The time has come for you to move on from your current job. Should you give two weeks' notice? In most cases, yes. Here's how to quit your job without losing potential future references.
We partnered with our favorite job search site, ZipRecruiter, to detail how to quit your job without losing potential future references—and how to move on to your next big job search.
This notice gives your employer time to prepare for your departure and make plans to either hire a replacement or delegate tasks among the remaining employees accordingly.
This also gives you the time to segue out of your role without leaving a mess in your wake. Here's how to have this difficult conversation in order to move on.
While two weeks’ notice is not required, it is considered an appropriate amount of time to inform your boss or supervisor. By giving two weeks’ notice, you indicate that you respect your boss and coworkers and are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for them.
A full two weeks gives you sufficient time to wrap up projects, assign tasks to other team members, train any new hires on your role, and also complete a potential exit interview. It further allows HR to ensure that your paychecks are up to date and that other benefits can be terminated in time.
Now, your boss may ask you to stay on for longer than two weeks—and possibly in your contract, you are obliged to give more than two weeks’ notice! But, if you are not, you are in a position to decline and stay on for just the two weeks outlined.
Your boss may also choose to terminate your employment immediately instead of paying you for an additional two weeks. Employment laws can vary state-by-state so be prepared to terminate your place of work immediately once you give notice.
Make sure you include (and bold) your dates, including the date of your resignation announcement and your last day working.
There might be a few things to tie up in order to make your transition as seamless as possible. This resignation letter might be your chance to "manage up" for one last time (ahem, think about the glowing recommendation letter you can get).
Gather outstanding projects, recommendations for coworkers to inherit your work, and communicate any last details to the team.
Even if you're leaving on bad terms, keep your two weeks' notice letter professional and positive—or at least neutral. Even if you need to be extra creative, find a way to express gratitude for what you've learned in your time at the organization.
If you have a complicated position, various open projects, or if you're the gatekeeper to resources, offer help and assistance. However, make sure that your end date is clear so that you're not fielding errant questions from former coworkers forever.
Some organizations will prefer that your resignation is immediate. Before you tender your resignation letter, make sure your computer is cleaned of any personal information.
Pro Tip: Always keep your computer clean from any personal information.By following these five steps, you can resign gracefully, work your last two weeks, and feel proud leaving the office on your last day of work. For more information on quitting your job the right way, check out this article from ZipRecruiter's blog, How to Quit Your Job the Right Way.
You don’t need to tell your boss why you’re leaving, or even where you’re planning to work once you resign. Any circumstances around your next move are your business—unless you want to share more.
In fact, it’s likely better to prepare positive takeaways from your time at the company instead of brag about the new benefits or salary bump you’ve been offered with a new position.
That being said, take some time to prepare what you’re comfortable sharing about your new role with your boss and have a story you can sell to both your boss and other coworkers about your departure.
Keep it vague, emphasizing instead that you’re hoping to work together on a transition plan and inquiring about any further steps you may need to take regarding HR.
Now, it’s time to actually tell your boss. Make some time on their calendar for a face-to-face or video call and go over your prepared remarks. It is best to do this in person or via video—not on the phone—so that you can gauge their reaction and emphasize your sincerity throughout this process.
Once you’ve told your boss, make sure you’re both on the same page regarding your official last date, how your coworkers and other colleagues will be told the information, and any other transition steps such as drafting a formal resignation letter or scheduling an exit interview.
Pro Tip: Even if you do have a face-to-face or video call to announce your resignation, write up a resignation letter as well, detailing your last date and any other details discussed. Always have a paper trail.
Looking for resignation letter samples and templates? We got 'em!After speaking with your boss, you likely have a better idea of what needs to be done in your final two weeks. Take initiative to prepare this transition plan so that you are maximizing your helpfulness to the team, even until your very last day.
This leaves your boss and coworkers with a strong impression of your work ethic and how you’ve chosen to handle this transition.
You never know when you may need a former colleague’s reference so it’s best to maintain these relationships with a solid transition plan instead of burnt bridges.
It can be tempting to gloat or convince your teammates to join you in your exit from your company but be respectful to your colleagues as you share your news.
For close mentors and friends, tell them in person or via video so that they are prepared for both the loss of a close coworker and for an anticipated increase in their workload, too.
And, encourage those closest to you to stay in touch. Share your contact information so that you can maintain the relationships you’ve built and rely on them for future help if needed. You never know when the opportunity to work with a colleague may emerge in the future and, again, it’s always best not to burn bridges.
Pro Tip: We're not all leaving our jobs on bad terms. Sometimes, it's simply time to move on. In these cases, you might have a great recommendation for an in-house replacement. In this case, you may use a portion of your two weeks' notice letter to recommend a suitable replacement for your vacant position.
Ultimately, it’s best for your final days at a company to be positive. You want your boss and former colleagues to remember you as a helpful, kind, and collaborative team member.
Step up to the task of transitioning off your work and be flexible. Moreover, don’t badmouth specific team members or managers if you are asked to conduct an exit interview. While it can be fake to only focus on positives, pick and choose one or two tasks that the company as a whole can improve upon (if you feel comfortable) without singling out specific people.
You want to maintain relationships and never know when you may need a reference, so it’s best to end your tenure on a high note, without saying anything you will come to regret.
We know how you feel about your soon-to-be former employer. Your friends know, your mom knows, and well, we all know. We have hinted at many of the things that you should avoid when writing your resignation letter, but let's quickly reiterate.
Don't use your two weeks' notice letter to vent about everything you hated. If you really need to write a therapeutics fake resignation letter, do that (but do it on paper to avoid sending it by mistake!)
The trick with a two weeks' notice letter is keeping it simple. Simply notify your employer of your intention to resign, the dates associated with your resignation, and that's it. You are not obliged to give more information.
Here are a few things to leave out of your resignation letter:If you do have a few bones to pick, and you're sure that it's imperative for the future safety of your coworkers, you can inquire about an exit interview opportunity with an HR representative. In the case of a hostile work environment, this is a good way to professionally leave a position while doing a professional courtesy to your soon-to-be former coworkers.
Depending on your history with the company, you might add more details to this letter. Remember this two weeks' notice template is just the framework for what your resignation letter or resignation email could look like.
If you'd like to copy and paste this template, here is the text version:Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my position as [JOB TITLE] at [COMPANY NAME]. My last day will be [DATE].
I appreciate the opportunities for growth and development you have provided me with during my tenure. The knowledge I have gained during my time here will be an asset for me throughout my career. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you and the team.
Please let me know how I can help during this period of transition. I wish you and the company all the best and sincerely hope you will keep in touch.
For more sample resignation and two weeks notice letters, check out these sample resignation letters from ZipRecruiter's blog.
And, just like that, you've resigned—all without burning a single bridge! Best of luck with your next move.-->
Career Contessa TeamCareer Contessa is an online job search and career advice resource. Since 2013, Career Contessa staff have been writing career advice articles on a variety of topics from job search to advancing at work with insight from experts, research-backed tips, and personal stories to help you become more fulfilled, healthy, and successful at work. When tackling big pain points like job search, interviewing, and career transitions, we need all hands on deck. The articles attributed to the team feature hard work, research, and real experience.
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