There are always a ton of reasons someone might leave a job. It may have something to do with overall satisfaction or maybe not getting along with co-workers. Sometimes it isn’t negative at all. You may be moving for your spouse’s job or you may have received a new job offer yourself. But once you decide to leave, you need to give notice to your employer. How do you do that without burning bridges? Here are some tips to get you started.
Provide at least 2 weeks.
It isn’t any sort of federal requirement, but it is considered good professional practice to give your current employer at least 2 weeks’ notice when you quit. Of course, you may not be asked to fulfill that time frame, but at least you made a good faith effort to provide a reasonable notice when you let them know you were quitting.
Tell your boss first.
Do not tell anyone else in the company that you’re quitting before you talk to your boss. Even if you think you can trust someone, you can’t stop the rumor machine once it starts. You owe it to your boss to tell them first so they don’t have to hear about it from anyone else. This also goes for your confidential job search before you’re ready to quit.
Always do so in person.
Unless circumstances make it impossible, always tell your boss in person. Sending an email, a text, or a phone call won’t be ideal. Be formal and write a letter to present so they have it on file, but give the news in person. You can’t really soften the blow, but you can make it easier when a conversation can happen around the announcement.Stay positive. While you’re giving notice, make sure you don’t give into any negativity. Regardless of why you’re choosing to leave, stay positive. Thank them for the opportunity, talk about how much you’ve learned. Tell them about how you’re excited to pursue the next phase of your career. But this is not the time to complain about the company, management, or coworkers.
Prepare for a counteroffer.
If you’re a valued employee, your current employer may want to do whatever they can to keep you. This is when many organizations will make counteroffers to their employees. What would make you stay? Is it money? Is it a change in position? But remember, the underlying reasons for leaving may not change at all even when a counter offer is on the table. Know how to handle your response positively.
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