How to quit your job

Are you ready to move on? Here are some tips to ensure that moment goes as well as it can.

So. You’ve found a new job, and you’re ready to say sayonara to your current one and sashay out the door.

Before you grab that stapler, hold up, because in order to make sure the quitting process goes smoothly, there are a few things you should do first.

Decide whether you’re really, really going

Generally the first thing your current boss will ask you is whether there is anything they can do to help you stay. Before you hand over your resignation letter, consider whether changes to your current role would make you happier. Would part-time hours relieve some of the pressure? Are you looking for a bit more pay? Is there a problem with a co-worker? If you think these could be worked out, approach your manager and have a chat.

Check your contract

Two weeks’ notice is the Hollywood standard, but depending on how long you’ve been with the company, you may be required to provide more or less notice. Providing the incorrect amount of notice could impact your payout, so it’s best to double check before you put it in writing. Check your contract for other sticking points as well, like non-compete clauses.

Get your affairs in order

Quitting is hard, especially when you’ve been in a job for a while and are used to the routine and day-to-day tasks. Suddenly, you’ve got a short time frame in which to get everything wrapped up. Where do you start? The best time is probably actually before you’ve even quit. If it’s something you’re considering, try making a list of the projects you’ve got on the go and how long they’ll reasonably take you to complete. List them in order of priority so you know what’s most important. After you hand in that notice, go back and decide what you’ll be able to get done within the next few weeks, and prepare handover notes for your successor with any key information they might need. But remember, it isn’t all on you — your employer needs to take responsibility for hiring and training your replacement.

Take a deep breath

Ready to go? Square your shoulders, give your resignation letter a final read and go rip off that proverbial bandaid. You’ll feel better for it afterwards — and remember, this is the start of your new future.