Resigning Gracefully

Congratulations! You've landed the job! Now you are faced with the delicate challenge of resigning from your current employer without burning bridges, and saying good-bye to friends and colleagues.

Your Management Recruiters of San Antonio Northwest recruiter will help you draft your resignation letter. Then, you will make an appointment with your manager to respectfully explain your decision. Your manager needs to hear that your decision is firm and final and that you are committed to your new employer. Express appreciation for the opportunities that your former employer has given you.

Be careful not to get lured into any discussions other than your resignation, such as how your employer wants to handle your final weeks or the transition of your current responsibilities and projects.

Prepare to Resign

So there’s no question about what belongs to you or the company, compile your portfolio, take personal property home, and remove personal files and software from your computer before you resign. Since you might get locked out of the building and computer network soon after quitting, you might not a get a chance to do all of this.

Give Ample and Proper Resignation Notice

The minimum resignation notice that U.S. employers typically require is two weeks, and they usually want it in writing. Check your company’s policy manual to be sure. If you don't follow company policy, not only might you burn a bridge, but you might also deprive yourself of termination benefits, such as pay for unused vacation.

Offer to Help

Consider offering to:

• Assist in finding and interviewing your replacement
• Help out as much as you can and before your start date

Do Ask for Recommendation Letters

Ask bosses, coworkers and direct-reports for recommendation (reference) letters, while they can still recall your finer points. Even if you've already landed a new job, look further down the road. It doesn't hurt to keep recommendation letters on file for later use. They have several advantages, the biggest of which is that you'll already know what your references have to say about you. Not everybody knows how to write effective recommendation letters or might draw a complete blank when you ask, so it's a good idea to offer some examples. They might be glad you did. It will also give you at least some control over the quality.

Say Good-Bye

Take the time to talk with each of your bosses, coworkers and direct-reports. This is especially important to help squelch nasty watercooler rumors, such as you hated your job or were pressured to resign. But keep it positive and light, while choosing your words carefully. If asked why you're leaving, make general statements such as, "It's a career opportunity I just can't pass up." Express your appreciation and say that you will miss working with them. If appropriate, distribute simple thank-you cards, notes or emails.

Don't Jump the Gun

Never submit your resignation letter until after you have a solid job offer in writing. There are countless stories of employees who've resigned based on verbal job offers that later fell through. How embarrassing and career-damaging might it be, to be forced to "cancel" your resignation?

Don't Display a Short-Timer's Attitude

Before handing in your resignation letter, make sure your work area and projects are in order and try to clear up unfinished business. Leave things in the same condition you'd like to see them if you were your boss or replacement. If you have to stay through your resignation notice period, conduct business as usual and give a little extra effort to wrap things up. It's not a good time to exhaust your unused vacation or sick leave days.

Don't Consort with the Boat Rockers

Some of your discontented coworkers might prod you to criticize the company, bosses or other coworkers. But it's not a good idea. You never know who you can truly trust, who your next boss might be or who is eavesdropping just around the corner in the cubicle maze.

Don't Bite the Bait

Your management or HR department might ask you for "constructive criticism" during your exit interview. But they might be trying to find out the "real" reason you've submitted your resignation. (Why did they wait until you quit to ask for your opinion?) Never criticize the company or its employees, no matter how much you want to say, "Take this job and shove it!" If they ask why you're resigning, make simple, noncommittal statements such as, "It's a career move." Avoid statements that can be misinterpreted, such as "It's a more challenging career opportunity." To those ready to pounce, this seemingly-innocent statement implies that you weren't happy with the job you've resigned. It might come back on you later, during background and reference checks.