After 28 years in recruiting, I’ve seen careers derailed by poor performance and by poor exits. How you leave a job matters more than most people realize, and it’s worth getting right.
Here’s what the process should look like.
Secure your next position first
Don’t resign until you have an offer in writing with a confirmed start date. Verbal commitments fall through. Until you have a signed offer letter and a start date, you are still employed and should act like it.
Time your notice carefully
Two weeks is the professional standard. If your start date is further out, don’t give more notice than you need to. Extended notice periods put you in an awkward position at your current company, and they expose you to risk if your new employer changes plans before you arrive.
Have the conversation in person
Tell your direct supervisor before anyone else hears it. Do this privately, in person, on a Friday afternoon if possible. A Friday gives everyone the weekend to process the news before the workweek resumes. Do not resign by email, text, or through a third party.
Keep the conversation brief and professional. You are leaving for a new opportunity. You don’t need to explain where, why, or for how much. Express genuine appreciation for your time with the company, confirm your last day, and offer to help with the transition.
Follow up with a written resignation letter
After the conversation, give your supervisor a short letter the same day. The letter serves one purpose: to create a clean written record of your resignation and your last day of employment. It belongs in your personnel file.
Keep it to three or four sentences. State that you are resigning, confirm your last day, thank the company for the opportunity, and offer your assistance during the transition. That’s it.
Dear [Supervisor’s Name],
I am writing to formally resign from my position as [Your Title], effective [Last Day of Employment]. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had here and for the relationships I’ve built during my time with the company. I am committed to making this transition as smooth as possible and am happy to assist in any way I can over the next two weeks.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Expect a range of reactions
Some companies will accept your resignation graciously and work with you on a smooth handoff. Others will walk you out the same day, particularly if you are moving to a competitor. Neither outcome reflects on you personally. Be prepared for either.
Think really hard before accepting a counteroffer
Your employer may respond with more money, a promotion, or a new title to keep you. The research on counteroffers is consistent: the vast majority of people who accept them leave within a year anyway, and the underlying reasons they wanted to leave don’t change. If you’ve reached the point of accepting a new position, trust that decision.
Leave cleanly
Return company property. Wrap up open projects or document where they stand. Don’t take clients, contacts, or proprietary information with you. And don’t spend your last two weeks venting to coworkers about why you’re leaving. The professional world is smaller than it looks.
Linda Ferrante is Co-Founder and Director of Recruiting Operations at RFT Search Group, a retained executive search firm serving business owners across Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio since 2012. If you’re a professional exploring your next move, visit our For Professionals page or view our current search assignments.
If you’re a business owner navigating a key departure, read: When a Key Employee Resigns: What to Do in the First Two Weeks.