Resigning, taking the first steps

Resigning can be both a daunting and stressful experience. However, it is important that you resign well and that you are prepared for what is to come. It is key to resign in a professional and timely manner, allowing you to give your current employer sufficient notice as per your contract, while ensuring that you can leave things on a good note and take the next step in your career to your new role that you have secured.

You need to remember that you are making this decision because this is the right decision for your career and don’t feel bad about it. Remember, you have already put a lot of thought into making this decision so don’t lose your nerve at the last minute. Stay strong!

If you’re considering resigning, consider our 9 tips to resigning:

  1. Prepare your resignation letter prior to going in the office. This should be simple and to the point, polite and professional. It is a legal document setting out your notice period.
  2. We recommend resigning in person or over the phone if it is not possible to resign in person. Your resignation letter can be brought with you when you resign in person or emailed once you have verbally resigned.
  3. What do you say? Keep it to the point! You may say something along the lines, that you have been offered a role in line with your career goals and thank your current employer for their time.
  4. It is best to avoid outlining your grievances/ anything negative about your current employee/role. Being brief and polite is the way to go!
  5. Sometimes your employer may be open to negotiating your notice period. This is a good time to ask the question once you’ve resigned. Do you have accrued annual leave? You can mention this when negotiating to reduce your notice period.
  6. Your current employer may not take your resignation letter at face value. Counteroffers are increasingly common in this market.
  7. How to deal with a counteroffer? Check out our blog on our website – 5 Steps To Dealing With a Counteroffer. The statistics show that just 29% of employees that accept a counteroffer end up staying with their employer for more than 12 months.
  8. If your employer does offer you a Counteroffer, you can politely decline and remain focussed on working out your notice period and finishing up your employment with dignity and leaving on good terms.
  9. After formally resigning, it’s time to be excited about your new role and we often suggest taking a week in between roles to have a break and be fresh to start.