How to Quit Your Job Gracefully

To put it bluntly, you despise your job. You can't wait to leave the toxic work environment, the lack of advancement opportunities, that creepy coworker, and the tone-deaf diversity programs behind you. You've got that vehement "I quit!" email sitting in your drafts, and you're on the verge of sending it.

But, before you do, consider a small person named Future You. Future You may come to regret sending that nasty email. Let us declare it unequivocally: Future You'll be urgently searching for "how to unsubscribe from an email."

It's true that when it's time to leave, emotions can quickly get the best of you. "You only get to leave this job once, so set yourself up to depart properly," says Amelia Ransom, Senior Director of Engagement and Diversity for software company Avalara.

Here are some guidelines for navigating the final days of your job the right way, without burning bridges.

Before you do anything, check your contract.

When you choose to quit, the first thing on your to-do list should be to review your contract. It will detail how much notice you must give and any clauses that may influence your future employment.

Talk to your direct supervisor.

Managers don't like hearing about a report's exit intentions around the water cooler, it turns out. Whether you're leaving office work or a shift job, show them you care by scheduling a one-on-one meeting to discuss your plans. "You shouldn't leave a job until you've talked to your manager and possibly your manager's management about why you're going," says Andrew Gold, VP of Talent Management and HR Technology at Pitney Bowes.

Whether you're considering leaving because of a lack of advancement, a chance for more money, a higher position, or the need for greater freedom, Gold has discovered that some of the outcomes of these types of conversations sometimes surprise people.

Take as much time as you need to consider what you learned or developed in your previous position.

However, no amount of chatting can make a horrible work worthwhile to keep. Tessa D'Agosta, a freshly transitioned social media manager, discovered this in early 2020. She continues, "It was a year that educated me fairly bluntly about what I value and what I desire." "It verified that my current circumstance was no longer working for me while also paralyzing me from taking action." So I took it when something excellent came via my network."

Help with the transition.

If your supervisor asks for your assistance, inform them of your leave and provide clear instructions for how your team will handle your work until management finds a successor. Assist with arranging your workplace, deleting old files from your computer, and gathering crucial documents for your successor to make the transfer as smooth as possible.

Keep continuing to give your best effort.

You're still an employee of your current employer until you exit the elevator for the last time. And if you start showing up for work at noon, skipping meetings, or criticizing your employer, your image as a trustworthy employee may suffer. (You will not be satisfied in the future.) You've also experienced it: coworkers are left scurrying to take up the slack when someone quits. So, when your upcoming departure causes havoc, try your best to make the transition as smooth as possible.

"Try to finish as much unfinished work as possible and document your efforts to make the situation as simple as possible for the next person in the post," Gold advises. He adds that a written account of the work you do, how you get it done, who assists you, and an accurate inventory of where files are stored can all be beneficial.

Closing the information loop can take several forms, depending on where you work. According to Lessie E. Askew, Chief People Officer at New York's Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, it all starts with good communication with a supervisor.

"With the supervisor, create a formal transition document that functions as both a negotiated document and an accountability document," she advises. "Use it virtually as a table of contents for the projects you're working on, and make sure everyone on your team knows about it," Askew advises people to make a list of important projects.

Do these tips, and you'll be able to leave your workplace on good terms. Learn more advice for any self-development topics and consult with us! Also, follow us at Instagram @baikgp and @ayureadypodcast for more information and extra insights!