The Do's And Don'ts Of Quitting Your Job

Quitting a job is never easy and a lot of the time it can be extremely awkward. It is almost inevitable (unless you retire or are fired)you will have to quit a job at some point in your life. When doing so, it is important to make things as professional and mature as you can because you will probably want to use them as a reference in the future. To find out how to quit your job while remaining on good terms with the company and your boss, follow these do’s and don’ts to find out exactly what you should do and what you shouldn’t be doing.

DON’T: Leave them hanging.

DO: Give a bit of notice.

It does not look good to quit without giving any notice and you will most likely not be getting any future reference if you do. Companies need a bit of time to find a replacement and will possibly need you to train that new employee taking your spot. When quitting, giving a two-week notice is typical but, I believe it is better to give the company a little more time. If you happen to be starting a new job, putting in your two-weeks is perfectly acceptable but if you are able to offer up more time I would recommend doing so. It is way less stressful if you tell them in advance and your employer will appreciate it much more. I would recommend giving a date you can work up until or telling them you can stay until the end of that month that way your leaving is not so abrupt and your boss and coworkers will be able to adjust.

DON’T: Make a rash decision.

DO: Give it some thought.

We have all had bad days at work where we immediately contemplate quitting on the spot. Trust me, it’s not worth it! Quitting your job is a big move so you really want to think it through. There are many things to consider like; Do you want to start looking for a new job? or Are you financially stable enough to quit? I would suggest taking a few days to think about it and decompress from any bad situation that has you wanting to quit in the first place. You need to differentiate between having a bad day or being completely unhappy with your job. Once you have a clear mind and have weighed all your options then you should make the decision.

DON’T: Lie.

DO: Be honest with why you are leaving.

Lying is never a good idea and could actually end up hurting you. If you are unhappy in your current position or wish you were paid more, tell them, don’t come up with a story as to why you are quitting. Who knows, maybe you expressing these feelings can open up a conversation about a potential raise or options on how to make things better for you. If you don’t speak up nobody will know how you are feeling and nothing will change, that could save you from going back to the job search. If you lie about why you are leaving you will only feel guilty and be on-edge wondering if they will ever find out, which could make the company think poorly of you. Being honest and authentic is the best way to go about leaving your job because you will be able to go feeling good and with a clear head.

DON’T: Get lazy.

DO: Put in the effort.

It is easy for people to slack off once they quit because they know they have one foot out the door already. Getting lazy and not putting in as much effort in the end only looks bad on you. You want your employer’s last impression of you to be a good one in case any recommendation or reference is ever needed. I believe you should work as hard in your last weeks as you did in your first few weeks with the company. Your last impression is just as important as a first impression.