How to Leave Your Job on Good Terms

Whether you’re departing because you’ve taken another opportunity with a different company, you’re relocating for your partner, starting your own business, or for any other reason, quitting a job the right way can be difficult.

The next time you have to quit a job, consider the following suggestions.

Provide Two Weeks Notice

It’s standard practice to provide at least two weeks’ notice prior to walking out the door for the last time. Also, if you have an employment contract that dictates your departure terms, you need to ensure you’re honoring those terms.

Based on your personal situation, you might be willing to give longer than two weeks. Despite the length of notice you want to provide, make sure you don’t procrastinate when it comes to informing your employer of your decision to resign.

Consider Giving Feedback

Although you are not expected to share a specific reason for leaving, it may be good for your co-workers, supervisor, and people to understand your motivation. The best approach to do this is through conversation. An HR associate may contact you after you put in your notice for an exit interview in certain cases. An exit interview usually covers your experience, what motivated your decision to quit, and feedback on the company.

Make sure to prepare before an exit interview so that you can provide useful feedback. During this conversation, it is important to preserve positive relationships. It’s okay to be upfront but keep it professional and positive.

If someone doesn’t contact you about an exit interview, think about getting in touch with someone to talk about any thoughts you want to share.

Make for a Smooth Transition

After you’ve given your two weeks’ notice, you’ll still have time left in your job before leaving. During this period, you’ll want to finish up any projects or work. Talk with your supervisor to find out the best ways to wrap up your time.

Record your daily work, where you’ve kept essential files, the status of important equipment, and other details essential to your position. This documentation will help whoever replaces you and facilitate a smooth transition.

Express Gratitude

Sometimes, a job is more than just a way to pay the bills. Depending on the length of time you’ve been with a company, you may have strong relationships with co-workers and managers, gained new abilities, earned promotions, adopted more responsibility, and grown in stature. Your experience with your current employer probably helped you land that new job, so it’s crucial to express gratitude.

Spend some time to personally thank people who have been important to your journey. This isn’t just good etiquette, but it can also help you strengthen your network, which will likely come in handy down the road.

We Can Help with Your Transition

At Career Concepts, our job isn’t done when we help a job seeker accept a new position. We help with the transition and ensure they get off to a clean start in their new role. If you’re currently looking for an employment partner with provides that level of service, please contact us today.