How to Resign Without Burning Bridges
It’s perfectly acceptable to resign from your job. The tricky part is ensuring that you don’t burn bridges in the process. You’ll need that reference for many years to come, so it pays to make your exit as graceful as possible. Here are some tips to remember.
Announce It First, Put It In Writing Second
Avoid walking into your boss’s office and slapping down your resignation letter. Instead, ask for a few moments of your boss’s time. Sit down in a friendly manner and explain that you’ll be resigning. Follow up that meeting with your written resignation letter for your file.
Be As Helpful As You Can During Your Last Weeks
Don’t just call in sick for the remaining time at your employer. Rather, be as helpful as you can with your boss and with your colleagues. Offer to write up some training notes for your replacement. Try to wrap up any outstanding projects so the new person isn’t lost when they first start. Your boss will take note and appreciate your loyalty, even to the last.
Avoid Outbursts
If you’re resigning because you feel you’ve been ill-treated, you might be tempted to make a scene where you tell everyone off. Avoid outbursts like this, because no one will want to give you a reference after that. Be as cordial and polite as you can until the very last day that you leave the premises. If you have to complain, do it to your roommate or someone else who you don’t work with.
These tips will help make sure your boss says good things about you when a future employer calls for a reference. Remember, you never know when you’re going to need help from someone you used to work with. It’s always worth it to resign as politely as possible.