Switching Companies? Here’s How to Quit a Job

Sometimes when it comes to quitting your job, it’s easier to just get fired! However, if you don’t hate your job and simply feel you have outgrown it or want to stretch your wings somewhere else, you might wonder how to go about leaving your position and finding somewhere else to work.

Quitting your job respectfully while still leaving some bridges open for later has some steps that you can follow, and if you keep them in mind, you can gracefully quit your job without all the shock and awe of being fired.

Turn In a Letter of Resignation And Chat With Your Boss

Two of the best things to do whenever you are about to quit a job is to turn in your two week’s notice. In some cases, this is required by the company you work with and will be outlined in your contract, while in other cases you will need to do it yourself. But by turning in a resignation letter and saying that you will leave in two weeks, you give the company time to adjust to your absence.

Additionally, it is a good job to talk to your boss in person and let them know you are planning to leave, or even to turn in your letter personally to them. You don’t need to delve into why but letting them know the clear date of your departure will help the process.

Ask For References

Chances are, your new employer is going to ask for a reference of your workplace experience, especially if you are staying in the same field as your previous job. Most employers would either be happy to talk about you and your work, or to write up a letter of recommendation either in print or online.

Especially if the parting is amicable and you are leaving the company in good standing, you can keep the lines of communication open and get the references to advance your career. You might even be able to return to the job on occasion and help out with busy work for some extra pay if your boss allows it.

Make Sure You Really Want to Quit

Finally, the hardest part about making sure you can quit your job gracefully is to ensure that you really want to quit. Sometimes we have a bad week or even a bad month at our job, or sometimes our bosses are hitting us so hard with work that we feel like we can’t do anything right.

Stressful months and bad moments happen in jobs, and before you go through the process of quitting, make sure quitting is the best call. Sometimes you can stick through the storm and come out the other side even better without learning how to quit a job.

However, don’t wait forever. You’ll know when things aren’t getting better and whenever your paycheck isn’t worth the aggravation and problems that your job is giving you. So don’t be afraid to pull the trigger and start the process of gracefully quitting your job.