How to resign painlessly and professionally

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How to resign painlessly

Congratulations you’ve been offered a new role, now its time to hand in your resignation

Some people can find this an uncomfortable experience so here’s our guide to making it as painless as possible:

Feelings – many people feel uneasy about resigning; they recognise the company may have helped them progress professionally but now feel the role no longer offers the potential to grow and develop.  It’s also sad to say goodbye to friends and colleagues, though remember there will be opportunities to keep in touch socially and you will meet new acquaintances in your new employment.

Follow Procedure – look at your employment contract or employee booklet, many organisations will detail their procedure for contract termination, including the notice period you are required to give.  It’s likely that you will need to discuss your intention to resign with your line manager or HR department and then submit a formal letter of resignation.

What to write – a resignation letter should include the following; your name, date, notice of termination of employment, effective date and signature.   You may also want to take the opportunity to emphasise the positive i.e. thank the company for the opportunities and resist the temptation to let off steam or badmouth anyone in the business.

Counter Offer – have you considered how you will react if your current employer offers you a pay rise or promotion to stop you leaving?  It’s very flattering to receive this kind of reaction, but before you make a decision, ask yourself the following; ‘would they have made the offer if I hadn’t resigned’, ‘will I need to resign the next time I think I’m ready for a rise or promotion’, ‘if I stay will my loyalty be suspect and affect my chance for advancement in the future’.

.. and finally, remember to stay professional at all times, you may need a reference from your current employer in the future

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DATS are a member of The Recruitment and Employment Confederation©2004-2010 All rights DATS (Holdings) Ltd. Registration No 1076937.
Recruitment Consultants for Scientific, Technical, Engineering, IT, Commercial, Industrial, Construction & Site Management, Logistics & Supply Chain
Recruiting thoughout the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) Ireland and selected location in Europe and Asia
Registered office: 1 Springfield Street, Palmyra Square, Warrington, Cheshire, UK, WA1 1BB

Dats Recruitment Consultants, 1 Springfield Street, Palmyra Square , Warrington,CheshireWA1 1BB, UK, +44 1925 403 800