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The Right & Wrong Way to Quit Your Job

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It is an uncomfortable situation for all involved, but at some point in your professional career you may decide to quit your job. It will most likely pose as an inconvenience to someone but at the end of the day you have to do what's best for you at all times, no matter what. And any reputable company will be understanding of that. Opportunities arise and disappear, priorities change, and finally, you realize it's time for a major career adjustment. Now you're going over the seemingly terrifying scenarios of how you're going to quit your job. You could lie about your reasoning, but you might get caught. You could give 1 week's notice, but that wouldn't be fair. You could just not show up but that leads to resentment and a guilty conscience. You could cry which would show honesty, but would it show too much? The various scenarios are endless but one thing is for sure...There is never a good time to quit your job. There is, however, a right and wrong way to quit your job and we're going to show you exactly what each way looks like.

The wrong way to quit your job

Unless you are in physical danger or have a family emergency at the exact moment you decide to quit, it is not a good idea to walk out and leave your job on the spot. No matter how emotional you are, it is not professional and cannot be justified. Your boss should not be under the impression that anger, resentment, and blame played a part in your sudden departure. Anger is not a positive trait to have and when you place the blame on someone else it means you're not taking responsibility for your own emotions or actions. You should also not decide to utilize your last days at your job as a hall pass for bad behavior and gossip. Just because you're leaving, doesn't mean you've already left. You are still an active part of the company and should act accordingly. Remember it’s a small world, and the job market is even smaller. So if you leave your former company on bad terms, it could come back to haunt you during your job search later down the line.

The right way to quit your job

If you’re planning to quit, decide that you’re going to handle it in a way that you can be proud of, so you can start off your next opportunity in the right mindset. If there's an underlying issue that hasn't been addressed, speak about it to your boss. Maybe you’ll solve it and quitting will no longer seem necessary? If after expressing your concerns to your boss and you still feel the same,  you should give the standard 2 weeks notice with class and dignity. Use I-statements in your explanation such as, I feel or I'm looking for or I'm hoping. Remember to be honest, too. No one can fault you for being honest about how you feel. This will soften the blow and keep you in good graces with your coworkers so you can use them as references for future jobs. Also, who knows, you may wind up coming back to your past employer one day. If you really want to go out with a bang, write a handwritten thank you card to the coworkers and leaders who have inspired you in some way. They will be humbled and think of you in the future. Again it’s a small world and you never know who you may cross paths with again in the future. Deciding to a quit a job is never an easy task. It's tough on you and your employer and the best way to handle the situation is by keeping that in mind. If you are looking for a fresh start, browse our most recent job openings today.