QUITTING YOUR JOB is not easy. Leaving co-workers whom you like and, often, several years of emotional investment in an employer is difficult, even if the job you're going to offers you more pay, is closer to home and presents greater career potential.
In my 16 years as an executive search consultant, I've concluded that people quit their jobs for one, or some combination, of the following reasons:
If I were to advise a friend in a similar position, what would I recommend?
Once you decide that leaving your job is best, do it with class. I always recommend you take the high road by acting professionally and showing concern for the problems your resignation might create for your current employer.
Resignations should always be done face to face. I've heard of people quitting by e-mail, by voice mail or by simply not showing up for work one day. These are great ways to burn bridges and destroy your reputation.
Request a few minutes of your boss.s time. Have a brief letter prepared explaining that you have decided to resign and accept another job. It is not necessary to provide a detailed explanation of why you are leaving, although it might come up in your face-to-face meeting. Your letter should thank your employer for the opportunity to develop and expand your career, state the positive aspects of your experience with the company and wish them well in the future. At this point, you should be thinking about maintaining good relations that will help you in years ahead. Never be critical of your employer.
If you have a written employment agreement, it should state the amount of notice you are required to give. If no agreement exists, give reasonable notice, which could be anywhere from two weeks to three months, depending on your level of seniority, length of service and scope of responsibilities.
In negotiating your notice period, think of your own needs last. Seek to create a balance between the needs of your current employer, whom you don't want to leave in the lurch, and your new employer, who likely wants you to start as soon as possible. Do your best to satisfy both interests.
Be ready for all possible reactions from your boss when you tell him you.re leaving. The best possible reaction you can hope for is one of understanding. Here your boss completely gets your rationale for leaving and agrees with your decision. He knows it is the right move for you at this stage of your career, thanks you for your service to the company and wishes you well. If only all resignations could proceed this smoothly and professionally.
Unfortunately, the reaction is sometimes one of anger or disappointment. Your boss could be upset with you because of the possible disruption of work. He might realize how hard it will be to locate a replacement. Or he might regard your quitting as a lack of loyalty. Whatever the response, seek to calm these waters. Often these reactions are short-lived anyway, as the boss realizes the world is not ending just because you.re leaving.
On occasion, your boss will try to convince you to stay with offers of higher pay, promotions or increased responsibilities. This is a challenging response to deal with, particularly if you are not overly unhappy in your current job and like your co-workers.
These last-minute offers tend to be Band-Aid solutions and rarely address the underlying reasons for your original dissatisfaction. My experience is that most people who accept these offers and stay with their employer are back looking for another job within a year.
Gerald Walsh is the president and founder of Gerald Walsh Associates Inc., an executive search, career transition and executive coaching firm.
