How to Leave a Job Gracefully

Goodbye. Adios. Arrivederci. Au Revoir. Millions of U.S workers are calling it quits and saying farewell to their employers. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, 2.9% of the American workforce have left their jobs since August. This trend, known as “The Great Resignation”, is a phenomenon of the pandemic. What we’re witnessing is a revolution of worker expectations as people reevaluate their priorities and search for better opportunities.

The truth is, nobody wants to look up one day and realize that their stuck at a dead-end job. It’s a common story: you graduate from college and take an internship at a company thinking you’ll only be there a short while. Next thing you know, you get hired and five years down the road you realize you’ve gone as far as you can go. Even if you enjoy where you work, the opportunities for personal and professional growth may be limited.

Look, it’s totally normal to have conflicting feelings about your job. In fact, pre-pandemic, most people reported having some level of dissatisfaction with their careers. But with companies now offering better benefits, higher pay, and perks like sign-on bonuses and tuition reimbursement, job seekers literally have the pick of the litter.

Let’s be honest: every job, even the good ones, has an expiration date. And when it comes to bettering yourself, loyalty to your boss and colleagues isn’t a good enough reason to stay at a job where you feel stagnant. You can’t afford to sell yourself or your dreams short simply because you feel obligated to stay somewhere that no longer serves you.

Remember, These Jobs Ain’t Loyal

Jobs will often try and sell you on the idea that you and your team are like a family. Let’s be clear: no matter how much you like them, your relationship with your colleagues is not the same as your relationship with your parents, siblings, spouse, or children. Your firm is not your family, and it’s important to make this distinction.

Sometimes people convince themselves to stick it out and stay a job, even when it’s no longer a good fit. Unfortunately, your employer probably doesn’t feel the same way about you. We’ve all heard the stories of companies laying people off after they’ve been at the company for 10+ years due to “restructuring”.

Remember, loyalty is usually a one-way street and should never be the deciding factor in whether or not you stay at an organization.

How to Know When Your Job has Gone Stale

Life is short. So why work somewhere you aren’t happy? If you’ve grown tired of performing the same mundane tasks day in and day out, it may be time to make a change.

Here are a few signs it’s time to write that resignation letter:

Your work never evolves

Whatever position you accept at a company, it’s important to set professional goals. With each task, you should be met with new challenges and experiences that develop you as an employee. If your company isn’t offering you opportunities for growth, it’s probably time to start questioning whether staying there is worth your time.

Your colleagues are running for the hills

High turnover is a reality for a lot of companies, especially right now. But if your colleagues are leaving one after the other, often for the same reasons, this is a major red flag worthy of your concern. This could be a sign that your company isn’t invested in its employees and is not willing to make the necessary changes to improve the work culture.

Your job is too demanding

Good bosses acknowledge your hard work and try to minimize burnout. If you’re working long hours (even on weekends) and not being properly compensated relative to the time you put in, chances are you’re not being valued.

People change careers for a variety of reasons, but regardless of your motive, you’ll want to walk away from your current position with your relationships intact. You never want to leave your job on bad terms if it can be avoided.

Here are a few tips for gracefully cutting ties with your employer:

Keep Your Job Hunt On The Downlow

It’s important to remain discreet about your job search. If you can, try to schedule your interviews outside of work hours. If this is not possible, consider taking a personal day so that you aren’t distracted by work. Even though you may be excited about your search, you should refrain from telling people until you’ve secured another position. 

Leverage Your Current Job

You’ve accomplished a lot at work and you should be proud! Don’t be shy about using the knowledge you’ve gained in your current role to get a better position elsewhere. Talk in your interview about you what skills you bring to the table. You may even be able to use some of your success stories to negotiate a larger salary.

Build Bridges, Don’t Burn Them

Timing is everything. Only submit your resignation notice after you have received an offer letter from your new job. Make sure you have confirmed all of the details, including your salary, benefits, and expected start date. You should always aim to resign by scheduling a one-on-one conversation with your boss. This demonstrates respect and will help you maintain the integrity of your relationship with the company.

While explaining your reason for resigning, always remain professional. Avoid dwelling on what’s happened and instead, focus on what will happen in the coming weeks.  Consider offering to help with the hiring process for your replacement. You’ll also want to communicate with your supervisors about the best way to transfer your duties to another employee.

Compromise Is Key

Giving your job at least two weeks notice of your departure is standard practice. But if you’re in an executive-level position, you should be prepared to offer a month-long notice. This will give you time to hire and train your replacement.

Leaving your job on a good note isn’t just good manners, it’s good business. You want people to value their time with you all the way through the end. Plus, you never know when you may need to leverage those relationships in the future.