Sometimes we can end up making decisions in the heat of the moment or without fully understanding our situation. This often leads to unwanted outcomes. Changing jobs is part of most careers and it’s something all employees should master doing well. As with anything else, there are wrong and right ways to quit your job!
HiCounselor strives to help professionals get the most out of their careers. This includes starting and ending jobs on the right note. Read on to find out how to quit your job the right way. If you’re looking for a job and would like some professional help, contact us and have a chat with one of our friendly experts.
Be Sure You Want to Quit
It’s best not to quit your job as soon as the thought strikes you. However, if you’ve carefully considered your situation and realize a move would be best, it might be time to resign. Sometimes, we can have a bad couple of days or weeks, but that’s usually not enough to up and leave. Try to ensure you’re leaving for the right reasons.
Ideally, it’ll work out best for you if you have a job offer in hand before you quit your job. Job searching while being unemployed is vastly different from when you’re employed. Also make sure you have the offer in writing because some recruiters have been known for rescinding offers after making them!
Abide by the Notice Period
Your employee contract will mention the notice period you need to serve before you can quit your job. This is usually a two-week period but can stretch up to a couple of months in some fields/companies. Fulfilling it ensures you don’t leave a bad impression on your employers who might later be called by recruiters looking to hire you.
Submit a Resignation Email
There’s a right way to write a resignation email, which we’ve covered here. You can also inform your supervisors and team members that you’ve quit your job. Do this verbally if possible or via group chat/email if you work remotely. You can also tell your supervisor and colleagues it was a pleasure to work with them, so everything ends on a positive note.
Talk to Your Boss & HR
After your resignation email has been read, you’ll probably be required to talk to your boss or HR or both. Try not to dwell on the negative experiences that made you decide to quit your job. You can simply state it’s time for you to move on. You can thank them for the work opportunity and wish them well. If you have to give an exit interview, try to keep it positive or neutral.
Get a Reference Letter
Some companies show great reluctance to give employees reference or recommendation letters once they leave. It’s better to try and get this done before your notice period ends. That way you can also fix any mistakes that may have been made in the document, like the duration or nature of your work. You can also ask for a recommendation on LinkedIn.
Finish all Important Paperwork
Before you quit your job for good, make sure you get whatever benefits and salary you’re entitled to receive. You can ask about getting unused vacation and sick leave pay as well. Make sure you understand how to roll over your 401(k) or other pension plan. Try to ensure that all necessary documentation has been finalized before your departure date.
Return Company Property
Once you quit your job, make a note of all the things you have that were provided by the company. These will have to be returned in good condition. This will typically include items like keycards, laptops, desktops, documents, phones, etc. Companies want these items back in a timely manner so make sure you’re ready for the handover.
That’s the gist of it! We hope this guide helps you quit your job the right way! If you’re still looking for a great job, contact HiCounselor and our robust job search program will get to work on that for you. Read our reviews to know what people have to say about us!
HiCounselor has forged technical advances to transform the hiring landscape for job seekers and recruiters alike. Our career accelerator program provides job seekers with coaching and mentorship from industry leaders employed at FAANG companies while recruiters ally with HiCounselor to empower their hiring strategy and hone in on the best candidates. Learn more about HiCounselor here and reach out to us on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
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