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The decision to leave your current position should not be made hastily. Both you and your current employer have invested a lot to make you successful in your position. Be mindful that as excited as you are about what lies ahead, your current employer deserves certain considerations with regard to your departure.
If you are currently a contract consultant, you will enhance your reputation by staying until the end of your assignment and delivering on your commitments. In fact, contract consultants should never resign from an engagement before the work is completed. Clients build their plans and budgets based on the contract resources allocated to the project. Leaving an assignment prior to completion is considered unprofessional.
It is expected that employees in permanent positions, over time, may find new opportunities that advance their careers. Leaving your current job to accept a new position can be a stressful experience for you and your current employer.
With so many unknowns and new experiences ahead, you need some tried and true approaches for making the transition as smooth as possible. Keep in mind that your employer may not be happy to hear the news of your departure. How you communicate your resignation can make a big difference.
Communicating Your Resignation
There are two steps to the resignation process: submitting a letter of resignation and telling your employer that you are resigning. In both of these steps, you must maintain a professional tone and posture while communicating your decision.
Keep the following in mind:
- Give two weeks notice. This will give your employer time to look for—and possibly find—your replacement. If it will help, work with your supervisor to detail the qualities you see as most essential to your job. This will help when screening applicants.
- Offer to help train your replacement. Document your essential duties and organize your files and notes so that the next person in your job has a good foundation to start from.
- Ask your supervisor what you can do to make the transition easier. This is a thoughtful gesture that shows your current employer that you understand things from his or her perspective as well.
Remember, you’ll want to use your current employer as a reference over time. That’s why handling yourself in a professional, determined, but considerate manner is so important.
Writing a Resignation Letter
A resignation is official once you write, sign, and submit a resignation letter. Always write a resignation letter, and take it with you when you go to your supervisor to resign. Address it to your immediate supervisor, and include the date of your last day on the job. View a sample of an effective resignation letter.
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