How to quit a job

When you get a job, it would have come your way after a lot of effort.Once you start working,you may realize that you are not happy with the job. There may be problems in the work environment. You may have a boss from hell who is making your life miserable. You may not be happy with the salary or you may feel you do not have a good future in the company. In such situations, it may be best to walk away and look for another opportunity. It is better to quit when you are not happy instead of staying on half-heartedly.

When you leave a job, your presence must be missed. This is possible when you quit in a graceful manner without causing trouble to the company or your bosses. While you may not have been happy at work, that doesn’t give you the right to just walk out of a job. You need to quit in a professional manner and move ahead without any bitter feelings.

If you were planning to quit your job, then we tell you how you can do it professionally and with class.

• Review your decision

Before you announce your intentions to quit, review your decision. Sometimes, in a fit of anger or frustration, you may feel like putting in your papers and walking away. Don’t allow anger to get the better of you. Never take the decision of quitting a job hurriedly. Allow yourself some time to think. When you think over the situation and try to understand what made you angry, you may decide to change your mind.

Discuss with your family members or close friends before taking the final call. You may have a mortgage and other financial issues, so quitting a job without another in hand may cause problems at home. So, think calmly and don’t take a hasty decision that you might regret later. If you are feeling stressed, you can even consult a counselor/psychologist, before taking a decision. Even after this, if you are clear that you want to move on, you can then go ahead and quit.

• Don’t tell anyone in advance

When you are in the process of quitting, don’t share this information with anyone in your workplace,however close they may be.This is a sensitive decision that should be kept confidential. Until you are clear that you want to quit, don’t tell anyone. News spreads fast and your boss can know that you are planning to quit before you tell him. This can lead to an unpleasant situation. Let your boss be the first person to know that you are quitting.

• Find a job and quit or quit and then search?

Do you find another job and then quit? Or, do you quit and then start searching for a job? It entirely depends on you. If you feel that the atmosphere in your workplace is suffocating and you want to come out of it, you can quit first. Once you quit, you have time on your hand to search for a job that suits your qualification and skills. The problem here is you have to explain in an interview why you are unemployed at present.

Finding a job first is the preferred way for most people. They apply for jobs and attend interviews before leaving their current position. When they finally find a job that suits them, they would quit. This is a safe option to you to follow.

• Give formal notice

You cannot quit an organization by just walking away. You need to give formal notice of resignation. Generally, two weeks of notice is expected. You may have a contract that makes it obligatory to give notice of a longer duration. In such a case, you need to give advance notice as per the agreed period.Giving notice is nothing but submitting a resignation, where you indicate that you will be leaving the organization on a particular date. You can use the template below to frame your letter:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to inform you that I have taken the painful decision to leave the organization, due to personal reasons. Kindly treat this letter as my notice of resignation and relieve me on <date>

I thank you for all your support and help during my work here. I will be happy to help in the transition for a new person to take over.

Thanks again for helping me shape my career here. I hope to remain in touch with you. Can I request you to please give me a reference and recommend me on my LinkedIn profile?

Sincerely,

Don’t leave the letter on your boss’ table. Meet him in person and explain why you are resigning. Thank him for all his support and request him to relieve you at the earliest. That is the best way to leave gracefully.

• Let the transition happen smoothly

Once you submit your resignation, you are one-step out of the organization. It is now up to you to exit smoothly without creating problems for anyone. As a part of the transition, you need to complete all your pending work and then hand over work to your successor. The person taking over from you may need to be trained by you. Continue to work with dedication so you go out winning appreciation from everyone.

• Leave happily

Once you reach the end of your notice period, it is time to say goodbye. Make sure you complete all formalities including handing over company property like laptop, mobile phone, documents, etc. Bid goodbye to everyone. Meet your immediate boss and if possible,the head of the organization. Thank them for their support and tell them you hope to get a chance to associate with them in the future. Collect the reference letter and other documents before you leave.

Most importantly, don’t pick a fight with anyone or vent your frustration before you leave. Go out gracefully taking back pleasant memories and leaving behind a good opinion.