How to Resign

There comes a point in every role when you have to move on, whether it’s because of an exciting new opportunity, a sour workplace situation or life changes, the resignation process is always tricky. We’re here to guide you through how to slip out of your workplace as seamlessly as possible and get onto the next venture smoothly.

A step-by-step guide to resigning:

1. Write a letter. Curate a letter in a positive tone that clearly conveys that you’re leaving the company, but continue to be grateful for the opportunities they provided you and hope they do well in the future. This doesn’t need to go into detail about why you’re leaving or where you’re going, the company will just need a written record of your departure and all it needs to confirm is that you’re departing.

2. Get in contact. Whether it’s HR, your manager, the owner, or whoever you report to, get in contact and request a meeting at a time that works for you. During this you will give your formal notice of resignation, thus starting your notice period, so it’s important it aligns with your new position’s starting date if you have one. If your request is denied, seek a meeting with another superior or HR team member. If after a few attempts you’re not getting anywhere, resigning over the phone is an option, however only advised if you’ve exhausted all other avenues.

3. Get prepared. So you’ve got a meeting time, now you need to figure out what the content of that meeting will be. Figure out what information about your resignation you’re willing to share, ensure you’re only discussing content you feel comfortable disclosing and set up some personal boundaries to protect anything you’d like to keep out of the conversation. Be strong about those boundaries, if you’re feeling nervous or concerned you might not be able to uphold them, try practising the meeting with a friend, directing them to ask targetted questions that challenge your boundaries so you can practice shutting them down. Unless it conflicts with your contract or industry ethics, you don’t owe them an explanation.

4. Do the meeting. The moment’s here, suit up and get busy. Stay composed, upbeat and self-assured. If possible, maintaining a good relationship with your employer is optimal, allowing them to be a great reference or industry contact down the line. Simply tell them that you’ve had to make the hard decision to move on, you’re thankful for everything they’ve done and wish them well. Hand over a hard copy of the letter and answer any questions they may have to the best of your ability without compromising on your boundaries. In order to maintain that relationship, don’t be too critical of them or their workplace, but if asked for constructive criticism make a valuable contribution.

5. Notice period. This is your opportunity to make a lasting positive impression. Don’t slack off, or let the fact that you’re almost out the door get to your head; if anything works harder. It’s all about maintaining a good reputation in the industry and within the business, to make way for future opportunities in the field.

Resigning is almost never easy, but it leads to greater opportunities and often exciting changes. Make the most of the period and do the best you can to keep it positive, while reminding yourself it’ll be over soon. Good Luck!