4 Tips to Quit Your Job the Right Way

By Kailey Walters on May 26, 2018

If you’ve ever been accepted to a job that you were really excited for, you probably had no problem at all accepting the offer and letting the company know how stoked you were. But on the other hand, if you’ve ever had to quit a job that just wasn’t doing it for you, there’s a chance you struggled with letting your boss down easily. There are many reasons why someone might consider quitting their job. Maybe the company they’re with just isn’t a good fit with their career goals. Perhaps the current workplace environment isn’t meshing well with their personality. Or maybe they need to take time off for personal reasons.

Whatever it may be, there are certainly proper (and improper) ways to handle quitting your job. To make sure you go about doing so the proper way so that you leave your job as gracefully as possible, read on for some ideas and tips you can use.

via Pexels

1. Be polite and professional.

No matter how extreme the reason for quitting may be, being professional about the whole situation is important. Even if you’re not exactly the biggest fan of your boss or your coworkers, acting cordially will serve you well (and prevent any other major problems from arising). With that being said, it’s definitely in your best interest to plan ahead what you’re going to say and how you’ll say it. If you find lists helpful, write down a list of reasons, only for yourself, on why you want to leave your job. Since you’ll be the only one seeing it, you can be as blunt as you’d like — just make sure you get all the main points down. Then look over all your points and think about how you can communicate those reasons in a polite, professional manner.

However, that doesn’t mean you should feel obligated to fully explain why you’re leaving. If you prefer to keep your reasons private to your boss, you can do that without feeling guilty and without your boss thinking you’re hiding something. The main goal here is to clearly and effectively communicate your desire to leave the job. As a result, it’s also important to show your manager that you’ve thought this plan through and that you really think it’s the best decision for you (and for the company) right now. Doing so will increase the chance that your boss hears you out and reciprocates a sense of professionalism and courtesy towards you. If you go on to pursue jobs in other career fields, prospective future employers may also inquire into your job history. You want to be prepared to show them that you’ve always been professional and courteous in any situation — which is why it’s so important to handle quitting your previous job gracefully. And, of course, being polite is just the right thing to do.

2. Talk to your manager in person.

When it comes to uncomfortable topics such as quitting a job, most people are probably tempted to simply send an email and avoid all face-to-face interaction because it’s just easier that way. However, easier doesn’t necessarily mean better. If you really do want to come across as professional and responsible, setting up an in-person meeting with your boss is the best bet. Give your boss a heads-up that you want to talk about something and schedule a time to meet. While it may seem a bit nerve-wracking to sit down with them and express everything face-to-face, remain confident and remember that it doesn’t have to be a serious, solemn conversation. Your relationship with your boss also determines the tone of the conversation, so keep that in mind while speaking to them.

3. Give plenty of notice beforehand.

The general minimum amount of time is two weeks. If you can afford to let your boss know even earlier, that is certainly more convenient for them and for the company as a whole, as they will have more time to prepare for your departure and start looking for someone to replace you. Giving less than two weeks notice is definitely the less ideal option, as it can leave your boss and your colleagues in a tight spot. Keeping in mind that you want to be as professional and responsible as possible, make it a priority to speak to your boss as early as you can. Also, staying around for those two weeks or more will show that you are willing to help with the transition process as the company searches for a replacement.

4. Don’t get lazy after you’ve decided to quit.

It may be tempting to slack off after you hand in your two weeks notice, but don’t give in. Continuing to work hard at your job just as you always have is important if you want to show your true work ethic and commitment to doing well. Plus, sticking it out until the end will most likely allow you to leave the job with a sense of accomplishment. After giving it your all and seeing it through to the end, you can feel fulfilled as you move on to the next big thing in your life.

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