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Resigning with Dignity


Resigning with Dignity

A Step-by-Step Guide to Leaving Your Job Gracefully and Preparing for Future Success


  

Leaving your job gracefully and preparing for future success is an important and transformative career transition. If you're resigning from your current position, retiring, or making a career change, preparing a well-planned departure can have a positive impact on your professional reputation and future prospects. 


Find your Why and Make a Plan

The first step to start the process should be reflecting on your reasons for leaving your current job and what you hope to achieve in the future. It will help you to decide what is the best plan of action to take. For example, consider what your career goals, values, and aspirations are for the present and future, if you just want to change your environment or start your venture and create something new. After gaining more clarity on how you feel about where you’re at and where you want to go, you can then set specific goals for yourself and your career and create a plan to achieve them.


Secure a New Opportunity/Job Position 

Before resigning from your job, you should probably have another opportunity lined up or secured. Even if your reasons for leaving are urgent and won’t allow sufficient time to find a new job before leaving, it’s much better to have something to fall back on like a nest egg, temporary job, or side hustle. This provides financial security and enables a smoother transition out of your current position. Before leaving, take time to update your resume and start searching for job openings, network with potential employers, and attend interviews. You can also do research into gigs you can do on the side to provide an extra stream of income to help you stay afloat. 


Give Notice to Your Current Employer

Once you've secured your next opportunity or have a plan in place, you should then inform your current employer to discuss your resignation. Schedule a meeting with your supervisor or HR department to give prior notice of your intentions and follow the process required to submit your resignation. Most companies expect you to prepare a formal resignation letter that includes your last working day at least two weeks in advance. Keep the discussion professional and positive and be ready to explain your reasons for leaving the position, even if they are negative. These discussions will help your employer to understand why you want to leave, and how they can improve the job experience for someone new to step in. Companies do not enjoy having a high rate of employee turnover.  



Handing over to colleagues

Give Notice to Your Team

After you’ve given notice to your employer about your departure from the company, the next step is to inform your colleagues or team members. Letting your colleagues know will also give them time to re-calibrate ongoing projects or responsibilities with input from you. Leaving the workplace where you’ve built bonds with others can be a bittersweet experience, especially if you’ve worked alongside them for a significant period of time. Letting them know in advance will also give them time to process your resignation and prepare for a new employee to join the team. 


Wrap up Any Outstanding Tasks

During your notice period, continue to work industriously and wrap up your projects as best as you can before your last day of work. If something can’t be finished before time, prepare guidelines or give a rundown of what was done and what is left so that the person taking over your projects can continue them without any confusion. You can also offer assistance during this period in finding a replacement or accept the task of training a colleague to take over your responsibilities. 


Maintain a Positive Attitude

Even if your reasons for leaving your job are negative, try to maintain a positive and professional attitude as you wrap up your last projects. Maintain good terms and relationships with your colleagues and superiors and avoid speaking negatively about them, your current employer, or the company. Keeping a positive attitude will help to preserve your professional reputation which is vital for future prospects. 


Clean Your Workspace

Another dignified and professional act of resigning is to clean and organize your workspace before you leave. Clear out your workstation and ensure that it’s left in the same condition as when you arrived. If you were in possession of any company property such as a work phone or laptop for instance, remember to return them and collect all your personal items. 


Thank Your Employer

Before leaving the job, it would be a nice gesture to show gratitude to your employer, colleagues, and mentors for the opportunities and support they provided. It doesn’t have to be elaborate and a simple thank-you email or card can still leave a positive final impression. In some cases, your colleagues may take time to send you off with a small token of appreciation like lunch or a gift. Treasure the simplicity in these moments and express your utmost gratitude to the whole team!


Stay in Touch

As mentioned earlier, leaving your job and your colleagues behind can be emotional or bittersweet. This is especially true if you fostered a lot of meaningful relationships and friendships with your colleagues during the time you worked together. Thankfully, it’s much easier to stay in touch with former colleagues and supervisors through networking events in person or online, social media, and occasional check-ins. Maintaining these relationships can be beneficial for your future career and let you stay connected to people you care about.


Conclusion

Leaving your job gracefully and preparing for future success requires careful planning, professional behavior, and a positive mindset. It’s also very important to maintain your professional relationships with your past employers and co-workers to have a good standing in the professional world. Once you've left your job, stay focused on your career goals and plans. As you continue to develop your skills, seek new opportunities, and work toward your long-term objectives, you will feel more fulfilled and motivated to achieve your goals!

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