Unless you are one of the lucky ones who lands in their dream position straight away, it is highly likely that you are going to quit a job or two over the course of your working life and it’s important to know how to quit your job like a professional. A lot of quitting circumstances will no doubt arise from the fact that you are no longer happy in your current line of work, but just because you are moving away with bad feelings or memories, it doesn’t mean that you have to lower your standards and become unprofessional about things. It will only serve to damage your chances of getting a good reference from those employers in the future. Here are some tips for how to quit your job like a professional.
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1. Be Honest
Don’t pepper your resignation with a bunch of lies that you think will make the situation less awkward, because it is more likely that those lies will be uncovered and not believed, and that will leave a very sour taste in your former employer’s mouths. Just be honest when giving your notice, and this doesn’t have to mean being rude. Learn the art of diplomacy and you can navigate any situation with dignity and grace.
2. Say Thank You
Even if you don’t really mean it, you should always say thank you before you leave your current job for the last time. Things might not have worked out how you had planned, but they still saw something in you to hire you in the first place, and no matter how long you were there, they were still providing you with the funds that you needed to be able to live your life for that period. It’s also best not to burn any bridges because you never know what the future might hold!
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3. Know Your Values
It is always important to have a clear idea of what your own values are, both in life and in your career, and when you know where you want to eventually end up, you will be able to see this current situation as just another stepping stone in the greater picture rather than the be all and end all of your life. Having this perspective will help you to be much more graceful and optimistic when quitting and moving on from your current employment.
4. Be Prepared for a Counter Offer
Just because you want to quit, it doesn’t always mean that your company will be happy to let you go! You may very well receive a counter offer from your bosses that involves a pay raise or an elevated position, and it will be up to you to stay strong and not bend to their wishes if you are really adamant on leaving. Don’t let them catch you by surprise!
5. PaperWork
Make sure that you get all of your important paperwork in order before you move on for good. There might be some satisfaction in flipping the bird and making a grand exit, but that isn’t going to be helpful when you have forgotten that you haven’t signed all of those resignation documents and need to head back into the office with your tail between your legs!
