Just Quit It Gracefully

Living in a world with unaccountable, thrilling opportunities, it is likely for one to want to leave his job and explore other options. However, most get stuck in dreaming of switching jobs, but cannot really pass the transition simply because they are confused about how to quit. Is it the state you are in? Are you currently doing a job that you have absolutely no intention of continuing? Are you dying to quit, but stumbling on your way because you don't know how to do it? Then this article is all you need to read!

To quit or not to quit

It's completely okay to hate your arrogant boss, pine for something different or want to study further, but these are actually not reasons enough to quit your job. Quitting a job not only frees one from a routine and lets one experience something new, but also involves uncalled for risks, financial security and ability to adapt to a new environment. So it's best to evaluate the pros and cons of quitting the job, and compare the conditions of the new job with the old one. Talking to experts about dealing with different working conditions and ensuring enough savings for the next 4 to 6 months are just a few things to begin with.

Tell your boss first

Sharing the excitement of getting a new job with your favorite work mate, or talking to your friend about it in front of your office desk-neighbors are complete no-no's before quitting your job. It is wise to make sure that you tell your boss (or manager or supervisor) before anyone else, because he would rather be insulted to hear it from someone else. You need to set yourself for a good reference for your future jobs, remember?

Close the door but keep it unlocked

It is fine to reach a point where you absolutely despise everything about your job, but it could be the monotony or fatigue talking. Remember – a coin always has two sides. So when you finalize your decision of quitting, do recall the good things about your job, and the good in brought in you. Reflect it, and only it, in your resignation letter, exit interview or final working days. Leaving a positive impression is always better than being ignorant and callous, because who knows? Maybe someday you might want to come back, given your situation or that of the company's changes. Unless you leave in good terms with your boss or colleagues, it'll be very difficult to sum up the courage to turn back.
While it is easy to give out tips on quitting, I know it is rather difficult to walk the talk. Quitting a job requires a long and sensible thought process followed by a lot of strength and determination to do it. So when you do, leave a graceful and assertive mark. After all, all's well that ends well.

Be honest

No matter how you resign, you must write a short and concise resignation letter stating the exact reason behind quitting and saying that you had a good time, even if you didn't. It is decent to give a notice of two weeks, or whichever is stated in your employment contract. Before leaving, remember to look over the details. Check the employee benefits, unused vacation and sick pays that you are entitled to and return company properties from, be it car keys or file holders. Lastly, and most importantly, ask for a recommendation letter from your boss as you'll need an official documentation of your work for the future.

Saying it right

“The best way to resign gracefully is to talk to your manager one on one, explain your situation and end the conversation in a way that there is no hard feelings and it's just life,” Sayeemin Rahman, Simon Fraser University, Canada puts it perfectly. Once you have decided that you want to quit, organize your story and tell your boss through a brief conversation, e-mail or phone call. Highlight the positive and avoid the negative, because you're leaving and there's no point in leaving a black mark. Apart from that, a lot of people feel the necessity to lie about the reason, but remember that saying the truth is ALWAYS better.