There are many reasons to quit your job. Maybe you’re unsatisfied, maybe you just want to go in a new career direction, or maybe you’ve decided to become a stay at home mom. Whatever your reason for quitting, there is a right way and a wrong way for doing it.
If you’re not happy with your job or your career path, sticking with it can cause depression, irritability, and even problems in your relationships. It just makes sense to quit if you aren’t happy.
So, if you’re thinking about leaving your job, for whatever reason, here are some tips to help you do it the right way.
Always Give A Notice
Even if your contract doesn’t require a notice of any kind, you should at least give a one week notice. Before you quit make sure you do look back at your contract or employee handbook and ensure that you don’t need to give a two week notice.
Giving a notice, and sticking with that particular length of time will help you get a better reference from your job once you start looking for a replacement. If you leave on good terms you also might be welcome back if things change in the future.
Don’t Talk About Quitting Until You Give Your Boss Your Notice
It’s really just plain rude and disrespectful to tell other people you plan to quit before telling your boss. If you spend time gossiping around the office it’s likely he’ll find out before you tell him and then things could get awkward.
Sure, you can talk about it at home. But definitely don’t post about your plans on social media. And, even after you give your notice, keep your job status out of social media until you have actually quit. And then, don’t say negative things about your former employer.
Stay Motivated While You’re There
Just because you only have a week or two left isn’t reason to start slacking. You want your boss to put in a good word for you in future endeavors, so you need to keep impressing him until the very end.
Should You Have Another Job Lined Up First?
If you’ve ever quit a job, or even thought of quitting, in your lifetime you’ve probably had someone tell you not to put in notice until you have another job lined up. In most cases that’s a good piece of advice, but it really varies per person and situation.
Two great reasons to quit with no backup are if you plan to be a stay at home mom or if you are working on starting your own business. Also, if you feel threatened at your job quitting is a better idea than staying, but make sure you talk to the proper authorities as well.
Not all jobs are right for everyone, and even if you loved your job in the beginning it doesn’t mean you have to love it forever. Don’t stay stuck in a job you hate, but make sure when you leave you leave on good terms so at the least you have a great reference!
