At some point in your career, you will be faced with resigning from a position. And no matter what the reason, there are certain steps most of us should take to ensure a smooth departure.
Once You Have Decided To Leave A Position, What Are The Best Steps To Take?
To help you make a professional exit from an organization, we have listed below 6 tips anyone can use when it comes time to resign:
Tip 1. Reflect On Why You Want To Leave: Although it might give you immediate satisfaction to tell someone you are quitting right on the spot, it is, for the most part, not in your best interest. However, should you get this urge, ask yourself the following questions: "If I quit, what are my options? Do I have enough money to cover my expenses for the next 6 to 12 months? If I do tell my manager that I am quitting, will he/she give me a good reference? What about unemployment; am I eligible?"
Tip 2. Look Into Your Future: Before resigning, consider where you are in your life. Do you have any commissions, bonuses or other financial windfalls due to you? Do you have a large expense due or repairs that would require dipping into your savings?
Tip 3. What Happens If You Don't Give Two Weeks Notice: When departing a company, are you going to be available to help train your replacement? If you decide not to give two weeks notice, will this show negatively on you? Nonetheless, it is best to give two weeks notice in most situations, as it gives everyone time to absorb the situation and reflect on what has or has not happened. Who knows, things might change due once you and your manager had a few days to reflect on the situation.
Tip 4. Read Your Employment Agreement: For those that have an agreement, you need to read it before resigning. If not, it could cause you some legal issues. Specifically, what does it say when you decide to resign? Is there a non-compete agreement? Are you required to do X, Y or Z once you give notice? Are you entitled to a separation package that outlines X amount of money or stock options? How are commissions paid-out should you decide to quit? Typically, sales personnel are let go on the spot and no commissions are paid on future sales. Bottom line: Know these answers before leaving.
Tip 5. Remain In Control Of Your Emotions: If you are leaving because of an issue with your manager, coworker(s) or any outside influences don't put it in writing; save this for your exit interview. When handing in your letter of resignation, it is best done in person or over the phone (versus through a text or e-mail). Although you might despise your manager, avoid any name calling or accusations for the obvious reasons.
Tip 6. Determine Who Handles Your Departure: Once you have handed over your
your letter of resignation (or before for that matter), you need to immediately go to your HR department to ensure they know that you just resigned. In addition, you also want to know how your last paycheck, health insurance, 401(k), life insurance, disability insurance, etc. are handled. After getting this information, do two things: First, summarize everything the company will do and how things are handled moving forward, and two, send a confirming e-mail from your personal e-mail address that outlines everything agreed in this meeting.
Executive Summary: When resigning, keep things short, simple, and to the point - it is never in your best interest to leave on a negative note. In addition, you are not obligated to tell anyone where you are going or why you decided to leave; however, if your employer wants to know, agree to an exit interview. Remember, how you handle saying "I quit," will reflect on who you are as a person both today and tomorrow. But most importantly, talk with a HR professional at your organization to ensure you are taking the best steps for you.
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