Resigning from a job is something that most of us will have to face at some point in our careers – and there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. If you’re thinking about quitting your job, here’s our best-practice guide to help you decide when to resign and how to resign.
BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR RESIGNATION LETTER
Be 100% sure you’re ready to resign
If you’re unhappy at work and it’s starting to affect your productivity and attitude, it may be time to reflect on whether it’s time to move on. But resigning is not something you should undertake hastily or impulsively.
Take your time and weigh up the pros and cons before deciding to resign. Avoid a knee-jerk reaction you might regret later, especially if you don’t have another job to walk into. If you’re feeling dissatisfied, ask yourself whether your current role could be improved enough for you to stay on – or if there’s another, better role available in the same company. Consider a meeting with your manager, to see if they’re able to address your issues and make changes that could encourage you to stay.
Check your legal requirements
If you’re convinced it’s the right time to jump ship, first look into your legal requirements. How much notice are you required to give? Are there any ‘no competition’ clauses in your contract? Read the fine print in your contract and make sure you’ve covered off any legal obligations.
RESIGNATION CHECKLIST & TIPS
Write an official resignation letter
Make your resignation official with a short, straightforward letter. Email or hand it directly to your supervisor/line manager, and also give a copy to your company’s HR department.
Offer feedback if requested
Your company may ask for feedback from you, often in the form of an exit interview. This is a good opportunity for you to provide constructive feedback after resigning – but avoid the temptation to be overly negative, as this will only make you appear unprofessional. It’s good form to thank your employer for the opportunity and experience they provided.
Retain a good work ethic
The end may be in sight – but you’ll leave a better lasting impression if you remain as dedicated and hard-working as the day you started. Avoid the temptation to ‘check out’ prematurely – your boss will thank you for it. Unprofessional conduct might come back to haunt you, especially in a world that is increasingly connected. You don’t want a poor reputation to precede you in your next job or interview.
Prepare a comprehensive handover
In addition to finishing projects, tying up loose ends, organising files and letting relevant stakeholders know who to contact once you’ve left, it’s generally expected that you will prepare a comprehensive handover for your replacement. This way, anyone who is required to take over your tasks will be able to do so with relative ease. Leaving incomplete or perfunctory handover notes will only demonstrate your lack of professionalism and care.
Parting words
Say a final ‘goodbye’, whether it’s emailed around the company or announced at a gathering on your last day. Thank your employer and colleagues for the opportunity to work with them. Again, you’ll be best remembered by how you present yourself in your final moments, so make an effort and leave with your head held high.
HOW TO RESIGN: DOS & DON’TS
DON’T resign too hastily – especially if you don’t have another job lined up. Remember, it can take three to six months to find a new job and you may not be eligible for unemployment benefits if you quit. Remember the golden rule: it’s easier to find a job when you already have one!
DO leave your workplace as you found it. Remember to clean up the files on your computer, deleting any personal emails and organising files clearly for your successor (if appropriate). Clean your desk and take home any personal belongings.
DON’T brag about your new job. Be modest and discreet – even if you’re inwardly whooping for joy.
DO ask for a written reference that you can keep on file, in case you ever need it in the future. It’s much easier to get one before leaving, rather than coming back to your old boss Difficult interview questions and answers
How many recruiters does it take to change a lightbulb?
Hiring managers occasionally like to test a candidate’s problem-solving skills and encourage them to demonstrate examples of logical thinking. We’ve covered how to answer common interview questions, but what happens when you’re asked something more unconventional?
Here are a few of our favourite unconventional interview questions, and how to answer them…
How many basketballs can you fit onto a bus?
Some of our favourite answers…
Depends on if the basketballs are inflated or not!!
Vicki Wicks
Single or double decker?
Kerry Fleming
Actual answer
How many traffic lights are there in London?
Some of our favourite answers…
Sets of lights or individual lights?
@nrogers959
The whole of London has about 3,500 traffic lights. There are about 300 junctions , which bear these traffic lights.
@hyderymr
Actual answer
How many piano tuners are there in the entire world?
Some of our favourite answers…
Not enough, I dare say…
Rosario Scalzo
enough to make beautiful music
Janet Baker
Actual answer
A man pulls up to a hotel in a silver car, and immediately realizes he’s bankrupt. What happened?
Some of our favourite answers…
He landed on a boardwalk
Joanne Armour
He was playing Monopoly.
Ste Hampson
Actual answer
Explain a database in three sentences to your eight year old nephew?
Some of our favourite answers…
It’s like what’s in your head, in a machine. Got that? Good!
@DennisCattell
You have short answers to lots of different questions. Those answers are put on a computer. You look at other peoples answers and see how they are different to your answers. WAKE UP, NEPHEW!
Michael Gibson
Actual answer
If you could be any type of biscuit, what type of biscuit would you be, and why?
Some of our favourite answers…
Chocolate digestive because it goes with tea & coffee well
Alex Tee
A chocolate digestive- like a classic digestive, only better, able to withstand a dunking, and can be put to a variety of uses AND I’d be universally loved
Ruth Chapman
Actual answer
Whatever the question may be, most unconventional interviews don’t really have set right or wrong answers. They are meant to demonstrate how a candidate would react if a difficult problem came up, not to mention how they would cope under pressure.
Deceptively, they aren’t intended to take too much time. Instead of trying to come up with the perfect answer, just be creative and come to your own conclusion.
As long as you can demonstrate how you got there, you’ve passed the test.
Finally, how many recruiters does it take to change a lightbulb? Answer: too many…
