How to Resign

"Enough is enough, I can’t take it any more, I’m moving out from here.” Have you ever felt like saying this???

The greatest essential towards success is, understanding when to move on in your career!

If you have indeed decided to move on, you need to make your parting graceful and professional. This will ensure your leaving your employer on good terms even if your stay in the organization has not been to your satisfaction.

If you want to know how to go about leaving an organization in a professional manner, follow these steps:

Incorporate the basics in your resignation letter

Remember while writing a resignation letter, you should always address the letter to the correct person preferably your immediate superior. The letter should carry your name, position-title, date and the exact date that you wish to be relieved. If you are moving out on a positive note and to pursue better career opportunities, you may mention the same in the letter

Be Positive

Write about the good times you have experienced at the organization and the ways you have benefited personally and professionally. You can always find positive aspects you have experienced, if you think long and hard enough. “Re-think on the good memories and what you have learnt and achieved,” You need to ask yourself “what am I going to take away from this job?” What you need to think on is: would you want to be remembered as a well-mannered employee or the person who threw attitude while walking out of the door.

No Negatives

You should not consider the resignation letter as the platform to spell out your negative experiences or less happy memories. Talking about your boss or the organizational failure should be avoided in the resignation letter. In the heat of the moment, you may feel like writing all the unpleasantness you may have gone through in the organization, but after a few months or years you may regret for your words. It is said “If something is in writing, you can never take it back”. Resignation letters will always remain on record; hence, if you really need or feel like sharing your experiences, you should seek a verbal communication at the exit interview with your superiors.

Acknowledging your employer 

Ultimately your employer is the one who has been paying your salary and supporting your daily needs and lifestyle for your entire tenure. Acknowledge your employer for what you have gained that can be used in the future. Thank, by name, all those who have supported you during your stint. You never know, you may land up as an employee of the organisation again!

Don’t spoil Relationships

You should never leave on negative grounds! You may require a reference from your manager or colleague in the near future; hence you should be remembered for acting professionally. Your senior managers and HR will read your resignation letter; thus write things that are acceptable in the resignation letter. You should always keep all your networks alive to have a greater connectivity as you never know when a former colleague might be useful in your career.

 Standard Resignation Template 

Using a standard template to include all the necessary information in a resignation letter is the best way to present. A standard letter includes all the formal elements/details you need to include in a professional resignation letter.

 Handing over the Resignation Letter

Do not be in a hurry to hand over the resignation letter. Have the resignation letter typed (not in the office or on the official stationery) and ready. Seek a meeting with your superior, discuss the reasons why you are resigning and what your career plans are. Discuss with your superior about your stint in the organization and how you have gained and performed in the organization. Discuss about the notice period and your desired relieving date. You need not mention the name of your next employer, if you so desire. After the discussion with the superior, check out who the letter should be handed over to: the superior or the HR function or someone else. Your boss may wish to consult his own superior before he asks you to submit your resignation letter. Your organization may wish to re-negotiate terms with you. Hand over your resignation letter only when the time is opportune. Even if the organization wants to enter into a dialogue with you, you could still insist that the resignation letter, if required to be submitted, would be dated the day you had communicated first with your superior your desire to resign.

 People leave bosses not organizations

Be as polite as possible with your superior even if you have not had a very pleasant relationship with the superior. You would need the superior’s support to ensure all relieving formalities are duly and satisfactorily completed

 Leave gracefully and without any rancor or ill-feeling

Give all the support required by your organization to complete all formalities including handing over the charge of your position to your successor.Do not bad-mouth your superior or your organization. Leave on such a positive note that you would always be welcome whenever you visit your organization again. You never know, you may one day return to the organisation as an employee!!! Employers always prefer to first consider ex-employees before they think of employing new persons.

 During the notice period

Continue to discharge your duties sincerely right up to your last day in the organization. You cannot be absent or take unnecessary leaves just because you have resigned

 Post-leaving

Be willing to help out with your past-employer in case they need any help. This will help you earn brownie points

Leaving on a happy note will let you focus on constructing a successful career!

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