3 Steps to Quit Your Job With Grace - The Muse

3 Steps to Quit Your Job With Grace - The Muse3 Steps to Quit Your Job With GraceYouve finally decided to quit your job- congratulationsMaybe you landed a great new gig and youre moving on to greener pastures. Or, maybe you hate your anfhrer and- lets be honest- cant wait to stick it to him with your two weeks notice.But whatever the situation, quitting your job can be awkward and uncomfortable- and if you dont have a clear plan of action, you might end up burning bridges and sacrificing valuable references down the road.So whatevers pushing you out the door, exit the right way with grace, class, and preparedness. If youre not aya how to make the big announcement or navigate your last two weeks, dont worry- Ive created an easy three-step plan to guide you through it.Step 1 The Set-UpFirst, set a firm date for your last day of work. Make sure to give yourself enough time to tie up any loose ends and train your replacement, if necessary. In most states, youre not required to give two f ull weeks notice- but as a professional courtesy to your co-workers and anfhrer, its a good rule of thumb.Once youve decided on your last day, compose your official resignation letter. In my experience, Ive found that less information is better- and no matter how casual your company is, err on the side of formality. (Even the most laid-back company wont appreciate a BTW, August 1 is going to be my last day schmelzglas.) Heres a sample schablone Ive usedDear Sam,This letter is to inform you of my resignation from my position as account executive for The Evans Company, effective May 29, 2013.I truly appreciate the opportunities youve provided during my time here. Thank you for your continued support and guidance. I am happy to assist in the transition process to make it as smooth as possible.Best,Allison SmithFinally, schedule a time and date for the face-to-face meeting with your boss to break the news. If youre pressed to reveal why youre calling a meeting, you can say its just a ge neral check-in- feel free to keep it vague. Then, make sure you have a printed, signed copy of your letter to hand over to make it official.Step 2 The I Quit MeetingUp until this point, the quitting process has been pretty easy You settle on a date, whip out a formal notice, and mentally picture yourself crossing that schliff line. But when it comes to actually telling your boss that youre out of there, it gets a little more intimidating.When I decided to quit my first job, I was unbelievably nervous, so naturally, I took my quandary to Google. But when I searched for what to say when you quit your job, nothing brilliant came up- because the truth is, there is no script. Until youre actually in that conversation, youll have no idea what direction the conversation will take, how much your boss will beg you to stay, and whether hell grill you on what youre doing next.But no matter how the conversation goes, its important that you dont feel guilty about moving on or feel like you need to over-explain. In fact, my mantra for my I quit meeting was simple Its not personal its business. No matter how close you are to your boss or how irreplaceable you think you are- your boss will find a new you to fill your role. Keeping this in mind will help create some distance between you and your job, making the conversation just a little easier.But to take it a step further, write down (and practice) a few talking points to start the conversation. Begin with a reason that you feel comfortable sharing, like, Ive been offered an opportunity I want to pursue, or, Im finally making the switch to full-time freelance work. And as you did in your resignation letter, pepper the conversation with gratitude (e.g., Thank you so much for all the opportunities youve given me here or Ive learned so much about the ins and outs of technical recruiting).After you say your piece, wait for your boss to respond. Of course, every situation will be different Your boss may press you about your new j ob, ask if theres anything he or she can do to keep you there, or ask you why you didnt mention anything about this before. Unfortunately, theres no script for these situations, either (believe me, I checked)- but if you feel pressured to respond, you cant go wrong with a genuine Thank you so much for this opportunity. Your employer isnt entitled to know where or why youre moving on- simply when.The more professional and respectful you keep the conversation, the easier it will be to leave your boss with a great impression- so he or she will remember the great work you did not just how you left. And down the road, if a potential employer calls your boss or you want to request a reference, youll be in the clear.Your employer isnt entitled to know where or why youre moving on- simply when.Step 3 The Last WordsAfter this meeting, as easy as it would be to check out, its important to be as helpful as possible as you finish your last few weeks. Distribute your unfinished projects to colle agues, along with sufficient descriptions of your progress so they can pick up right where you left off. If theyll need background information on certain clients or projects, forward important emails and e-introduce folks who havent worked together before. And, if you have specialized knowledge or a unique responsibility (e.g., running reports in SalesForce), create a how-to guide for whoevers taking over for you.Then, and as you prepare to leave the office for the last time (after your resignation has been officially announced), send a goodbye email to your co-workers. A short, sincere note (e.g., Its been great working with all of you Id love to stay in touch- feel free to contact me on LinkedIn or via my personal email address) will help you avoid any bridge-burning- and will keep your network strong.When it comes to leaving a job (especially a terrible one), you may be tempted to go out with a bang. But quitting with grace and professionalism- and a well-thought out plan- will h elp you infinitely more in the long run.