‘So now the end is near, and so you’ll face the final curtain…’ That’s right, you’ve made the decision to leave your job and it’s time to break the news to your nearest, dearest and those colleagues you nod at every morning but aren’t entirely sure what their names are. How do you go about making sure you leave on the best terms so you don’t make any enemies and burn bridges? Here are our top tips on how to quit your job in the correct way.
 

Spreading like wildfire

When you’ve decided to leave your current position, you need to make sure that you inform the right people first. Don’t tell colleagues, not even if you’re best friends or you consider them your ‘fam.’ If word gets out it can easily spread around the office before the 3pm recharge cup of tea and if your boss finds out from someone else they will be annoyed and probably feel disrespected. Tell your boss first, then your colleagues.

Scaredy cat

Another of the most important methods in how to quit your job in the correct way is to tell your boss face to face. You’re not Harry Potter and you can’t hide under the invisibility cloak of an email to make your goodbyes. Not only does this seem like you’re too frightened of your boss to talk to them, but if they have invested a lot of time in your development it can be downright insulting.
Quitting is a normal part of working and though it can feel uncomfortable, your boss will appreciate you talking to them personally. Just remember that they have had to leave jobs before too and almost everyone will go through the same experience.

Time is money

Don’t leave it until the last minute to let the company know that you will be leaving. While you will probably have a mandatory notice period of two weeks or more, it’s good manners to allow even more time. Your boss will appreciate this, especially if you have been a very valuable member of the team and will be difficult to replace. This extra period gives them more chance to find a replacement and you time to tie up any loose ends or tasks.

He said she said

You’ve had the conversation with your boss and you think it’s all taken care of and you can move on. Nope. No matter how thorough the discussion, you should always provide a written letter of notice to reiterate your plans to leave, your last working day and to also stop potentially the company from trying to make you work for longer than you agreed to verbally.
You don’t need to discuss your reasons for leaving in the letter, keep it short and sweet and make sure it covers three key points – the fact you are leaving, when your last day will be and a short appreciation for the opportunity. You can if you wish, also include how much time you have provided as a period of notice.
 

Working hard or hardly working

Just because you will soon be leaving, this doesn’t mean you can slack off. You should end things as professionally as other any time you have been working there and carry on as normal. This should also be an opportunity to finish off important pieces of work and organise things ready for the next person who will take over from you.
No one wants to start a new job and find that the previous employee left a trail of devastation for them to clean up, and you can also leave helpful documentation on areas that you may have found confusing when you started the role. Even information on how to access or navigate an essential but difficult piece of software will be much appreciated, and will also show your boss after you have gone that you were a dedicated and excellent employee.
 

‘So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen adieu!’

Saying a final goodbye to everyone you have worked with is also an important factor in how to quit your job in the correct way. Don’t just sneak off into the night, especially if you have made good friends or strong contacts within your office. Send everyone a warm email saying your leaving date and how much you have enjoyed working alongside them.
You can share one or two of the best office moments if they are something everyone will remember and feel included in, or simply say what your future plans will be and leave updated contact details if anyone wishes to keep in touch.
 
You’ve taken the big leap and are ready to move onto greener pastures. Aren’t quite sure where to start? Connections has you covered!