How to Quit Your Job Professionally and Gracefully - The Muse

How to Quit Your Job Professionally and Gracefully - The MuseHow to Quit Your Job Professionally and Gracefully Over the course of my career, Ive had three Hey boss, Im quitting talks. One involved tears (of sadness), one involved tears (of happiness- though I saved them for after the meeting), and one involved my boss asking if I could take him with me. All of them, though, involved a gut-wrenching feeling that was equal parts terror, fear, and guilt (and OK, maybe a little excitement). Sound familiar? Whether youre thrilled to be leaving a job you really love, having that conversation is rarely easy. Theres plenty of advice out there on the basics of how to quit your job Break the news, express gratitude for all the opportunities youve received, and show that youre committed to transitioning your responsibilities. But lets go one step further and talk about how to make having that conversation a little less painful. Here are a few things to keep in mind Remember This Happens All th e TimeYoure not the first person whos ever quit, and you wont be the last. So, if youre scared your boss will be shocked, throw a fit, or be personally offended, take a deep breath and repeat This is a totally normal part of the working world. leid to mention, your boss might not be as blindsided as youd think after weeks of emergency dentist appointments and your Monday-morning Hey, can we chat for 15 minutes today? email. That said, youll also want to prepare for the reaction you might receive when quitting a job. It probably wont be a screaming fit (I hope), but it might be a counteroffer or a guilt trip to try to get you to stay longer than the notice youve given. These are pretty normal, too, and Muse expert Katie Douthwaite Wolf walks through each of these reactions to your resignation, and exactly how to plan for each one. Speaking of planningRemember You Should Lead the ConversationIve definitely been so worried about the initial So Im leaving line that I didnt prep for anyt hing else- and had to bumble my way through the rest of the conversation saying things like, Um Im going to freelance? Maybe take some classes? So take it from me Before you go in, make sure youre armed with and have practicedThe Answer to Where Are You Going?The trick to answering where youre headed is to be honest, but brief- no one needs to know all the details of your new companys awesome perks or just how much mora youre making. If theres a reason you cant be totally open- you havent signed your offer letter, youre going to a competitor- thats OK, but give as much information as you can I cant be public about it just yet, but its a marketing position at a startup where Ill be doing highly creative social campaigns. Or, if youre quitting with nothing on the horizon- Ive done that too- something like, I have several possible options, and Im taking a few weeks off to recharge before I land. The Date of Your Last DayTwo weeks notice is the bare minimum, though if you have a high-le vel role, are in the midst of an extremely busy season or complex project, or arent easily redistributions-mixable, its worth thinking about giving a bit more. If youre not sure how to decide, Muse career expert Jennifer Winter DeRome offers some good guidelines for following two weeks notice etiquette. An Overview of Your Transition PlanThis, ultimately, is what your boss is worried about most What will he or she do next? You dont have to have a detailed transition plan in place (though you should get to work on that ASAP), but you should outline a few thoughts about what youll do in your remaining time. Preparing these statements and doing a dry run of the conversation will make you feel much more comfortable when youre actually having it. That, andRemember the Reasons Youre LeavingWhen youre approaching your managers office, its easy to remember all the reasons you should stay. You know the drill here, your co-workers arent that bad, and your boss really does need you at the even t next monthStop. And reflect on not only your motivations for looking for a new job in the first place, but also for deciding to make this next move- a higher-level position, work you care about, more money, less stress, all of the above. Assuming youve thought through this decision and made it with eyes wide open, its likely a great move, and youre going to feel amazing once this next step in the transition is over. Keeping that feeling in mind as you walk in will help you stay calm, positive, and energized rather than panicked. Of course, if youre leaving not because you hate your job but because youre, say, moving across the country for your spouseRemember This Isnt the End of Your RelationshipRemember those bosses I mentioned above? Im still in touch with all three of them. The world is small, and its common (and a really, really good thing) to maintain relationships with former co-workers. So if part of your anxiety is actually sadness that you wont be seeing these people ever y day, keep in mind that this isnt the end of the road. There are plenty of ways to stay in touch, plus you may have opportunities to collaborate in the future- or heck, even work together again. Having the talk is never easy. But, I promise Once its done, that gut-wrenching feeling is going to be replaced by a wave of relief and happiness that the next thing is just around the corner.