How to Quit a Job Professionally: Practical Tips for a Successful Transition?
There can be a variety of reasons why you can quit a job, but the important thing is to know how to quit in a professional manner and how to make the transition to a new job or new search in a correct and healthy way.
The way you quit a job says a lot about you as a professional, so it is important to know the following practical tips on how to quit a job and be on good terms.
Leaving your job can bring several changes to your life and can be an example of personal goal, so it is important that you can handle it in the best way and have a successful transition.
Written by
- Redaction Team
- May 27, 2023
- Professional Career, Professional Development
Table of Contents
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Pre-resignation considerations
What things should you keep in mind before a possible resignation? Regardless of the reasons you have to quit their job, the situation can be difficult, uncomfortable and sometimes, it can have a lot of emotional charge such as fear, anger, disappointment, among others.
Before giving notice, it is very important that you have some previous considerations that can help you to be better prepared for a smooth transition from your job in a professional manner.
Talk to your immediate superior
If you are considering the option of resigning from your current job, it is important that you speak directly with your boss in an exit interview, without making comments between former colleagues.
This avoids spreading rumors and making you look bad in front of the company, and leave gracefully.
Prepare your pre-notification letter
Professional resignations should come with a letter of notice, in which you explain in general terms the reason why you wish another career goals, the stipulated time in which you are going to leave the company and in some cases, a thank you to the company for the time worked.
Write your resignation letter
In some companies, giving a letter of resignation in addition to the notice is important, so you should know the correct guidelines for writing it. It should be brief and to the point, with the information that has been indicated in the notice letter.
Investigate possible replacements
Although it is not your job, if you have someone who can fill your position after you resign, you can pass the information on to your manager in order to help with the process of filling the vacancy that will remain.
Have a confident attitude
Although it is an important decision and can be nerve-wracking, it is important to know what to say when resigning from a job, making it clear that you are not going to change your mind and that you have strong reasons for your decision.
Consider new offers
Although experience in one area will open many doors in other companies, it is always good to try new things or dare to try that job you deserve for knowledge but have not yet tried because of insecurity.
No matter if you have the perfect excuse to quit your job, you should not quit from one day to the next, this can leave a bad image of you within the company and cause that you do not get a letter of recommendation if you need it.
How to prepare to quit your job ?
Personally, you should have a moment of preparation to resign, more if we are talking about a job you have done for years or the reasons hurt you as a person or professional. For this you need to take the following tips into account before resigning.
Making a decision like this is never easy, regardless of the fact that the change will be more beneficial, the change of a routine can always affect a person in a negative way. To avoid this, prepare ahead of time for the resignation.
- List your reasons for quitting your job.
- Talk to a career coach for guidance.
- Think about the pros and cons of changing jobs.
- Imagine the moment of conversation with your boss and analyze your emotions.
- Discuss the possibility of quitting your job with someone outside the work environment
- Go to the company psychologist and discuss your situation.
- If there is a possibility of staying under certain conditions, list those conditions.
- Read your contract carefully if you are resigning from a contract job.
- Make sure you know all your rights as a worker so you know how to legally quit your job.
- Ask for HR advice and help if you do not know how to quit your job.
- Keep a positive note and attitude towards the new changes.
Keep in mind each of the points listed above as they can be very helpful in preparing you both professionally and emotionally to quit your job. Don’t take it lightly, as change always has a different effect on each person.
If you have a suspicion that resigning from your job may end badly for different reasons, it is advisable that you can speed up the resignation process from the human resources department and that you only have to hand in the resignation letter.
How to handle the exit interview meeting?
The day has come and after having all the prior considerations of the resignation and preparing for it, you find yourself in the exit meeting. Although you don’t know what the reactions of your superiors may be like, it is important that you know how to handle the exit meeting to avoid inconveniences.
As much as you may want to quit a job over a message, it’s the worst thing you can do, so keep in mind the following steps to handle the meeting correctly.
- Step 1: Ask for a meeting with your boss in advance. This ensures that you have no intention of leaving the job "lying around".
- Step 2: Arrive at the meeting at the scheduled time or a few minutes early to avoid delays or tardiness that may tarnish your potential letter of recommendation.
- Step 3: Review all the documentation you must submit and make sure you comply with the company's protocol for resigning.
- Step 4: Maintain a polite and respectful attitude, regardless of your immediate supervisor's response or reaction. Remember that it may be a decision that affects or delays the company.
- Step 5: Allow them to give you options or solutions to avoid your resignation, listen carefully and do not interrupt until it is your turn to speak.
- Step 6: Thank them for the opportunity they have given you and do not close the possibility of returning to work with the company.
- Step 7: Ask for recommendations or job references, as it can open many doors to arrive at a job search with good references.
This way, no matter how they take your resignation, the meeting will be conducted under the most professional terms possible and your attitude will be taken as correct and professional, in addition to ensuring good recommendations.
How to handle the transition after resignation?
Now that you have gone through all the protocol and your resignation has been processed, it is time to carry out practical tips for a successful transition, where both you and your coworkers and bosses can be on good terms.
The transition process is the time between the resignation and the days you must remain in the company to comply with the contract or protocol of your position. In this case it is necessary to take into account a series of tips that can help you have a better transition.
- Be available to train your replacement: Depending on the time of work, it is very likely that you will be asked to work a few more days to teach the new person the activities to be performed.
- Maintain order when picking up your things: Leave your workplace clean and tidy. If possible, leave important instructions for the next person on space management, tips and motivations.
- Leave your work up to date. Do not leave any pending work, as this can put your team behind, try to leave everything up to date and help until the last moment you can, with the best disposition and attitude.
- Make your departure not a problem. Prepare your colleagues, subordinates and the new person arriving to continue with a good job and maintain the level of excellence they brought.
- Leave no trace. Avoid leaving personal items, files and documentations on the computer that may cause you some inconvenience in the future.
- Keep a good attitude. Regardless of the conditions under which you are resigning from a job, it is important that you maintain an attitude of respect and responsibility until the last day.
- Have a transition plan. This can work very well with the human resources team, your superiors and your department, as it can speed up the process and ensure the proper continuation of the project.
Among many considerations, tips and steps to follow, resigning from a job in a professional manner requires maturity, education and security, as not just anyone can carry out the above steps and leave a job in good terms.
Take into account everything that has been recommended so far and do not forget that new opportunities will not stop coming and that returning later to that job is not the same as having failed.
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