How to Resign Gracefully

Approaching How to Resign Gracefully

How to resign gracefully from a position after long years of service with an employer can be difficult. Recruiters tend to coach many passive candidates when they want to resign from a current employer. They know their employer is not going to take the news well. And, finding that replacement can be difficult. Especially if the person resigning is a star and key employee to the team.

Sometimes the working relationship between the 'mentor' and the 'employee' is so strong that it goes beyond the working relationship. Leaning into a trusted friendship or confidante relationship.

As with all things in life, sometimes it is best for us to move on. In order to gain different experiences and a broader scope of the world around us. Resigning from a current employer to accept a new job is a key step in the interviewing process. Now, how to resign gracefully and professionally?

Maintain Relationships

The key point in resigning gracefully is to never burn your bridges. You never know when or where you might run into the same manager down the road. It might not be right away but it could be at any time down the road. If you resigned abruptly without reason, she/he is going to remember you.

As human beings, we tend to remember bad news more than good news. The world is small and with social media and technology there are always ways in which we can find how we are connected to each other professionally.

Depending on the seniority of the position. We should always give some kind of notice (usually 2 weeks to 1 month) to the current employer. And, assist the current manager in helping him/her restructure his/her department or find that critical replacement.

Once resignation notice is given. The company will start to treat you differently and your tasks at work will start to change. You should be more concentrated on winding down current projects or hand over key projects to other employees within the company.

What Happens After You Resign

The most important part of resigning is what happens after you resign. I suggest to most of my candidates that they take a vacation or a break from work (usually 1 week) before they start their new position. We need time to clear our heads and spend time with friends and family before we jump into the fire again. We know that once we start our new position, the job will become stressful and it will be more difficult to take the time away for that much needed rest later on.

Overall, I believe maintaining professionalism during the resignation process is the most important step when a candidate decides to move on. One should not dismiss the importance of the resignation as it is just as important as the work you performed to the company itself.

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