Help with how to quit your job and resign gracefully from the company.
You have decided to move on and want to resign from your job. Follow the
resignation guidelines to deliver your resignation letter in a diplomatic and professional manner and avoid coming across as a negative employee.
Leaving the company on the right note is important for maintaining a
positive relationship that will be of benefit to you in your future
career.
Use the different sample resignation letters to make sure that the process of leaving your job is properly and smoothly managed.
Regardless of your reasons for leaving or how you really feel, your resignation should not
involve anything negative or critical of the company, your boss or
colleagues.
How to quit your job – avoid a negative attitude
It is essential that you avoid bad mouthing previous employers. This is why:
- You may need to use the employer as a reference later in your career
- It
is in your best interests to leave a positive impression behind. All
businesses network and interact, information is passed around quickly - The resignation letter will remain on your employment file and could be shared with potential future employers. View this sample resignation letter for your use
- You don’t want to have to avoid ever running into your boss or colleagues again because you left on bad terms
- Keeping your resignation positive and polite means you avoid any risk of libel or defamation liability
Resignation etiquette – top tips on how to quit your job gracefully
- Avoid
bragging to colleagues about your wonderful new opportunity. Rather
focus on what you have gained from the company and what you will miss
when moving on. This way you leave on good terms - Follow company
guidelines when resigning. Particularly follow your contractual
obligations with regard to notice period. Traditionally this is two
weeks but you will need to check your employment contract - Organize any outstanding benefits pay or any compensation due to you
- You can volunteer to work with the new recruit to train them in your job
- If you resign verbally it should be confirmed in writing. Use the letter of resignation template to help you with this
- Be
productive until the day you leave. Avoid taking the approach that it
doesn’t matter what you do during your notice period. This just creates
hostility towards you - Do your best to complete assignments and tasks before you go and leave easily accessible information for your replacement
How to write and deliver your letter of resignation
- Make
sure you know who to address your letter of resignation to and who
should receive copies. Check with HR if you are unsure. Keep a copy for
your own records - Don’t use the company letterhead for your
resignation letter. Using company stationery to write your resignation
letter is considered inappropriate - Deliver the resignation
letter by hand to the person responsible if possible. You don’t want it
to be left lying unopened in an in-tray. This can lead to disputes about
whether and when you resigned and whether you have served the required
notice period. - Try to make sure that the date on the letter and the date
it is received are one and the same to avoid any confusion over
effective date of resignation
Sample resignation letters
What to do after your resignation
What is a good reason for leaving a job?
There are a number of valid reasons for leaving a job. If you feel you need to explain why you are resigning these explanations can help you.
Good Reasons for Leaving a Job
Use this how to quit your job checklist to ensure you have covered everything before you leave.
