All you need to know about leaving a job

There are many reasons that drive people on to look for a new job. The most common reason these days is losing their job through redundancy. Less common reasons include; not feeling challenged enough in their current working environment, feeling undervalued and overworked or underpaid.

When your situation changes, it is important to have the right knowledge and advice to hand to help you through the process of finding a new job.

Managing your resignation

If you feel your role or workplace doesn’t provide you with enough challenge, you may be considering looking for a new job. Now that you’ve decided to leave to go to another job, or to take some time out, it’s important to handle your resignation with dignity.

How you manage your resignation can have an impact on the reference your employer gives to future employers. Adhering to some resignation etiquette should make the daunting prospect of announcing your imminent departure a lot easier.

Etiquette

Inform your manager, as soon as you can. You should always communicate your intention to resign in a letter.

The resignation process

The resignation process will only begin once you’ve written your letter of resignation, which is in effect a legal notice of your intentions to resign from your job.

The next step in the process is how you and others deal with your decision. An issue that may cross your mind is how you will get on in your notice period and how your peers and superiors treat you during this time.

You may wonder about how you will feel if you’re asked to stay on in the company. Or, indeed how you will feel if you’re not asked to stay on in the job. It’s also natural to think about the friends you’ve made that you won’t be seeing on a day-to-day basis anymore.

Finding the right time to hand in your notice

Unfortunately, there’s no ideal time or way to hand in your notice. Here are some factors to keep in mind to ensure it goes as smooth as possible.

Be discreet, don’t tell your colleagues before your manager. Let your manager decide who to tell next and when to make your decision public.

Choose an appropriate time to tell your manager, ideally not before an important client meeting or at a particularly busy time of the day.

Know your reasons for leaving and practice giving them if necessary

Your manager may be shocked or angry; be prepared for an adverse reaction. Remember you are within your rights not to tell them what company you’re moving to. Explain that you are willing to take an active part in the handover process. Stand firm with your decision.

Other factors to consider:

Your letter of resignation

Your letter of resignation acts as a legal document informing your employer of the date you wish to leave your job. Here’s some advice on what it should contain:

• The name and position of the person to whom you have addressed it.
  
• The fact it is a notice of termination of employment.
• The date from which you want your notice period to begin.
• Your signature.
• Add in a sentence expressing your regret and thanking your employer for the opportunities you were given during your employment – if you’re leaving under amicable terms.
• If you’re leaving under bad circumstances relating to your working conditions or issues with colleagues, be wary of including details. Don’t go into detail, if there’s no need to.

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