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Dear Joanna,
I have been wanting to quit my job for a while, but didn’t have the nerve to tell my boss. Suddenly, I just stopped showing up for my shifts. My boss was upset and he reported this to my Reena job coach as he was depending on me for his business. Eventually I lost the job. Although I didn’t want to work there anymore, my Reena job coach taught me that in future, it’s important that I learn how to resign with grace and dignity and not to “burn any bridges”. Please let me know your opinion on how I can appropriately quit from a job?
Signed: Quitting with Dignity
Dear QD,
After consulting with leading Reena job coach as well as the Ulster and Hansen’s article from this blog, https://www.livecareer.com/career/advice/jobs/resigning-job, as hard as this might be for you to be open with your boss, resigning with dignity and diplomatically is the way to go. The authors present the following recommendations on the most professional and best way to resign or quit you job.
- Leave on good terms. Never burn your bridges. Don’t brag to your coworkers about if have another job. Don’t complain about your job to anyone at work. Just your friends and family whom you trust. Job hunting is an unpredictable process, and you never know when you will run into your former supervisor, co-worker, or a former employer in another situation. Never ever say anything negative about this employer in your job interviews, networking or when you get a new employer.
- Giving advanced notice. Legally, you are required to give a minimum of two weeks. Consult your employer’s policies and/or the Collective Agreement if you are in a union. Giving extra notice to your employer, especially if he or she has been a good boss, is always the best strategy. I would suggest giving extra notice as a special favour to your team and employer. Keep this in mind when discuss the job offer with your next employer.
- Outstanding compensation. Make sure you are paid for any outstanding salary, vacation, sick, personal days, commission payments or other compensation due to you. If you want a letter of employment if you wish to collect EI, ask for that as well. Ask the employer / boss if you can use them as a reference for future job opportunities – but not after you quit!!!!
- Help with the transition. Offer to help your current employer find your replacement. Offer to train or work with your replacement to show them the ropes.
- Remain an active employee until your last day! Try not to just disappear during your last weeks on the job. Stay an active member of the team and avoid taking a short-timer’s attitude or aligning yourself with any discontented coworkers. Complete all open assignments and leave detailed progress reports for your supervisor and coworkers. Work with your job coach to resolve the issue with your manager. You might decide to stay in the end! If you can when you have a new job, consider being available for questions from the new employee or your former team. Do this only if you have time in your new role. That takes priority.
- Exit interview. This type of interview is usually offered to employees who resign and asks for feedback (positive and negative experiences with the company). Often it’s administered by the human resources staff. Not all companies have this procedure. And if you are offered such an exit interview to provide feedback, I would caution you with your response to the question. It depends on where the information goes – i.e. what will happen to your feedback. Will it be used against you? Would your input jeopardize your chances of getting a good reference? Stay tuned for a employment advice column on this topic.
- Keep networking. Keep in touch with your (soon to be former) colleagues and supervisors, especially those who you want to keep as network contacts and references. Make sure you are connected with them on Linkedin, Twitter and any other social media venues.
Joanna
To submit your challenges, concerns, questions and comments regarding this column and/or your job search IN CONFIDENCE, please email Joanna Samuels, Employment Resource Supervisor, Reena – jsamuels@reena.org