Handing in your resignation

Handing in your resignation and resigning from a position

Accepting a new position can be an exciting time for anyone, giving you a real sense of achievement, however, there’s always the daunting task of handing in your resignation. With our resignation advice, we give you a number of different tips that can help you resign more professionally and put your mind at ease without burning any bridges.

When is the right time?

When you’re handing in your resignation, there is a lot of careful thought and preparations as to when to hand in your notice. If the process is handled in the correct way it will not only demonstrate a positive approach to your decision but also a mature one. Alternatively, if you approach the situation inappropriately or awkwardly accusations may occur, affecting your future career prospects and possibly burning bridges.

Setting up a meeting.

It is a difficult task to predict the outcome of such a sensitive meeting, so being prepared is key to a successful meeting. There are a number of ways your boss may take it, congratulating you on your new position or feel betrayed and hurt, this what you need to plan for. The number one rule is to remember to stay professional at all times and don’t let your emotions get the better of you.

Helpful preparation.

Plan what you are going to say and stick to it, be firm yet polite, you have not made this decision without serious consideration; if you walk into the office to resign and you leave agreeing to stay you will in most cases have eroded the respect / trust that your boss had in you anyway.

Retain your composure at all times and ensure that you can articulate why you are leaving, focusing on the positives of your career move. You will not gain anything by using the meeting to dwell on negatives. Remember that you may need a reference from your boss and there could be a time in the future when you meet again. So always be professional and try to set aside your emotions – that way you will remain focused on resigning rather than on justifying your decision.

The meeting does not have to be lengthy and although you will no doubt be questioned about your reasons for leaving, you do not have to offer detailed reasons. Remember what you have decided to say – and don’t deviate from your intentions.

Ensure that you have thought through the notice period you are prepared to give, stress that you will provide a detailed handover and where possible, reduce your notice period to an agreed timescale and negotiate if you are wanting to.

Be prepared for a counter offer and when it comes, be ready to reinforce the fact that you would like them to respect your decision – it has been a carefully considered decision and would like to stick to it.

Leave the meeting on a positive and amicable note with an agreement to your leaving date so that you can confirm this with your next employer.

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Adam