You will likely experience changes throughout your career as you seek new challenges and opportunities. When you leave a job, it is important to maintain your professional relationship with former employers. They may serve as a reference or lead you to another career opportunity in the future. In this article, we discuss how you can tell your boss that you’re quitting while preserving the relationships you have worked hard to build.
Related: Key Things to Remember when Negotiating your Employment Contract
1. Request an in-person meeting
You can maintain a strong professional relationship by first asking your employer to meet and discuss your resignation in person. Meeting in person is good professional etiquette that allows you to have a productive two-way dialogue in which you discuss your reasons for leaving and your plans to help facilitate a smooth transition. If you have a resignation timeline in mind, you can schedule your meeting in advance to give you and your employer enough time to prepare for your leaving. Taking time to meet in person also shows that you value your employer’s time and your experience in this position.
2. Outline your reasons for quitting
There are many reasons you may resign from your position, such as moving cities or seeking career growth elsewhere. When planning to leave a position, you should identify the specific reasons you’re quitting so that you can confidently approach your employer with a clear, thoughtful explanation.
If you are leaving to pursue other career opportunities, you can explain what you have learned with your employer that will benefit you as you enter a new job. If your reasons for leaving are related to your experience in the current job, you can discuss what you appreciate about the opportunity and clarify what professional needs another position may provide for you to thrive in the workplace.
As you consider why you are leaving, you may identify reasonable opportunities to improve your current position enough to stay, if you are able. If you are leaving to improve your work-life balance, you may be able to discuss altering your schedule or trying remote working options with your supervisor. The most important thing when making these decisions is to prioritize your happiness, job satisfaction and career growth.
3. Give at least two weeks’ notice
Providing two weeks’ notice is a standard professional courtesy in many workplaces. This resignation method allows you to notify your employer of your final day while giving them time to hire and train your replacement or absorb your responsibilities with existing staff.
You may provide a longer transition period if you are able to stay, but shorter notice periods should be reserved for situations in which your new employer needs you to start earlier or other extenuating circumstances that require you to leave before two weeks. If you have a new job opportunity waiting for you, you have the option to let your employer know that your leave date is based on starting a new position, though you are not required to provide that information.
You can give your two weeks’ notice during your in-person resignation meeting with your employer and include your leave date in your official letter of resignation. Using both strategies can demonstrate your dedication to supporting the smoothest transition possible.
4. Offer to facilitate position transition
You can further maintain a positive professional relationship with your employer by offering to help prepare your company and team for your leave. To help your employer facilitate an effective transition, you can:
- Help identify strong potential replacement candidates
- Complete as many of your current projects as possible
- Outline requirements and next steps for projects you will not be able to complete
- Train a current employee to temporarily handle some of your responsibilities
- Assist in training a new employee if they arrive before you leave
Helping your employer with these steps shows that you want to support the company’s success even as you move on to other opportunities. You can also strengthen the professional relationships with your coworkers and show that you care about their continued success in the company as well.
5. Express gratitude
When you meet with your employer, it is important to express gratitude for the opportunities you have been given at the company. For example, you’ve likely developed new skills and gained professional connections in the position, both of which you can thank your employer for as you prepare to resign. This position may even be one of the reasons you received a new opportunity.
You can also thank your employer in your resignation letter—you might also consider sending a thank you note. If you worked closely with certain coworkers, you can also express your gratitude for their help and support during your time with the company through a goodbye note or email. These gestures can solidify your professional connections as you progress through your career.
6. Provide constructive feedback
You can help your employer improve the workplace by providing constructive feedback on your experience. While you can discuss your feedback during your initial resignation meeting, many companies schedule an “exit interview” for you to officially report your experience.
In an exit interview, you may be asked to provide feedback on:
- Your experience in the office environment
- Your job responsibilities
- The benefits of your position
- The training you received
- The company culture and policies
- Relationships with managers and superiors
- Relationships with colleagues
It is important that your feedback is specific, constructive and honest. If your resignation is related to the experience you had at the company, you might encourage your employer to address and improve those issues. This feedback can help an employer better serve employees and boost retention, which is another valuable contribution you can help provide as you transition to new professional opportunities.
7. Provide your formal letter of resignation
It is also standard to prepare a formal resignation letter so you and your employer have an official record of your resignation. This letter should express your gratitude, identify your official last in-office day and contain your indication to assist with training or preparation for your leave, if applicable. You should provide a printed copy of the letter when you attend your in-person meeting to keep your resignation as professional as possible.
