Nobody wants to be called a quitter—especially not in the workplace. But what happens when you want to leave your present job for another position or for some other personal reasons? Regardless of the reason, resigning from your existing job can always get tricky! Hundred thoughts cross your mind. Will you be shown the door immediately? Or will you be cajoled to stay? Whatever be the case, your main concern should be to ensure that there is no shock or awe involved! The trick is to find the middle ground where you can have adequate conversations about what you plan to do next with your career, so that when the day comes to leave, you have valid reasons to prove your point and present a strong case!
So here are few tips for developing a positive exit strategy without burning the bridges:
Keep it confidential
The first person at your workplace who should know that you are resigning should be YOUR BOSS! Some of us often make the blunder of not informing our bosses FIRST. Confiding in your colleagues who may unintentionally let the news slip to your boss isn’t a peril worth taking. It can get very ugly and painful for you if your boss asks you about it even before you have shared the news. It might even come as a shock to them! So keep it confidential and try making it as smooth as possible. Explain politely with a plausible reason why you have decided to quit. Don’t get aggressive no matter what your grievances may be.
Be professional
Your resignation should never catch your manager off- guard! The best way is to deliver the news in person, objectively, devoid of any emotions. Schedule a meeting via email and compose a resignation letter to carry with you. Your resignation letter should begin by thanking your current employer for the opportunities they’ve given while apologetically informing them of your decision to leave. The tonality of the letter should be respectful, businesslike and polite with absolutely zero undertones of dissatisfaction or sarcasm. If you do feel the need to cite your reasons, put a positive spin on them if at all feasible. Never mention directly employees or supervisors you’ve had trouble with in the past. Making an enemy out of your current employer will possibly come back to haunt you one day.
Serve a proper notice period
Nothing can be worse than walking out unannounced! The resentment created by this act will certainly come through when a future employer calls to verify. And the last thing you would want is having this kind of reputation following you around. So check with your HR to find out the notice period required and tack on a few extra weeks if feasible. By doing so, you will not only do your company and manager a favour but also have a more amicable farewell and departure.
Chart out your transition plan
Never leave without completing all your work commitments. Just because you have put in your papers doesn’t mean you can get careless and complacent. Try meeting all your targets even for the last month of your tenure. Doing so, you will earn admiration and co-operation of your and bosses and seniors. You can also offer to train your replacement. This will reinstate your professionalism and will also set an example for the others in the office.
Make a positive departure
It’s easy to mentally check out of your job long before you’re actually physically gone. As appealing as it might be to blow off your existing job once you have a new one, it’s vital to stay professional till the very end. You never know when you might need your ex- boss to put in a good word for you. So, remain diligent till the end and keep your options always open.
Quitting your job is never easy! Emotions will always be high, and even if you have something great lined up, the uncertainty can get brutal. So, stay positive — the worst-case scenario almost never happens. Remember that you’re quitting for a reason. Even if things momentarily get difficult, they won’t stay that way forever.
