Resigning can be hard—particularly if you have enjoyed working at your current company, or feel a sense of loyalty. Moving on is a must however if we are to travel up the professional ladder, and doing it right can make a big difference in ensuring the transition is a smooth one. Next time you are thinking of resigning, you may want to consider a few pieces of advice from Oliver Parks’ technology recruitment consultants, and ensure the process is as stress-free as possible.
Give your notice in writing.
Providing a dated, written notification of your resignation is the best way to ensure there are no misunderstandings. It doesn’t need to be a long letter; a few sentences will suffice. Make sure you sign it and give it to your boss on the day it is dated.
Don’t let resigning become a long conversation.
When it comes time to give your boss your resignation letter, do not let it become a discussion or negotiation. Explain that you have really enjoyed your time at the company and that you have learned a lot. Details about your next position—how you found it, your new salary, etc, should not be shared. If they are brought up, politely steer the conversation back to how grateful you are for everything you have learned and the people you have had a chance to work with.
Make sure you resign to your boss, and inform only others that need to know.
Telling your friends at the office that you are leaving, before you have had a chance to officially resign is a classic mistake. Word gets out, rumours start and you are not able to control things. Your boss should not find out that you are planning to resign through the grapevine. He / she should be the first person you tell.
Serve your notice period productively.
Your notice period can seem like a countdown of days to get through, but don’t be tempted to drop everything and leave unfinished work. Remember that you are serving your notice period; not on leave. And while it may not be possible to complete all your projects before your last day, working out a plan of priorities and actions with your manager can help you finish key tasks.
While you may not be required to attend meetings or engage in planning for new ventures during your notice period, you shouldn’t take long lunch breaks or arrive to work late. If anything, use your new-found free time to help out colleagues with their tasks. Or if your replacement has already come on board, take the time to make it a comprehensive handover.
Don’t second guess your decision.
Don't think twice. Most people who accept a counter offer wind up regretting it. And that's not just because their credibility within the company may be damaged to the point of jeopardizing future negotiations for pay or promotion (although this is often the case).
Most managers will respond to a resignation with shock, and ask for a day or two to come back to you before you formally accept your new position. Often people think they owe their boss this. Unfortunately a rejected counter offer will only make things harder to move on and can even affect the referrals you get and relationships you have built. You can avoid this by keeping the conversation short and to the point. Any information that you give extends the conversation and the likelihood your boss will try to negotiate with you to get you to stay. If you do reveal where you are going, make it clear that you have committed to the new position and intend to honour your agreement, just as you would do if the situation were reversed.
Resigning can be awkward. But it is a necessary part of moving on to brighter pastures, and doing it the right way will prevent misunderstandings. For more tips on resigning the right way, counter offers or where to find your next opportunity in the tech sector, speak to one of Oliver Parks’ experienced technology consultants today. info@oliverparks.com
About Oliver Parks
Oliver Parks Consulting offers search-based recruitment solutions to the technology sector, specialising in the ERP, CRM, CMS, ECM, BI and Open Source Technology spaces. The firm’s multilingual consultants operate in narrowly-defined niche market segments, enabling them to gain extensive knowledge of the people and companies operating in each technology. Oliver Parks has a proven track-record with more than 100,000 candidates worldwide and more than 300 clients globally.