As the saying goes, “Live to work, don’t work to live.” If you’ve found yourself working to live more often than not, you may be considering quitting your job. As with any other major life change, however, it’s important that you don’t go into this lightly. Having a plan for your resignation will make it much more likely to go smoothly.
The first question you need to answer is “When?” You may already have an idea when you have to quit, or may be seeking the answer. Take your circumstances into account, and while you are required to give two weeks’ notice if you’re in a job that will be difficult to find a replacement for, don’t be afraid to leave a dangerous or extremely hostile work environment more quickly if possible. Don’t place yourself in harm’s way. If you have a better opportunity lined up, it’s tempting to want to leave your current job as quickly as possible, but that makes a bad impression with both your current and future employer. Your future employer may begin wondering how quickly you’ll leave when it’s time to quit that job!
When you’ve figured out your last day of work and the day you will give notice, you can choose a method. It’s important to do it properly. Ideally, you should write or type some kind of resignation letter. If you don’t know how to do this, a quick Google search should help you out. Hand it to your supervisor, or the appropriate manager. Some companies are structured differently, so figure out who the right person to go to is. If you’re in a hostile work environment, consider sending the letter to your HR department instead (but be prepared for the reaction when your supervisor finds out).
Don’t gossip about your resignation before it’s common news. Spreading the news around the office can make you seem like you’re badmouthing the office or trying to get others to quit, too. Tell your closest work friends if you’d like, but don’t tell the office gossip if you don’t want rumors spreading like wildfire.
Try to avoid burning your bridges! You never know quite what will happen in the future, and you may find yourself working with someone from your current job, liaising with your company as a client, or even seeking employment again. Knowing that you can get a positive reference from your current supervisor or manager can help your chances of landing a great job later on. With that in mind, be careful not to violate any company policies in terms of what you take home with you (taking files of client contact information is probably not okay, for instance). Bring home as many personal things as possible (without being obvious) in the days and weeks preceding your exit. Take advantage of the time before you hand in the resignation, as you might be escorted out once you deliver the letter.
Particularly if you feel like you have been stuck in the job for too long, the idea of quitting can bring a breath of fresh air. Do it with courtesy and professionalism, and you open doors for yourself later on in your career.