Accepting a new job is often an exciting opportunity to grow your career, increase your personal income and add more responsibilities to the experience heading of your resume. After you accept your new position there is the matter of giving notice to your current employer. This part always causes me anxiety.
Depending on your level in an organization, the circumstances of your departure, and perhaps the status of projects you may be working on, you may wind up negotiating your end date as much as you negotiate for a new salary at a new position. It is important to give notice the right way. No matter what your experience was at the company, burning bridges for the sake of burning bridges is not advisable. There is an old saying, “The toes you step on today are the butts you have to kiss tomorrow.” In my career, I’ve seen many people eating a lot of crow for just this type of bad behavior.
I’ll go over two main points when giving notice. 1.) How to give notice or submit your resignation and 2.) How to approach the “exit interview.”
1. Submitting a letter of resignation
Resigning can be an emotional decision. Even if you are leaving a position you hated and landed a new position that feels like you won the lottery, that’s an emotion. Some people feel guilty about resigning from a position. They feel a sense of loyalty to their boss or employer. I think a healthy amount of loyalty is a good thing, but it stems from job satisfaction…not guilt. Business is business and a resignation is just a business transaction.
First, prepare your letter of resignation. A letter of resignation should probably not exceed two sentences. Save any gushing praise, heartfelt sentiments, or “take this job and shove it” conveyances for your in-person exit interview. Here’s an example of a letter of resignation:
Dear Martin,
This letter is to serve as my intent to resign my position effective November 2, 2007, providing a two-week notice period. Thank you for the opportunity here at XYZ, and I wish you great success in your future endeavors.
Regards,
When you sit down with your boss you will have the opportunity to discuss your departure. This is where you can say, “I appreciate all you’ve done for me,” “I just feel that it isn’t a good fit here for me,” or “I’m moving to be near my parents.” None of that should be in your letter of resignation.
Now that you have resigned, don’t gloat. If the place was misery for you don’t hold it over everyone else’s heads that you “took the last helicopter out of Hanoi.” Also, don’t stop working the day you provide your notice. If you are going to work for a competitor, I strongly advise employers to walk an employee out the door immediately. No matter how much mutual affection there is between employee and employer if you are going to work for a competitor…today is your last day here. That’s just business. If you are a high level employee, some companies request a 30 day notice so that they may wrap up projects and begin a national search for your replacement. Everyone agrees staying for 30 days after you give notice is excruciating, focus on the work you have to get done and you may get an early exit.
If you provide notice and your employer accepts that notice, they should pay you for the notice period. For example, let’s say you give a two week notice and your employer says you can leave after three of those days. You should expect payment for the two weeks. You may need to get that in writing when you give your letter of resignation. On the other hand, in the State of Texas, your employer is not required to accept a notice period. In that case, you will not be paid for your notice period. Check out your state employment laws if this is a great concern for you.
Giving the notice in the right way helps you leave an organization with a good reputation. One that comes in handy as you begin your next search.
2. How to approach the “exit interview.”
Most companies these days will ask you either formally or informally to provide some feedback on why you are leaving. This is your opportunity to be honest about things you believe could improve in your current work environment. It is not a license to verbally attack the company or its employees.
If you are leaving because of work environment, try to position your statements with such things as, “I believe I thrive in a work environment that provides me with…, and I found that with a new employer.” [Translation: Whatever I just said that new company has, the current company does not. They'll notice.] If you are leaving because your boss is a tyrant, try “I felt my boss’ style of management wasn’t motivating me to perform in a way that was in the best interest of the company or my career.” [Translation: I'm leaving because of my manager]
You can say these things without creating controversy just by altering your delivery. Remember, walking out with a flamethrower on your back may feel good, but such behavior always comes back to bite you.
The number one reason people quit their job is because of a bad boss. Whether it is lack of praise, respect or tyranny management should work on management skills. Other reasons people leave almost always come back to management in one way or another. Here are a few other reasons people leave:
- “Not knowing what is expected of me” is a popular answer. If you do not know what is expected it is hard to meet expectations!
- Unrealistic expectations of management. Being set up to fail is a horrible position to be in, make sure goals are realistic.
- Lack of respect for employee contribution, praise for good work and positive work environment.
- More money is remarkably low on the list.
Quitting your job can lead to positive career growth and exciting new opportunities, however, when you do quit it is important to do it the right way. I once had an employee quit a job via text message to my cell phone. Needless to say, I marked their file “Not eligible for re-hire” and any time a potential employer called for a reference we answered within the guidelines with “This person is not eligible for re-hire,” which is a strong negative signal to any future employer.
Good luck with your new job! Enjoy the future, but don’t create a new future while destroying your past.
If you have questions about this topic or other business questions, email me at the address in the top left box.
Hi there,
i live in Austin Texas and I worked for 5 days at a very disorganized work place. It was not the right fit for me and I told them so in a very polite way. I gave notice and did not give two weeks because I had just been there 5 days. They never paid me for my five days of work is this allowed? What can I do? Thanks in advance for your advice.
Well, there is not much you can do as you left within the probation period. The probation period is for the employer and the employee, but it is still a pre-agreement.
You should have finished the probation period, even though you informed them already.
I wish you the money, but looking from the company’s point of view, you can understand. And I think they are legally allowed.