Written by Lizanne Dsouza-Founder Liz Lyn Careers
Resigning from a job has been a nerve-racking task for many individuals especially if you have been with the organization for a long time, however it's important to remember that all of us need to grow in our careers and you are doing nothing wrong. The way you do it however is very important as you do not want to burn any bridges as you never know when you come across your former manager or boss in the future.
Here are some tips on how this process doesn't have to get ugly and can be a pleasant transition:
Start the conversation: If you have worked for a company for a really long time and have a role that is that of an individual contributor there is no harm in starting this conversation of moving on with management earlier, yes you may only have a 30/60/90 day notice period, however sometimes companies find it hard to find a replacement for a role so starting this conversation allows the employer to be prepared in advance.
State your plans right in the beginning: Not everyone will agree to this, but if you have plans to study further or only work at a role for a certain amount of time for personal reasons it's always a good idea to be honest about it from day one, a job is a two-way transaction, this will help the company and you make a decision if this is the right path for you.
Have an open and honest conversation: Before you drop in that email make sure you at least have a verbal conversation with your boss/ manager especially if you have that relationship with them, no one likes an email out of nowhere.
State your reasons clearly: It is always a good idea, to be honest about the reasons why you are looking to move, this could also help companies improve things internally if the reasons are around bad work culture or poor management.
Have reasonable expectations: After you resign do not expect preferential treatment or any policies to be changed for you, this is not fair to the others and sometimes management may not be able to adhere to your request, having expectations can make you feel bitter towards the end.
Be professional during your notice period: Remember that you are still an employee during your notice and sometimes even if you just want to leave everything and move on, it is important for you to stay professional during this time as the company is still relying on you to do your job.
Leave a job is always bitter-sweet, but we can always try our best to do this without it being ugly, it's all about how you approach it. Remember we always meet people again in life, especially if we are in similar industries.