How to Leave Work
Sometimes you find yourself in a position, such as a press secretary in the White House , for which you are not quite the right fit. Everyone has to quit their job at some point. Whether you’ve found a new gig or just felt (perhaps by looking at the news) that seconds away from being fired – when it’s time to leave, there is a right and wrong way to do it.
Write a nice letter
Even if it was the worst job you have ever done and you would like to burn it, your letter of resignation should be polite and professional. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that the world is actually very small. Assuming you are working in a professional capacity, then your professional world is probably even smaller. Don’t burn bridges.
You will be shocked at how a bad boss or bad job can end up in line again. After ten years, you might want to get a job at another company where the boss is good friends, neighbors, or old classmates with your bad boss ten years ago. Or maybe in 10 years your boss will leave and you will want to return to the company in some capacity. The bosses are temporary, but your employee’s business is forever. Don’t hurt yourself for the future by leaving a nasty note there.
Instead, cut your letter of resignation down to a few sentences. Try to come up with a couple of suggestions about your stay with the company, and then mark the day you would like to be the last time. Something like that:
Mr Smith,
I have really enjoyed working at Acme Inc. especially for the past few years in the bobbin cushion division. Unfortunately, the time has come for me to take a position elsewhere. My last day will be August 31st. Over the next month, I will be happy to help find and train a replacement.
All the best,
Sally
Now is not the time to talk about what was wrong with you, or point out the bad decisions that have been made over the years. Be short, sweet, and to the point. You go away, all these bad things don’t matter anymore.
Give two weeks
Don’t ruin years of hard work at work by catching your boss off guard with a letter of resignation. No matter how bad the job is, you should always be offered the job for another two weeks after you file your resignation letter. In some cases, your boss may advise you to go ahead as soon as you go through the letter, in other cases, when you stay around, you can help the company find a replacement and / or come up with a plan to solve your problems. job responsibilities until they do.
If you have a particularly important job and like your employer, you might consider giving a month or more notice, or discussing a suitable graduation date with your boss. Or, your contract may actually stipulate the number of notices that you must provide. The goal here is to empower the company to make a plan for what they are going to do without you, instead of leaving them hanging unexpectedly.
Get ready to go
Before applying for resignation, be prepared for the fact that today will be your last. Sometimes employers are good at firing letters and want you to stay with you as long as possible (or offer you more money than that fancy other company). In other cases, the employer may feel betrayed by your retirement or worried that you will spend the remaining time at the company gathering knowledge that you carry over to your new job, and they may ask you to leave immediately.
Don’t clear the table before heading to your boss’s office, but back up any emails and files you want so your boss can block you as soon as he hears you leave. If you are using a corporate computer, make sure you delete any personal photos or files, as well as any chat messages you and your coworker have about how awful your boss is. That way, if he asks you to leave, you will be ready.