How to Tactfully Quit your Job
Quitting a job is something that most people will have to go through at some point in their lives, and each will have their own individual reasons for wanting to leave. But no matter what your reasons might be, there are good and bad ways of doing it. Tact and dignity are essential when quitting your job because it will leave your previous employers with a positive impression of you and it will also improve your chances of finding another job if you left on good terms and without making a fuss.
Once you are totally sure that you want to quit then you need to inform the right people. Depending on where you work, you will need to inform different people. If you work for a large company, you will need to inform the administration department or human resources and if you work for a smaller company, then you will simply need to tell your superior.
If you work for a large company, it can be worth taking one of your superiors aside and telling them that you are going to leave. If you don't, they may feel that you have been keeping secrets from them and this could leave them feeling betrayed. Explain to them that it is not a negative reflection on them, you just need to leave for your own personal reasons.
You will need to tender your resignation in writing, this will cover you legally should anything bad happen. The company will also need your resignation letter as proof that you have left. Type a letter explaining that you are leaving and will be working your notice, sign and date it so there can be no confusion about time frames.
In your letter you are under no obligation to give a reason for leaving, but if you want to give a reason, then do it tactfully. Do not give specific names and do not try to place blame onto people. This letter will be kept on file and any people named could take legal action against you if you have no proof of what you are accusing them of. Simply state that you are leaving and thank the company for the opportunities they gave you and let them know how grateful you are. It can also be helpful to state that you are willing to help ease the transition by doing things such as training a replacement or helping in any way you can.
Never talk about any previous employers or colleagues behind their back, this information has a way of getting back to people and leaving under a cloud of slander and negativity will not do you any favours. Before you leave, tell people how much you enjoyed working there and always be polite and courteous to everyone, no matter how much you may have disliked them.
Quitting your job can be hard, but quitting it in a respectable and tactful manner will make leaving your old job and starting a new one much easier to handle for everyone involved.
