, even if they were terrible people who never gave credit where it was due (or even did anything wrong). It could come back around to bite you later!
Quitting may be the best decision for you to make in your career, but it is still a sensitive one and should be handled appropriately.
Quitting a job is never an easy decision, but sometimes it's the right one.
It's worth noting that some jobs are meant to last forever and others are a good fit for you, but not all jobs are a good fit for everyone. If you're thinking about quitting or want to know when it might be appropriate to do so, here are some situations where you should consider quitting:
Your employer isn't treating your well
The environment at work makes you feel anxious or unhappy
You have been offered another opportunity with more responsibility and/or pay that would better suit your needs and interests
Conclusion
Quitting is a sensitive topic and should be treated as such. It’s important to know your reasons for resigning, draft a resignation letter, develop an exit strategy and leave on good terms with your coworkers.