Resignation Advice
To ensure that your resignation doesn’t create any obstacles that may affect your future, follow the guidelines below. You definitely don’t want to “burn any bridges” but instead want to keep your current employer as an asset in your career plans.-
Giving Adequate Notice Your current employer should be given two weeks’ notice of your resignation as a courtesy and a standard procedure. Make sure to allow for this in the start date with your new company. We recommend against giving more than 2 weeks notice, so that you’re covered in the unlikely case the new job falls through.
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Not Overstaying By not overstaying at your current employer, you also avoid the often negative reactions of your co-workers and bosses. These include resentment, envy and scorn. You’ll limit the amount of time you spend as a lame-duck, where your input and work may be automatically discounted..
Some companies will shorten your stay for you, by immediately having you escorted out. Don’t take this as a personal insult but instead understand it as protection against disgruntled employees who may want to do damage before leaving. (Even when this occurs you should still expect severance pay or other termination benefits.)
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Breaking the News Handle your resignation in person, preferably on a Friday afternoon. Speak to your immediate supervisor privately in his office. Include a letter of resignation with your last date of employment stated. Be firm. Make sure you let him know that your decision is final and that you won’t consider a counter-offer.
The resignation letter should be short and formal. Avoid any details about your new company or position. Don’t discuss the reasons for leaving. If your supervisor wants to pursue reasons, offer to have an exit interview where you can explain your situation in full. Don’t forget to give a copy of the letter to the company’s personnel department.
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Being Cooperative You should strive to be cordial and appreciative. Let your supervisor know that you enjoyed working for him and his staff and appreciate the opportunities the company gave you. The tone should be positive, emphasizing that you found a new opportunity you couldn’t pass up.
As part of your exit, offer to help in any way you can to make the transition as smooth and trouble-free as you can. Offer to help train your successor or delegate responsibilities in the transition period.
It’s likely that the company’s personnel department will want to conduct an exit interview with you to ensure that your departure is properly documented and any benefits such as accrued vacation days are paid. Bring up any questions you have regarding the resolution of insurance and retirement matters.