Leaving your job can be quite difficult, especially if you've been there a while. You might like a lot of the people you work with and think you'll miss them. You might also have met a lot of people you dislike and feel uncomfortable talking to. Either way, if you want to move on to better things, you're going to need to leave your job decently and politely.
Firstly you need to find out how much notice you need to
give at your current job - sometimes this can be a month, other
times only a few weeks. Knowing this is really important because you'll
need to plan your move around the length of your notice period. This is
so you can let your new employer know when you're able to start your new
job.
You usually have to write a letter of resignation to your manager before you can leave - it doesn't have to be complicated or detailed. We've started one for you that you can download and add all your own details to before using.
Download your letter of resignation
template here (22.0KB)
Remember that your new employer is going to ask your current employer for a reference. You want them to say good things about you, so if you can, try to leave on a positive note and stick to the rules of your contract. Storming out one day and never coming back won’t look good, no matter how fed up you feel. It's also worth trying to stay on good terms with your colleagues at work. 'Networking' can be one of the most powerful tools you have when looking for a job in the future, so having a wide network of friends in different jobs could really help you out one day.
Leave nothing behind
It could damage your reputation if you leave behind a pile of unfinished work. Make sure you tie up any loose ends before you leave and if you're working on longer term projects then it might be worth talking to your manager about the best way to pass this project on to someone else. It's also good practise to create a 'handover document'. A handover document is a list of notes you make for the person who's going to be taking over your job position. It'll make settling in to the role a bit easier for them.
Just before you leave, you shouldn't boast about where you're going or how much you'll be earning. Try to respect the feelings of those you're leaving behind. And once you've started your new job, don't talk badly of your old company or work colleagues. It could give your new employer a bad impression of you. Remember, by following our advice you're getting a good head start towards a career that makes you happy.
