Leaving a job is a normal phenomenon in everyone’s career. However, there are many reasons a person may need to leave their job. These may include the need to move on to another phase of life, getting a better offer, family issues, or even wanting to explore more career options.
Though it might seem easy, quitting a career is very daunting. It is even more dispiriting if you have worked with the organization for so long. Another difficult part is to inform your employer and leave without ruining the relationship that you have built with them over time.
Are you considering leaving your present job now or in the future on a positive note as well as without burning bridges? Then, continue reading this article to find out how to do so.
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A two-weeks’ notice letter is a formal way of letting your employer know that you are quitting two weeks before you leave. It is the customary duration for notifying the employer before leaving a job, irrespective of your profession. Your final two weeks can be counted as ten-working days or fourteen days, as it might apply to you. Even though no rule stipulates this, it has become the norm in the corporate world. You can tell your boss orally about your intention to leave or write it.
There is mostly no legal implication for leaving a job without two-weeks’ notice. However, it has some benefits, and this should be considered. Let us continue to check out some of the benefits:
Having a relationship with the person you have been working with is normal. Unfortunately, some relationships get frayed or even broken when the employee leaves. This may affect further relationships and future benefits between the employer and the employee. Giving a two-weeks’ notice letter, however, will help lessen the hurt of your employer losing you. This, in turn, will prevent you from burning bridges.
A company can be affected when they lose a talented employer. Even if a replacement is found for the role immediately, they may lack the experience you have garnered over the years. This might cost the company some distress. When you give two weeks’ notice, it will help your company handle losing you more easily.
Leaving makes your current position vacant. Finding someone new may take time, so if you leave suddenly, your company may have to leave the post empty for a while. However, putting in a notice two weeks before you quit may help your company find someone to take up the position before your last day at work.
Some companies save up benefits for their employees to be collected later. These may be in the form of a percentage of the salary being saved for them. Most of these benefits are meant to be collected when retiring. Leaving, however, may make you forfeit them. Therefore, it is advisable to inform them early so that they can arrange for your benefits upon leaving.
Some employment contracts may stipulate that the employee puts in a notice within a specified time before leaving. Breaching this contract may lead to legal tussles or even discredit with your new employer. However, it is better to be safe than sorry, so let your employer know you are leaving earlier. This will prevent any troubles with the law in the future.
Your soon-to-be former workplace is one of the places you can consult when you need a reference in the future. Your new places may require a reference letter from your former workplace. There might be other reasons you need them to vouch for you. You can only consider having them testify for you in the future if you leave on a good note.
This is a standard/common practice among company policies to give two weeks notice letters before leaving your workplace. Moreover, it is good that you have decided to hand the one in before getting a new job. However, there are certain things that you need to put in place to do it well. We have enumerated some below to help you design a great two weeks notice template.
Your employee’s contract/handbook is bound to have rules about your current employment. This includes rules about how you can leave the service when you want to. When you have decided to quit, you must go back and study the handbook. Even if you are looking at it for the last time, it will give you an idea about how to leave without causing any trouble.
Deciding to leave is a good plan. However, it shouldn’t be your only plan. Have a concise understanding of when you want to leave. Planning when you want to turn in your resignation letter is also essential.
It is advisable to know what and how to tell your boss and co-workers about your plan to quit and get a new job professionally and respectfully.
It will be painful for your boss if they hear about your intention to quit from the office gossip. The best way to guard against this is for you to tell your boss about it first. Letting your boss be the first to know that you are quitting will help you prevent him from being shocked. This will also reduce the explanations that you will have to give.
Another thing you should implement when leaving your work is a seamless transition. You can make your transition easy by writing a detailed handover report. This will help your employer lessen the burden of losing you and put you in good standing with them.
Tidy up any pending work that you have to do and give a clear explanation of the ones that you cannot finish. If someone is readily available to replace you, you can also ease the transition by helping with their training.
If there is something that you enjoyed when you worked with your company, you should let them know before leaving. This will help them see that you are leaving on a good note. It will also help them feel better about you leaving. For example, in your resignation letter, you can mention the company’s policies or things that your boss did that made your stay good. You can also say something you love about working with your colleagues to them personally.
A dramatic exit does no good for anyone. It is better to be remembered for what you did while working there than what you did while leaving. So keep your exit short and straightforward. Do not bring up any old grudges or blacken the company name as well as try to settle every old fight in your last days.
It is necessary to have an explanation for why you are leaving. This helps prevent people from making guesses and assumptions. Your explanation can be a simple generic answer that can satisfy people’s curiosity. You can also share a detailed reason as to why you are leaving. You are the best person to determine how much you want to share. You should, however, have your story and stick to it so that you don’t have disparities.
Timing is crucial in every aspect of your career, and quitting a job is not different. You should choose the best time to tell your boss or colleagues the news of your resignation. Mondays and Tuesdays are perfect days to break such news. It is the start of the week, so your boss is probably still in great working spirit, which will demoralize him lesser. Also, it will give your boss the rest of the week to process it and work on getting a replacement.
Also, you might want to consider quitting at the end of the day if the news of your resignation is received with hostility. This will allow you time off from facing people for a longer time immediately after. Also, people will be more receptive to you when they have slept on the thought and had more time to process it.
Writing a resignation letter is a critical aspect of quitting your job. It should be taken as seriously as every other task you have done for the company. Your resignation letter is the last input into your company’s file. Therefore, it must be well-written and concise. Please, don’t misspell your current company name or job title.
Do you want to turn in your resignation today? Follow the tips highlighted below.
The first thing you should do when writing your resignation letter is to address it properly to the right person. Even if you are familiar with your HR officer or boss, it is still necessary to formally address your resignation letter.
State your intention to resign clearly and concisely in your letter. This will help you avoid misunderstandings and make your boss get the drift quickly.
You must clearly state the last date you will be working in your resignation letter.
Let your HR/boss know in your resignation letter that you are willing to help them with the transition to a new person. Offer your guidance and mentorship for the person taking over your role. The mentorship offer should be within the time frame left for you to work.
Ask questions about things that you want to know in your resignation. The questions may be about outstanding salaries, current salaries, or even benefits you are entitled to when resigning.
We have already established that thanking your employer for the opportunity to work and grow with him is imperative. Your resignation letter is one of the avenues that you can use to express your appreciation to your employer. If you put this into writing, it will be remembered for a long time.
Your resignation is a formal letter, so it requires your signature. Once you are sure that you have already put everything you wanted to express down, it is time to append your signature and get ready to submit it.
People tend to feel they would never leave a job the day they start the job. However, it is as ordinary as starting your current job to end it and take another job. Many reasons may be responsible for this as well. Whatever they are, it is advisable to leave your old job professionally and respectfully. The goal is to leave the work and not the network of people you have built over time.
