COVID has had quite an effect on people, both physically and mentally. The three months many people spent in isolation, followed by months (or even a year or more) working from home has inspired a rethinking of career options. Often labeled the “Great Resignation”, people are leaving jobs in record numbers.
However, there’s a professional way to leave your job and – well, let’s be honest here – an immature way. Ghosting the employer, while it may seem easier at the onset, should never be an option. If you want to have any chance of receiving a positive recommendation, be a professional and strive to leave on good terms.
Note – if you’re unsure if you should stick it out, research ways you can reinvigorate your current job. The assumption here is that you’re out the door.
Give adequate notice
Providing your employer with two week’s notice is still seen as the minimum; some companies may want an even longer time period, while others could choose to let you go the moment you provide notice. When I’ve left a job, I’ve often found the best way to start the conversation is to present a printed letter. It was never a long document. State that you’re resigning, you’re happy to stay until xx date, and you truly appreciated and enjoyed working there. You may choose to mention you’re leaving for another opportunity or leave it out of the written letter and just tell people in person. I usually included how hard a decision it was, even if I was screaming on my commute home. No need to burn bridges here.
Meet with your supervisor
I’ve always met with my supervisor with the letter in hand before I’ve told anyone. One of the worst outcomes would be to have your boss come to you after hearing rumors. This would only be worse if your new job opportunity fell through and suddenly you had no option but to remain.
Be gracious
Take this job and shove it, I ain’t workin’ here no more. While Johnny Paycheck made a bundle off these lyrics, this isn’t the time to take out your anger on your boss or the company. No matter your differences, at the very least you’ve gained perspective on what you don’t want in your next job. That’s valuable. Before your last day, take a moment to thank your boss (and anyone else you meet with) for the opportunity. In bad situations, I always felt I was the bigger person by leaving in a professional manner.
Exit interview
Many companies now require an exit interview, usually with HR. It’s not a bad idea to plan for this meeting before you sit down with your boss, especially if your company has a history of showing employees the door the minute they resign. You don’t want to be surprised if you’re asked to leave that day. Make sure you know the current level of different benefits (remaining vacation days, FSA balance, options for health insurance, etc.) and have an estimate of what you should receive when you leave.
Sudden free time at work
Assuming you are hanging around for a couple of weeks, you may find that your ultra-busy workday slows down. That’s okay – you can use this time to take care of some important tasks.
Provide an update on your projects. Even if you’ve been meeting with your boss weekly, providing a written update on your projects will be beneficial. Include not only where the project is – e.g. in legal or with a client – but also where your files are so someone can take over if there’s a sudden need.
Remove anything personal from your computer. This should go without saying, but don’t leave family photos or personal files on your computer. Make the screen saver generic. The worst I’ve heard is someone who remained logged into their Apple account and also had credit card information saved on the computer. Don’t be that person.
Check your remaining files too. Even if a file was job-related, do you want it being seen by others? Sometimes a project went off the rails through no fault of yours, yet your files may tell a different story. Don’t delete company information, but don’t leave incriminating information (if there is any) on you.
Clean the space. This may not be an issue for you, but I work around piles of paper. I once had a VP who wondered how I got anything done. Yet I knew where everything I needed was located; it worked for me. When I left my job, I didn’t leave those piles for the next person. Make sure that your desk could be used tomorrow by a coworker or the CEO. No, I’m not suggesting you take a vacuum to work, but wiping down the dust would be a good idea.
Consider paying for lunch
Even in the worst jobs there are usually people who helped or who lent a shoulder when you were at your wits’ end. Consider meeting them for coffee or taking them to lunch. If they cared about you enough to provide support, they will want to know what your next step in life will be and will probably be excited for you.
Even if you aren’t caught up in the Great Resignation, one day you will probably leave a job for another. Being a professional throughout this process not only may help you feel better but may help you land another job in the future.
Photo by magnet me