Published 7 Sep 2018

Changing Jobs? Discover How to Resign The Right Way

by CoursesOnline Contributors

Did you know that the average UK employee changes their job every five years? While receiving a job offer is incredibly exciting , telling your boss that you’re leaving can be awkward. If you’re in this position, don’t despair! The team at CoursesOnline have come up with a checklist to guide you through the resignation process in six simple steps.

Read on to discover how to resign with grace and professionalism.

Whether you’re changing career or taking on a new challenge, don’t resign from your current job unless you definitely want the new one. To be sure that you’re making the right decision, we suggest making a couple of lists. Start by jotting down the main reasons why you’re leaving your current job, then move on to the key benefits your new role offers, focusing on the things that matter the most.

Once you’ve done this, consider whether reducing the negatives and adding some extra benefits might convince you to stay with your current employer? If the answer is yes, speak to your boss, to see if they would be willing to adjust your role.

Think carefully before you accept a counter offer from your employer and always get any job changes in writing . If you don’t trust your employer to make the changes you need or you’ve had enough of the general working environment, it’s probably best to go ahead with your resignation.

Of employees that resign receive a counter offer form their employer

Of employees who accept a counter offer leave within a year

Before you hand in your resignation letter, dig out your employment contract, as it contains two crucial pieces of information that you need to check before you speak to your employer. these are:

How much notice do you have to give?
When you’ve been in a job for over a month, you have to give at least one week’s notice, although most contracts require more than this. While you’re working your notice, you’ll be entitled to your normal rate of pay and other benefits such as sick pay.

If your employer asks you to leave immediately, they may offer you a one off payment known as a payment in lieu. They might also ask you to work from home, in which case you won’t be able to contact customers or clients. Known as gardening leave, this is designed to block your access to confidential data and sensitive information. It also prevents you from encouraging coworkers to join you!
Are there any work restrictions?
Find out whether your contract states that you can’t work for a direct competitor or contact customers for a time after you’ve left your current job. This is known as a restrictive covenant and you could be taken to court if you breach it!

Most HR departments require a formal resignation letter, which needs to be short but friendly. You should address the letter to your line manager.

What should a resignation letter include?

The fact that you’ll be leaving
When your last day will be
A mention of your accomplishments or opportunities you’ve had in your position
A thank you to the employer
A commitment to ensuring a smooth handover

Tempting as it is to share your news with colleagues, it’s always a good idea to tell your employer first. The best way to do this is face to face, so we recommend arranging a meeting and hand delivering your resignation letter.

It’s worth preparing for this tricky encounter, as doing so will help you to keep your composure and leave the office on good terms with your employer! While you don’t have to explain why you’re leaving, you may be asked, so we recommend preparing an answer before you meet with your boss.

Alternatively, you could simply say that you’re leaving for personal reasons. Even you really dislike your job, this isn’t the time to say so, as you’ll be needing a good reference!

Working your notice can be a strange experience but if you want a glowing reference, you’ll need to continue working to the best of your ability. Try to complete as many outstanding projects as possible and make sure that you have the contact details of everyone you want to keep in touch with before deleting all personal files and email messages from your work computer.

During this time, you’ll probably be expected to produce a detailed handover document for your replacement. This should list your responsibilities and give a detailed explanation of how you carry them out. You may also need to provide a basic guide to any software you use and a record of all relevant usernames, passwords and client contact details.

Before you leave, you might receive an invitation to an exit interview. This is normally held with someone from Human Resources and gives you the chance to offer honest feedback and constructive suggestions. While attending isn’t a legal requirement, sharing your views and experiences might just make life easier for future employees.

Common interview questions asked in the UK:

Why have you decided to leave your position?
What was your favourite part of your job?
What did you like the least?
Do you think you had adequate resources and tools to do your job?
What was your relationship with the manager like?
What drew you to your new role?
What could we change to improve the culture for future employees?

Whether your relationship with your employer is good or bad, it’s always better to leave on a positive note. So stay calm, follow our suggestions and be careful not to burn your bridges. After all, you might just need a recommendation in the future!

If you’re looking for a new job, why not check out our wide range of career boosting courses?

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