If you are preparing to resign from your current job then there are some general right and wrong ways to go about it.  If you resign in the wrong way then you may leave on bad terms and this is always best avoided if possible.  Even if you know you never want to go back to working at that company or with your current colleagues it is always best not to burn your bridges and to leave on good terms with your bosses and co-workers.



 

Give enough notice



Check with the rules of your contract as to how much notice you are required to give.  It is normally between two and four weeks depending on how long you have worked for the company but this may differ.

Be prepared to leave immediately



In certain cases you may have to leave the premises straight after handing in your notice.  Be prepared for this by clearing all the necessary stuff from your desk and drawers to make leaving quickly easier.



    

Offer to help with training



Suggest that you can help to train your replacement and work with them for a little while to make the transition for your co-workers a little easier.

Stay productive



During your last few days don’t be tempted to take things easy just because you are leaving soon.  Try and stay productive and not only will this make you more popular with your co-workers it might also help to make the last few days go quicker!

Finish all your work



Try to finish any big projects or assignments or is this is not possible, leave them at a point where the next person will be able to carry it on.  It might also be useful to write up a report for your bosses and your replacement about what you have been working on and anything else they might need to know.

Write a professional letter of resignation



Make sure that you also write a professional letter tendering your resignation and hand one to both your boss and the HR department.  Be polite and thank your employer for all the opportunities they have given you.

Get contact information of co-workers



It is often a good idea to get this information from your co-workers in order to help you build up a network of contacts that may be useful in the future. 

Don’t feel guilty about leaving



Lastly, it is important not to feel guilty about moving on.  Resigning and moving jobs is part of nearly everyone’s career path and instead of feeling guilty, focus on the opportunities that lay ahead. 

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