How To Quit Your Job: 5 Practical Steps With Ease

We’ve all been there when we want to leave our current position for another opportunity. However, the resignation process has never been easy: first, you’ll broach the subject, then hand in the notice, and write a resignation letter from work. If you’re one of those who don’t know how to quit your job professionally, today’s post is for you. 

How To Quit Your Job: Should I Resign From Work?

Resigning is a big event, especially if you’ve worked for that one company for years. If the reasons are irrevocable (like relocation or health issues), you might not need further consideration. 

However, if you’ve only thought about resignation recently, it’s better to sit down and ask yourself a few questions.

First and foremost, you have to figure out where the issue lies. Whether it’s from your colleagues, your manager, or yourself, pinpointing what frustrates you will help you make better decisions. After recognizing your problems, it’s time to seek solutions. 

Personal Issues

Personal issues are the most common reasons for resignation. But not all personal issues should result in quitting your jobs.

For example, if you think you’re not suitable for this one position but still love the company, you can talk to your boss about transferring to a new department instead of quitting. Likewise, if you’re concerned about your salary, discussing with your manager for a pay raise first would be better than resigning immediately.   

However, if you believe you can’t comply with the company’s visions or see yourself in a dead-end, it’s time to move on. Similarly, if you feel like you’re in the wrong field or can’t handle the enormous work pressure, looking for another job is the right choice then.

Working Environment

On the other hand, the unprofessional working environment tends to be a deal-breaker. If you find your surroundings abusive or toxic, then show no hesitation and quit immediately. Here are a few warning signs you should resign from your position:

Now, if you’ve determined that you cannot take the job anymore, it’s time to figure out our five ultimate steps to resign tactfully.     

Step 1: Prepare Yourself Before The Conversation.

Most people make the basic mistake of going straight to their boss’ office and tell him (or her) they want to quit. It’s adverse as you could feel super puzzled facing your manager’s questions throughout the meeting.  

How would you react if he makes a counteroffer? What should you say when he asks for the reasons? Or What to do if your boss gets emotional? Without preparation, higher chances are that these awkward situations would cause you to stumble. Thus, it would be best if you plan potential scenarios to handle any future circumstances better. 

Step 2: Open Up With Your Manager

Whether you love your job or have a bad experience working for your current company, remember to always speak to your manager before anyone else gets in between. It’s all about respect. 

Believe us. You won’t want anyone to gossip about your decision. And it would make the situation even less professional if these rumors get to your boss first. 

Open Up With Your Manager
How to quit a job 101: Talk to your boss first – Source: Sora Shimazaki from Pexels

It’s best to have an honest face-to-face meeting opening up with your boss about why you want to quit. If an in-person meeting isn’t possible, consider setting up an online talk or having a conversation with your boss via phone. The least expected option is email. 

Remember to deliver your decision firmly while keeping everything on a positive note. Similar to when you make an entrance, you would want to leave great impressions when resigning. Here are a few things you should go through in your resigning talk.   

Show Your Gratitude. 

More or less, your current job has taught you something, whether it’s experience or specific skills. Therefore, we recommend starting your conversation with a thank you. 

Feel free to briefly mention what you’ve learned from your current position and express your gratitude for having the chance to work for the company.

Reveal The Reasons Why You Leave. 

Then, it’s time to go straight to your decision and why you want to leave. It isn’t necessary to bring up your new position or your future career choice specifically. However, you could walk through the situation quickly. For instance, you might say that you found an outside job.

If you have to resign due to relocation, family issues, or health problems, you might broach the subject directly. However, if you leave due to incompatibility, it’s best to keep the reason general. 

Make An Offer To Assist The Job Transition. 

If possible, you should offer your assistance regarding the job transition process. For example, you could train the new staff that takes your position or find a replacement. However, it’s not obligatory. 

Hand In Your Notice.

Typically, giving out a two weeks’ notice is what you should do. The amount of time might vary based on your contract. For most companies, it’s a must to hand in your notice so they can find a replacement or arrange the tasks for someone else. 

However, if you fail to give out your notice, refer to this video for some valuable tips:

Specify Your Termination Date.

Finally, make sure to set a specific date on which you expect to leave. This date will be your termination date and will be a mark from which the company calculates your accrued compensation (if available). 

Step 3: Prepare A Resignation Letter (Samples Included)

Now, you’ll have to come up with a professional resignation letter from work. Unlike the face-to-face meeting, you don’t need to detail why you want to quit. Instead, keeping the letter as simple as possible is a notable point.

Prepare A Resignation Letter (Samples Included)
Writing your resignation letter from work – How To Quit Your Job. Source: Kristin Hardwick from StockSnap

You might start with the intro indicating to whom you send it, followed by your resigning notification. Then, give a brief thank you for all the knowledge you’ve learned during the working period. Finally, end strongly with an offer to assist the transition process. Make sure not to make any promises, especially those you cannot fulfill. 

Sample Letters

Here is our resignation sample letter to employer for your reference: 

Dear Mr. John Hensey,

I’m writing this letter to inform you of my resignation from my current position as a Marketing staff in XMA Marketing Company. My expected termination date will be Friday, May 13. Please notify me if there are any changes.

I appreciate that you gave me an incredible opportunity to work in the Marketing team for the past two years. During my time here, I’ve gained so much knowledge and experience regarding digital marketing, search engine optimization, and branding with which I will surely take throughout my path. 

Please let me know if I could assist with the transition. I’ll happily fulfill my unfinished tasks and train the new member in the next two weeks. I wish you all the best, and I hope to keep in contact in the future.

Best regards,

Mary Miller 

Step 4: Go With Your Job Transition Process.

how to quit your job
Hand over your job – How To Quit Your Job. Source: Kristin Hardwick from StockSnap

After sending out your resignation letter, all you have to do is finish your job transition period. Like what you mention in the letter, you will be in charge of training the new member and handing over your work. The process often takes two weeks, but it might vary based on your contract.  

Step 5: Examine Your Employment Termination Checklist

Finally, don’t forget to go through your termination checklist. It helps you prepare your last day better and includes all your company’s resigning provisions, such as the final paycheck.

Moreover, the checklist will wrap up all the company-owned property you need to return and feature some critical exit interview questions (if any). Also, remember to ask your boss for a reference letter a few days before the termination date if possible.

Find out more about the end-of-employment interview (also called exit interview) here for better preparation:

Conclusion

Resigning has always been a tough choice, whether you’re a fresh graduate on your first job or a senior worker. We hope that with our heart-to-heart guide above, you’ve grasped a sense of how to quit your job professionally. Read more on our blog for more career advice.  

Ava Isabella

Author Ava Isabella has grasped the art of writing and using words to perfect her writing. Nothing seems to beat the blend of far-out ideas and a passion for striving for the best work. On top of that, to become an expert in the industry, Isabella did undergo countless hurdles and challenges. She moves mountains and nails them with flying colors and she's strongly inspired by Arthur who gave a born to the masterpiece Empire of Pain - a portrait of the excesses of America’s second Gilded Age and super elite involved. Hopefully, her great fortunes with in-depth understanding can help more and more readers on the go of finding bliss or just letting off steam.