Working for a company and the time has come to resign? We’ve all been there. Resigning from your job can feel a little overwhelming, especially when thinking of the response you may receive from your current manager.
No matter the reason for your resignation, doing so in a professional and graceful manner is essential, keeping in mind that how you leave can have a significant impact on your future ventures and career.
We’ve compiled a list of useful tips and practical advice on how to resign the right way:
An important step to keep in mind when resigning is to schedule a meeting with your line manager. During this meeting, you have the opportunity to discuss your resignation and any next steps in a more informal setting prior to sending your official resignation letter. This meeting also gives you the opportunity to revisit your employment contract to ensure that any additional requirements are met prior to leaving the business.
When you’re ready to resign, you need to confirm exactly what your contracted notice period is. Notice periods can be as short as one week or as long as a few months in more senior positions.
However, in some circumstances, length of notice periods may be negotiable depending on current workload and project status. Your employer may also authorise you to take any accrued annual leave during your notice period.
Once you have confirmed your contracted notice period, it is time to write your formal resignation letter. Your resignation letter should clearly state that you are resigning, give the date of your resignation and include the length of your notice period. For clarity, state when your last working day will be. This is best practice to avoid any confusion or conflict. This letter can also include a reason for your resignation (although this is not mandatory) and could express gratitude for the opportunities offered.
Whilst working your notice period, your current employer may have already found a replacement for you. We suggest offering to help them transition into the role by covering off an in-detail handover.
Some things that should be included in your handover document are:
Your last day with the company has come around and it is time to say farewell. Sharing your gratitude for the opportunity to work for the company can help to maintain positive relationships with your employer and even colleagues.
We recommend taking the time to personalise your farewell messages, thinking of everyone’s contribution to your work and the day-to-day working environment. Politely and sincerely thanking them for the knowledge and experience gained during your employment can help the employer and team remember you in a good way.
We have spoken about maintaining a polite and professional demeanour even after resigning, but this is especially important if you are hoping to get a letter of recommendation from your current employer. A letter written by someone who is familiar with your skills and achievements supports you as a candidate and can help you stand out from the candidate pool.
Whatever your reason for resigning, it is so important to maintain a level of professionalism and corporate etiquette throughout this process. You never know what the future holds and who you may cross paths with again, so it is best to not burn bridges.
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*COVID-19 considerations apply. All information was accurate and up to date at the time of publishing.
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