How to Quit Your Job
Without ruining your future jobs
Articulating The Goodbye
• Do: Briefly explain your reason for leaving.
▫
simply saying that you've accepted another offer
that you hope will further your career.
• Don't: Offer too much detail.
▫ Your manager may misinterpret it or use it to try
to persuade you to stay.
Mastering The Countdown
• Do: Provide as much notice as possible and as is
required.
▫ Two weeks is standard
• Do: Maintain your enthusiasm and work ethic.
• Don't: Fake your way through the time that's
left.
▫ you want strong recommendations, keep up the
same pace
Handling the Counter Offer
• Be prepared for a counter offer, and if
uninterested, turn it down graciously.
▫ Say that you appreciate the offer but feel the other
position is in line with your career goals.
• Don't: Insult the employer by tossing out a line
like "it's too little too late" or "it's not about the
money.”
Refining The Tone
• Do: In speaking with managers, colleagues and
subordinates, always focus on the positive
experiences you've had with the company.
• Don't: Burn bridges by being overly negative,
lying or taunting colleagues with news of your
next position.
Training The Replacement
• Do: Agree to help hire or train
someone for the position in
your remaining time on the
job.
▫ It's ultimately to your benefit
 Less likely that you'll be
contacted after you've left.
• Don't: Rewrite the training
manual or give too much of
your time over to it.
Fielding Questions
• Do: answer a few questions
that arise after you've gone.
▫ two e-mails or phone calls
would be standard, and it's
courteous to respond as best
you can.
• Don't: Give away too much
of your time.
▫ If questions continue, begin
by slowing your response
time and consider offering
your services as a
consultant.
Informing Clients
• Do: Seek the guidance of a manager on how to
inform clients of the transition.
▫ will approve phrasing.
• Don't: Disregard contract clauses that bar you
from taking clients or proprietary information
with you.
Remembering The Details
• Do: Pay attention to details
▫ like e-mail and phone
messages.
 Where will they be directed
after you've left?
▫ Carefully organize all hard and
soft files so that important
documents will be easy to find.
• Don't: Leave your physical
space in a mess.
Writing The Transition Document
• Do: Organize and write down the status of all
projects and responsibilities that you are
accountable for, including the appropriate
contacts on each.
• Don't: Verbally give a manager the rundown.
Wrapping Up Relationships
• Do: Answer all questions and
offer feedback to subordinates
▫ remember to acknowledge
those you worked with before
leaving.
• Don't: Run out on
subordinates without making
sure you've left them in a
position to succeed or follow
up with you.
Writing the Resignation
The Introduction
• Indicate that you are resigning
• Provide the date of your last day of employment
• Ex: Please accept this letter as a notice of my
resignation from my position as [JOB TITLE].
My last day of employment will be [DATE].
Body
• Explain reason for leaving
▫ Don’t provide too many details
• Show gratitude for experience
▫ Even if you are leaving on bad terms, focus on the
positive
Body Examples
• Found a New Job: “I have accepted a position as [job
title] in [location], which will give me the supervisory
responsibilities I have been eager to assume."
• Starting School: “I regret having to leave [employer
name], but I am strongly committed to earning my
[degree type] and have been accepted to [school name]
for the fall term."
• Medical Reasons: “I regret having to leave, but I am
currently experiencing medical issues that prevent me
from continuing in this position."
Body Examples Con’t
• Partner Relocation: “My wife/husband has been offered an
excellent job opportunity in [location], and we have decided to
move there so that she/he can accept it."
• Relocation Refusal: “The company's restructure has left
many of my colleagues looking for new positions, so I am
grateful for your offer of reassignment to the office. However,
my family and I have decided that relocation is not feasible for
us right now."
• Bad Experience: “My decision to leave is based on both
personal and professional reasons, but please understand that
I have thoroughly enjoyed my association with [company
name]. I have learned a great deal from you, and I look
forward to applying this knowledge in my next position."
Body
• Mention anyone that you appreciate the
opportunity to work with.
▫ Don’t forget anyone– they may share this letter
with those people
• State your willingness to help with the transition
▫ Offer to train a replacement
Closing
• End with an expression of kind wishes for the
company’s future
• Express an interest to keep a good business
relationship
• Ex: “I hope that we can continue our
professional relationship and that we meet again
in the future. Best wishes to you and the rest of
the staff.”