How to Quit Your Job

How to Quit Your Job; The Proper Way!

Whether you have found a new pasture or just sick of what your current role is dishing out, you can’t leave a job without resigning first. For those who might be considering getting out your resume and quitting your job, consider these pointers before you are tempted to drop tools and run.

People switch jobs for all types of reasons; advancement opportunities, increased salary, a change of hours or location, a better company culture, increased benefits, etc. Conflicts with colleagues, a difference of ethics, unpopular changes in leadership, feeling overworked or an unstable financial environment are also common reasons for wanting to jump ship.

According to a 2014 study undertaken by Roy Morgan, 28 percent of the 8000 Australians surveyed said they would actively look for another job within the following 12 months. Another 23 percent were unable to confirm their intentions. Whilst this might seem no biggie, of the 75 percent of workers who said they were satisfied with their job, one in five were actually still considering switching.

Unlike generations before us, gone are the days of slugging it out in the same job. But, whatever the reason for moving on, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about resigning (and our resume writers have certainly heard a few horror stories).

Without further ado, here are our Resume to You tips for how to quit your job properly.

When is the best time to provide your resignation notice?

As a general consensus, the best time to give notice is on a Friday afternoon. Why? Reaction time. Resigning on a Friday afternoon means you finish your week as you wanted and it allows your boss the weekend to get over, and plan around, your resignation (and potentially calm down if you held a pertinent position in the company).

How to provide notice of your resignation?

You should always provide notice of your resignation in writing addressed to your immediate supervisor or manager. Indicate a date of your intended resignation, being sure to address any terms of notice set out in your employment contract, enterprise agreement, award or other registered agreement. Wherever possible, hand deliver the notice.

Typically, two weeks is a minimum term for notice, however this can vary depending on the above and how long you have been employed at the company. Some companies start with a two-week minimum which is increased by a week for every year of service. Be sure to check this out as salary and other benefits, such as accrued leave pay, can be withheld if you don’t provide the correct amount of notice.

According to Fair Work Australia, notice of resignation starts on the day after you give notice. For more information about how much notice to provide, check out the Fair Work Australia website here. They also provide a helpful notice and redundancy calculator.

Keep a copy of the resignation letter for your records.

How to handle reaction of your resignation?

Don’t expect your boss or supervisor to take the news of your resignation light-heartedly. After all, they now have to worry about your handover and training a replacement.

To make the job a little less stressful and to finish on a positive; as burning bridges is not what anyone wants to do, organise a list of projects to provide your boss. On this list detail the activities you are working on and their status. Give information about what you feel can be achieved and finalised within your notice period. Provide suggestions on who you could turn other activities over to.

The objective with this is to make your resignation as smooth as possible for all parties involved.

It may seem hard at the time but always remember to be thankful of your employment and leave on a positive – regardless of the scenario. You never know when you may cross paths with former employers in the future.

Ready to get started on a new venture? Let our professional resume writers ready your resume, CV and LinkedIn profile.

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