27 Tips on How to Resign From Your Job Gracefully
This detailed article discusses how to resign from your job gracefully without burning any bridges. It provides guidance and tips on appropriate, proper and respectable ways to quit a job.
2.1 When you are constantly stressed
Stress at work can be caused by many factors such as continuous never ending urgent deadlines, excessive fear, worry or anxiety, feelings of powerlessness, loss of control and a toxic or hostile work environment.
2.2 When you are uninspired
At the workplace, people are usually inspired by many things such as the company’s vision, mission, your boss, the team, your work, your goals, training opportunities, customers, doing something that benefits many, making a contribution and doing good and meaningful work.
If one or a combination of these things change, it could affect your levels of enthusiasm – for example, if your boss who you worked with well and had great rapport together is transferred or moves on to another company.
2.3 When you are demotivated
If waking up to go to work has become a challenge, if your self-drive is gone, if you no longer feel enthusiastic about a job that you used to like then it could be time to assess your situation.
Perhaps it could be lack of promotion, being passed over again and again for promotion, lack of recognition, unethical or questionable practices in the office, a toxic or hostile work environment, your skills and abilities are not being stretched or fully utilized etc.
What To Consider Before You Resign/Resignation Checklist
- Why do I want to resign?
- How much notice do I want to give?
- Have I determined my last day at work?
- Do I have a job offer ready?
- Have I written a resignation letter?
- What are the major pending tasks that I am working on?
- Have I written handover notes?
- If I don’t have another job lined up what plans do I have for accommodating living costs?
- Have I removed personal documents from the computer?
- Have I cleaned out and packed personal items? Because in some companies you might be asked to leave immediately after you tender your resignation.
- Have I scheduled a resignation meeting with my supervisor?
- Have I prepared for an exit interview?
- Have I thought about how to say goodbye to colleagues?
- Have I asked for references?
- Found a better job.
- Too much work.
- Bad boss or manager or lack of chemistry with a new boss.
- When you are always unhappy at work.
- Low salary or pay cut.
- Lack of or poor benefits.
- Conflicts with co-workers .
- Hostile or toxic work environment.
- Lack of appreciation or recognition.
- Lack of career advancement opportunities.
- Long commute to work.
- Hectic or inconvenient work schedule or hours.
- Relocating.
- Lack of challenge at work, boredom or the work no longer stimulates or excites you.
- Poor work life balance.
- Going back to school.
- Company facing financial difficulties.
- Family or personal situations such as starting a family, caring for a loved one or illness, medical or health reasons.
- Being passed over for promotions.
- Lack of training opportunities or professional development.
- Bad company culture.
- Poor company leadership or management.
- Changing careers.
- Pursuing a dream.
- The job is not a good fit.
- Unsafe working conditions.
- Bait and switch – the job you are doing is different from the one you had applied for.
- Company facing external pressures such as government regulations, severe competitive threats, technological changes that could make the company obsolete etc.
- You are about to get fired.
- Taking a career break.
What Does Resign Mean?
Before we dig in too deep on how to resign from a job, let’s pause for a moment and look at some important questions; What does resign mean, anyway? Isn’t resigning the same as quitting?
It’s true that many people use the terms “quit” and “resign” interchangeably. And, yes, the two concepts do have a ton in common. In the end, whether you quit or resign, you are voluntarily ending your employment with a company.
Sure, it’s a little nit-picky. But the thing is, each can have a unique place. Typically, if you decide to stroll into your manager’s office and shout that you’re leaving immediately, you’re “quitting.” If you go a more traditional route, providing two weeks’ notice in writing, going through HR exit procedures, and the like, you’re seen as “resigning.”
Additionally, “resign” and “quit” may be viewed differently. If you tell someone that you just quit a job, it can come across as a little defiant or rash, even if your reasoning actually makes complete sense. If you say that you resigned, it can seem a bit more somber and metered.
We’ve actually covered how to quit your job in-depth before, and you’ll likely see some similarities to that process here. But it is important to understand that, while the terms and approaches have a lot in common, how they are viewed by others can vary.
Why This Interview Question is Asked
The interview question, “Why did you leave your last job?” is a qualifying interview question and ice breaker question. It’s used to begin the interview and help guide how the remainder of the interview session might be positioned.
Indeed.com defines an “ice breaker” as “thought-provoking questions you can use to encourage people to talk and get to know them better. These questions can be used in most situations where a fun, light-hearted conversation is needed to lighten the mood and encourage real bonding.”
The interview question should be answered with brevity, as this question intends to test the job candidate’s verbal communication skills. In addition, this question provides the hiring manager with insight into how well calculated the candidate is about their career aspirations or career goals.
For example, if the job candidate answers by saying, “I left my last job because I felt there was no upward mobility. I wanted to move into a management position, which is a career aspiration of mine.” It shows the hiring manager that the candidate has intent with their career. That insight can be helpful for the hiring manager to ask follow-up questions or decide which qualifying questions they might ask the candidate.
Resource:
https://www.thriveyard.com/27-tips-on-how-to-resign-from-your-job-gracefully/
https://theinterviewguys.com/how-to-resign-from-a-job/
https://www.algrim.co/330-reasons-for-leaving-a-job