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Are you ready to start a new chapter in your career? Starting a new chapter may be exciting, but oftentimes, you may dwell on the fact that you are unsure about how to leave your current employer. Whatever the circumstances are for your departure, ensuring a smooth and professional transition may allow for a positive outcome.
One of the reasons why a smooth and professional transition is necessary is because it can allow for a positive relationship to continue between you and your employer. For example, maintaining a good relationship even after employment may be necessary in the future for networking purposes, or better yet, if for some reason you would like to return to work for your previous employer.
So, the main question comes down to: what are some steps that can be taken to create a positive outlook before I resign?
- Tell your direct supervisor first.
Before informing numerous individuals in your organization about your planned departure, it is important to note that your direct supervisor should know as well. But when should your supervisor find out?
When thinking about departing, you should have a one-on-one meeting with your supervisor before you tell any of your co-workers. If you were to tell your co-workers before your supervisor, it is likely for rumors to spread around the organization regarding your departure. This could lead to your supervisor learning about your departure through a rumor. Not only may this be awkward for both you and your supervisor, but it could possibly create some tension.
Additionally, it all comes down to when is the right time to talk to your supervisor? Conversations such as these should be planned. For example, you should avoid telling your supervisor about departing before a meeting or when it is busy in the office. Instead, a formal meeting should be scheduled between all necessary individuals to discuss the departure. - Submit a formal notice.
Many companies prefer at least two weeks' notice, but it is sometimes preferable to leave more than two weeks’ notice. Before deciding when to submit your resignation letter, it is important to check your company’s policy on how far in advance a notice should be submitted.
A formal notice should be submitted to the company’s human resources department, along with your direct supervisor. This not only solidifies an official end date, but it allows all members of the company to act regarding your departure.
A formal resignation letter can consist of the following:
[Name]
[Date]
Dear [Supervisor/HR],
I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as a [title] from [company] effective [date].
Thank you for the opportunity that you have given me during the last [period of time at the company]. I have enjoyed my tenure with [company] and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
If I can be of any assistance during this transition, please let me know.
Sincerely,
[Name]
** To view more example templates, visit: Resignation Letter: 19+ Examples, Templates, & How to Write (resumegenius.com)
- Finalize your responsibilities.
It is important to avoid disengaging once your resignation letter is submitted. As an employee, it is likely that you may have responsibilities to fulfill before your end date. The best way to act is to write down all your responsibilities, how long each responsibility will take to fulfil, and whether it will be necessary to transfer the responsibility to someone else to take over after your departure.
It is also important to consider that disengagement may affect those around you in the workplace and may create negative relationships. For example, maybe your responsibility to fulfill a particular task affects another person’s progress on their project. If neglected, this may lead to your colleague having to work extra (and possibly burning out) to complete your work, which could lead to a negative outcome. - Help with the transition.
Your position may need to be filled after your departure, but the recruiting and training process may be hectic. One of many ways you can help with the transition is by assisting with recruiting. For example, you can draft a job description that closely aligns to the type of candidate necessary for the job. Additionally, helping conduct interviews may allow for better judgement in terms of whether a particular candidate would fulfill the role efficiently or not.
Another way to help the company transition is by creating guidelines. These guidelines can be in different forms, such as PDF documents, tutorial videos, or examples of previous works completed. Some guidelines can include contact information of important people (e.g., vendors used previously) and/or they can serve as training guidelines for common projects. - Give feedback.
Employees may leave their job to start a new chapter in their lives that may be out of the company’s control. However, there may be other reasons for why an employee is leaving their company, that may be controlled if the employer is present. Some examples of reasons why an employee may be departing could be because the employee seeks/prefers:
- A compensation package that better fits their needs
- Growth opportunities
- A different work environment
- Work-life balance
- Recognition
Giving feedback allows the employer to understand what gaps are present and what steps they can take to prevent more employees departing and helping create a positive work environment.
