Resigning

Tips for Making the Transition as Smooth as Possible

When you accept an offer to join a new employer, you must also resign from your current position. For some, resigning can be one of the most stressful moments in the search process. Here are several tips for making resignation as straightforward and risk-free as possible:

1. Resign to your direct report or department head—just one person. You don't need to contact several people in management.

2. Don't tip your resignation to others beforehand—you can irritate your boss if they hear about it from someone else first.

3. Give notice first thing in the morning - your mind is clear, the stress level is lower, and your boss is somewhat more likely to be around.

4. Resign in person, face to face. Don't resign by e-mail, voice mail, or letter.

5. When you resign, the dialogue is simple: "Jim, I want to let you know that I will be leaving Firm A to join Firm B. This was a tough decision to make. I've had a wonderful experience here, but I believe this is the right decision for me at this stage in my career. I want to leave you on the best footing possible, so I will be providing two weeks' notice to transition my work. I really do value and appreciate this experience and hope we can stay in touch."

6. Be prepared for any reaction - your boss may be supportive and collegial, cool, dismissive, skeptical, angry, or disinterested. Don't take it personally.

7. Don't be receptive to inquiries to discuss "Can't we persuade you to stay?" "Think this over for a few days," or "What could we have done better to get you to stay?" You have made your decision.

8. The person to whom you resign may be critical of your new firm, or they may be collegial and supportive. Be prepared for either.

9. There is no upside to criticizing people or anything in your experience at your current firm—absolutely none. Stay on the high ground and be complimentary.

10. Once you resign, leave promptly - don't give "2 weeks' notice" and then stick around for 3 or 4.

11. Don't gossip with your colleagues who stop by for the blow-by-blow or want to know how to make their own move. Tell them you'd be pleased to stay in touch after you start your new role.

12. Follow your current firm's rules on resignation and departure about everything from timesheets to keys to cards to computers to expense reports to transitioning matters.

13. Smile and move on. You've made an important decision. Trust yourself.

14. Resist the temptation to send anything but a brief firm-wide departure email. If you do, it should be upbeat and brief.

15. Take a break between the old job and the new position - you will be glad you did.

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