Time for a change? How to resign well

1. Check how much notice you need to give

Contrary to what Hollywood would have us believe, a big “I QUIT!” moment isn’t usually how resigning works.

Your contract should tell you how much notice you need to give your workplace – and depending on how long it is, it could be a whole month (or two!) between when you resign and your last day on the job.

You might want to give extra notice to help your current team prepare, but you can’t give less than your contract stipulates. If you don’t have a contract, you’re off the hook! But you might still want to give some notice as a courtesy.

If you’re worried it could be awkward to hang around after giving notice, you could always request to take annual leave you’ve accrued during your notice period – but that would mean you don’t get it paid out to you when you finish up.

2. Write a letter of resignation

Depending on your job and the way you usually communicate with your boss, writing a formal letter of resignation can feel over-the-top – but it’s an important document that will be kept on file by HR.

If you’re not sure where to start or what to include, check out some tips and templates here.

It’s best to deliver your letter of resignation in person or email it through after you’ve met with your boss.

3. Do it in person

It might seem scary, but meeting with your manager to inform them of your resignation can actually be a really positive experience – and can help set the tone of your exit process.

Affirm the positive experiences and skills you’ve picked up during your time in the role, and express your gratitude for your manager’s hand in this.

It could also be worth offering ideas on how you could best spend your notice period, whether that’s preparing thorough handover notes, searching for candidates who could potentially step into your vacant role, or even training them if your employment overlaps.

Remember – you can’t control how people react, but you can control the way you approach the conversation… deal with people’s reactions! By keeping things as positive and gratitude-centred as possible, you’ll not only smooth out the experience, but will hopefully earn some potential references for your future career journey.

This article was originally published at BeWorkforce.com.au