The Do's And Don'ts Of Resigning From Your Job (And Moving On Postively)

Are you prepared to leave your company but don't know how to handle it in the best way? Do you want to move on to your new career opportunity but want to avoid upsetting your boss?

You have worked hard at applying for jobs, going to interviews and pursuing your career ambitions, you achieved that Job offer and signed the contract, well done! Now you may be worried about Resigning in the most appropriate way and for many very good reasons. You will want good references from your soon to be former employer both for now and maybe years in the future and the last thing you will want is someone who may try to sabotage your deserved career advancement. You may genuinely like your boss and be upset about having to leave your colleagues who have become friends, or you may be full of pride and delight at the prospect of dealing a “killer blow” to those who may have made your life difficult over the years and bringing your hard won clients to your new, friendlier, and better paying employer. Leaving an employer can be intense and stuffed full of intense emotions both positive and negative from both sides, and you will be lucky if it goes smoothly.

EQ is a common abbreviation for emotional intelligence which in its simplest form is understanding when things are going to get emotional and intense and recognising it in yourself and others and preparing for it, by containing the emotion and practicing positive responses to negative emotions or offer a poker face to words spoken by others that may try to illicit instinctual responses that may not end well, and it is possibly going to be the key thing to master to complete the resignation process in the best way. Here follows some ideas on what you should and shouldn't do when resigning from your job.

The Best Way To Resign

First of all, resignation is a professional act and should be done so accordingly. The people that have carried you through the ups and downs and were with you in times of glory and struggles may be the exact same people to give you references or whom you may eventually cross path with at a later point in your career – this happens often!

This being said, you should never let your emotions take over. Telling the boss who made your life difficult, or is just a poor excuse of a boss, exactly how you feel is often a decision that is regretted if its anything other than something like “ It’s been a pleasure working with you” if you cannot bring yourself to say that, then say nothing other than politely announcing, “ Here is my letter of resignation, my last day will be..."

So, what are the best tips for resigning from a job and moving on to that great career opportunity or new phase of your life?

The Do's Of Resigning

Stay professional

Keep your resignation letter short and to the point, maybe something like - thanking the company and boss’s time over the years, with regret you are giving your notice, stating the term of that notice and your final date of employment, thank them for their time/support.

Keep the letter free of personal and emotional comments, it’s just a closure of contract. Separately if you have had a great time with the company and/ or boss you can thank them personally face to face and arrange a leaving party to celebrate the good times

Advise your employers face-to-face when giving them the resignation letter

Always have in mind that you may come into contact with any of your colleagues or bosses at a later stage in your career so do not burn bridges

Choose your references carefully and let them tell you why they think you are suitable for the new job before giving that name to your new employer. They may be polite to your face but may harbor negative doubts, you must weed these people out so they will not be giving bad references for you.

The Don'ts Of Resigning

Never use insults or aggressive behavior - this will only show them why you are not the right person for the company

Never resign when being angry, arguments can blow over with time, or you find a solution first albeit another job.

Never give any reason that made you leave the job in the first place, it will lead to more questions and could end negatively for either or both party, you do not have to even when pressured even by the HR, it really is not their business, you are merely ending a contract and moving onto a new one that is best for you. You may say " Im moving on to a New Opportunity" and leave it at that. and if pressed you may say "I would love to tell you all about it but Its confidential" Of course if you are going to a completely different career that does not conflict with your current employer, or you won the lottery, are going to full time study or travel the world, you can say and discuss these things if you want.

Never go the way of blaming the company for something that didn’t work out or telling anyone those things at an exit interview, especially the HR, who may have to deliver references for you in the future, and they will only see the negative having not worked directly with you.

In the end, resigning from your job will not be easy if you want to do it right, but recognizing that and preparing for it well is essential, you are only as good as your behavior and the EQ that you display, you must show that you are a professional and above any petty drama. Whether you are quitting a nightmare job and boss or just moving on to a better Career Opportunity or doing something completely different, being professional is what it's all about and what will give you the best reputation in the industry you are in and enable you to continue to develop a career successfully.

Perry Barrow is Managing Director and Co-founder of Global Search Pte Ltd, Executive Recruitment Consultants for Banking, HR and Management Consultancy www.globalsearch.com.sg for latest jobs and news follow twitter https://twitter.com/globaljobsearch , thought leadership and market updates info follow blog at http://globalsearch.com.sg/blog.html