by Randy Place
When you’ve followed our advice — “Don’t quit your job” — given in the last post on Your Career Service, and have determined there are no viable alternatives other than leaving, read this article to learn five steps in how to resign a job.
- Write and rehearse the reasons you’re about to give for leaving. I know…. you’re tempted to burst into your bosses office and shout, “I’m as mad as hell and can’t take it anymore!” Even if you despise your job, don’t make your reasons personal. Reasons you can give for leaving include career advancement, an easier commute, more money, a lifestyle change. You want to resign with reasons that won’t stop your superiors from giving good references.
- Request a meeting with your boss. While it’s easier just to write an e-mail informing her about your plans to leave, it’s better to request a face-to-face so you can explain your reasons for leaving in person. In this way, you can gauge your boss’s reaction and discuss what you need to do in order to hand your duties over to a replacement.
- Stick with your script. As you meet with your boss, she’ll probably be surprised and be closed-mouthed at first while absorbing the impact of your leaving and anticipating the effects your resignation will have on the department.
- Stay cool. Whatever reasons you give, stick with your script while remaining composed. While you might be “as mad as hell,” you need to avoid becoming emotional, defensive, or confrontational. Again, you need a good recommendation and don’t want to walk out leaving a bad taste in the bosses mouth.
- After the meeting, write a letter or email that contains all the conditions you agreed to while meeting.
There are other important points that need to be included in your meeting and e-mail that follows the meeting. But they’ll have to wait for next week’s post on Your Career Service. Stay tuned.
The Your Career Service community would love to hear any war stories you might have about resigning from a job. Please click “comments” on the line below and fire away.
In the meantime….