How to Resign from Your Job

Leaving your current position and stepping away from your job is never an easy task. You might encounter financial difficulties, along with emotional challenges, until you have the courage to face your supervisor. Therefore, follow the steps outlined below to resign more effectively.

Assess your financial situation. Even though you might have valid reasons to quit your job, ensure that you have enough savings to support yourself before making a final decision. If you haven't secured a new job yet, prepare enough funds to cover at least six months of living expenses, or find other financial resources to get by during unemployment. Plan your budget to save money until you find new employment.

• Keep in mind that if you voluntarily resign, you won’t be eligible for unemployment benefits.

Start searching for a new job. If possible, you should wait until you secure a better job before resigning. This will prevent you from facing prolonged unemployment if you can't find the right position. However, if you can't wait long, begin exploring other job opportunities and assess the level of competition in the market.

• When starting your job search, be careful not to let others know you're looking for a new position and planning to resign. You might want to seek advice to help find new job contracts, but only share your plans with colleagues you trust.

Evaluate your current job. Think about why you want to resign and identify the pros and cons. Is there something you can do to address or improve the issues causing frustration at work? If you’re quitting due to financial reasons, why not ask for a raise? If you’re leaving because of troublesome coworkers, perhaps you could request a transfer to a different department. Consider informing your boss about your concerns, offering them a chance to resolve the issues before you resign.

Review your signed contracts. Go over all the legal documents you’ve signed when joining your current job, from non-compete agreements to contracts that specify a certain employment duration. Violating these agreements can sometimes lead to legal and financial consequences that may cause trouble. Additionally, check if the company has a required notice period for resignation.

If you have a Rolodex or a list of useful and necessary contacts for your job, make sure to copy everything before giving notice. If the information is stored on company devices, you won’t have the chance to save it once you resign. Just make sure you’re not stealing any confidential trade secrets!

Have a direct conversation with your supervisor. Explain that you are planning to leave the company and offer to complete any outstanding tasks before your departure. If the company requires written notice, send a brief email or typed letter.

Resign smoothly and efficiently. You can choose to share as much or as little information about your new job, the reasons behind your decision to resign, or your future plans. Always maintain a friendly and calm demeanor.

Follow the company's notice requirements. If your contract stipulates a two-week notice period, make sure to adhere to it. Sudden resignation can leave your supervisor scrambling to adjust. You may also want to ask for their help (for recommendations) in the future.

Follow your supervisor’s instructions regarding informing colleagues. The company may ask you to remain quiet until they find a replacement or make an appointment decision for your position. If you are not resigning suddenly, give the company time to handle this matter before informing the entire team (only if the company requests it).

Stay committed to your current work. As you finish your tasks, maintain focus and do whatever you can to ensure a smooth transition for the company. It’s unwise to spend your final weeks chatting on the phone, as this could harm your chances of receiving a recommendation from your supervisor that might be beneficial for your future job.