How to Give Resignation at Work: 8 Things to Do Before You Quit

The majority of people will have to put in their resignation at their job at one point in their life. Here are eight tips to make sure it goes as smooth as possible.

1. It is crucial to leave on good terms

My mom always used to tell me, “Don’t burn any bridges.” This is a popular saying that is very true. You never know where your career will go or what path you will end up on. It is important to be remembered as leaving on good terms so you are welcome back in the future and remain professional in everyone’s eyes.

2. Be prepared for questions

As soon as all your coworkers discover that you are resigning, you will likely be bombarded with dozens of questions. “Why are you leaving?” “Do you have a new job yet?” “Where are you going?” You have to prepare yourself to answer these questions appropriately and be sensitive to any issues surrounding your resignation.

3. Have your family/friends read over your letter of resignation

If you are writing a letter giving your notice, have someone read over it and check for grammatical errors. This resignation letter is a reflection of yourself. Make sure it is a good one!

4. Make sure this is really what you want

If you are having a bad week at work and are temporarily frustrated, don’t make an impulsive decision to resign. See if you have some vacation time you can use and step away from the situation. You don’t want to make such a big life decision without thinking things through.

5. Have a backup plan financially

If you do not have the support of your parents and family, you will need to rely on yourself financially. If you choose to resign from your current position, make sure that you have a backup job lined up.

6. Get the necessary contact information

Chances are, while you were working, you made both professional connections and formed friendships. Before you leave, make sure you get phone numbers and connect with people on LinkedIn.

7. Look into logistics

Before you put in your resignation, ask yourself if this is the best time to be leaving. Will your retirement benefits be more if you wait it out a bit longer? Are you planning on getting a raise soon? Is the company planning on expanding soon and offering more opportunities? Sometimes it is easy to evaluate the value of your job from a current viewpoint…but you have to think of how it will be valued overall over the course of your career.

8. Be kind and courteous

When your boss asks you why you are leaving, you may be tempted to say some not nice things about them or the company. It’s okay to talk about the reasons you’re leaving, but make sure you do it in a helpful way, so the company knows what they can do to solve them.