Congratulations! Your hard work and career accomplishments have made you attractive to other employers, and you now have a job offer in hand for a better position. I’m sure you’re proud and excited. However, before you break out the champagne, there’s a little unfinished business – you have to part ways with your current employer.
Did You Hate Your Current Job or Co-workers?
If so, get over it. There’s nothing to be gained by gloating over your success, and telling them all off only seems to increase the chances that they will turn up later as your boss somewhere else. There’s also the old adage that teaches one to “be kind to those you pass on the way up the ladder, because you’ll see them again on the way back down.” Don’t tempt karma.
It was your accomplishments at this company that made you so desirable to your new employer, so be grateful. Display a humble attitude and thank everyone for helping make your career advancement possible – even those who didn’t. If the company conducts exit interviews, don’t take the opportunity to vent about everything you thought was wrong and definitely don’t criticize specific co-workers. That doesn’t mean you should be untruthful; just temper your remarks and couch any criticism you do provide as helpful advice.
For First-Job Professionals, SYK…
There is a proper way to resign from your job, and ghosting your employer is not it. Most importantly, you will want your last paycheck, and disappearing without a word is not going to make your employer eager to send money. If you work under a contract, there may even be a clause requiring advance notice – just as employers often can’t fire you without giving or paying two weeks’ notice. If the employer asks you to continuing working for those two weeks, do so willingly and with a great attitude. It will all be over soon enough, and just seeing that light at the end of the tunnel should help you cope.
Understand and be considerate of the fact that your resignation, if unexpected, may cause problems for the company. They will need to find your replacement, and until then, everyone else will have to pitch in to take up the slack. While you cannot delay your start date at the new job, if you can do anything to mitigate their problems, offer to do so. Perhaps you can return to assist after hours or on your days off from the new job during the interim before a replacement is found. Maybe you can help train the new person or pass on the experience and knowledge you gained. The truth is, the employer will be unlikely to accept those offers for legal reasons, but you will still have looked great for making them.
Take Care of Business Before Resigning
At larger companies, it is very likely that you will be asked to vacate the premises immediately upon submitting your resignation. Don’t take it personally – it is standard HR policy for very good reasons. However, do be prepared.
Clean up your work computer to delete personal files, browsing history, and non-business related communications. Save contact information for everyone you may have a need to reach again. Gather up your personal belongings from your desk and cubicle, if you can do so discretely.
While you still have access to the company intranet, review the employee manual to understand how to transfer health insurance coverage and to determine whether you have any pay coming for accrued vacation or sick time. Download the forms required to move your 401(k) funds and allocate any remaining insurance or flex-spending benefits. Finally, have any company property, such as a computer, car, or cell phone, available and ready to turn in.
What’s In It for You?
Potential death by karma aside, resigning in a professional manner will also benefit you when/if you ever need a work reference from the company. In fact, ask for that reference before you leave. Whether in the form of a letter or kind words on your LinkedIn profile, this is probably the best chance you’ll have to receive their highest recommendation – if you treat them with the same respect. Consider posting similar recommendations on your co-workers’ LinkedIn pages first to increase the likelihood that they will provide the references you seek.
Finally, by making a gracious exit, you leave the door open should you ever want to return. Understand that your new job will almost never be as great as you had hoped. In fact, it is not rare or unusual for a new employee to quit or be fired in the first few weeks of employment. If that happens, you may be better off to return to your previous employment (it’s always easier to find a job while employed) rather than spending a few months looking for a new job.
