Giving Notice: 6 Things to Do To Prepare to Leave

After days, weeks, months or longer of interviewing, you have received a job offer that meets your needs and have decided to give notice to your employer and resign your current job.

1. Get your job offer in writing. Having the offer in writing is both your legal protection against an employer should they make an attempt to deceive you with the terms of the offer AND your protection against you having made a mistake in hearing the offer. The letter should include both your new salary and position title within it. Some will provide a benefits summary; most large firms will not provide that until employee orientation during your initial phase of employment with their firm.

2. Meet with your boss for a few minutes and tell them personally and provide a written letter of resignation. "May I get a minute with you uttered on a Friday," has started more discussions about resignation and sent many employers into unhappy weekends and managers into anxiety attacks about how to replace someone than almost any other question.

3. Give two weeks notice. Sometimes three weeks is the right thing to do, but remember, your new job is waiting for you and if you've told them you'll be there in two weeks, do not adjust your start date to accommodate the job you're leaving. After all, if you died tomorrow, they would still survive without you.

4. Your letter of resignation should be simple.

Dear ____________,

I have decided to resign my position with Mega Company effective today. My last day of employment will be _____________.

Thank you for the opportunity to have worked with you and to have learned from you. (OPTIONAL SENTENCE TO FOLLOW). Please respect me and my decision by not attempting to make a counter offer.

Sincerely,

Your name

5. If you are asked for reason you are leaving, do not be hypercritical and answer simply. "I believe that this opportunity will further my career goals," is acceptable. If you want to go into details, do not discuss any slights that you received. Focus on objective things, rather than on your (emotional) reactions to decisions. You do not need to disclose the name of the firm you are going to work for although there is nothing wrong about doing so.

6. For most people, do not consider accepting a counteroffer. How did you "suddenly" become worth more money? Because your departure inconveniences your employer. As a result, they will have to delay plans or have work assigned to others less capable and will be adversely impacted. For most people, a counteroffer only addresses and corrects the financial failings of their job and does nothing to improve their job.

Resigning well will allow you to complete your final week(s) of employment well and head to your new job with confidence and certainty.

Jeff Altman
Concepts in Staffing

© 2005 all rights reserved.

Jeff Altman has successfully assisted many corporations identify management leaders and staff in technology, accounting, finance, sales, marketing and other disciplines since 1971. He is also co-founder of Your Next Job, a networking group focused on assisting technology professionals with their job search, a certified leader of the ManKind Project, a not for profit organization that assists men with life issues, and a practicing psychotherapist.

For additional job hunting or hiring tips, go to http://www.newyorkmetrotechnologyjobs.com If you would like Jeff and his firm to assist you with hiring staff, or if you would like help with a strategic job change, send an email to him at jeffaltman@cisny.com (If you're looking for a new position, include your resume).

---

Handling the Dreaded Why Did You Leave? Question

If you left your last job under less-than-ideal circumstances, you... Read More

A Job is Not a Job

It only happened on Mondays. Sometimes I escaped... Read More

Top 10 Resume Writing Tips to Get You the Interview

There are many reasons why you could be in the... Read More

Get Beyond Your Tasks

Ever hear the story of the two masons working side... Read More

Taking a Survival Type Job Is Good For You.

Ugh! Arg! How can a survivor type job be good... Read More

Master Responding to Selection Criteria and Win Your Next Job!

As a human resources specialist for many years, I've seen... Read More

So You want to be a Bodyguard?

Then let me start by helping out. The politically correct... Read More

Rewriting Your Resume? 7 Easy Ways To Give Yourself An Upgrade

In today's competitive job market, a first class resume is... Read More

Work at Home Jobs Vs Self Employment

Work at Home Jobs vs Owning a Home Based BusinessNot... Read More

A Career In Medical Assisting

My name is Danni R, and I am a certified... Read More

Make Your Career Offshore Proof

There has been a lot of talk recently about American... Read More

Fuzzy Headed Job Goals Lead to a Fuzzy Headed Life!

May I clarify in this article what I believe to... Read More

The Springtime of Your Career

Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love, introduced... Read More

Five Mistakes That Can Derail Your Job Search

No matter how much time and energy you invest in... Read More

Can You Tell Me Something About Yourself!

Interview Question, "Tell Me Something About Yourself?""Tell me about yourself"... Read More

The Five Most Common - And Most Avoidable - Résumé Errors

Writing an effective résumé can certainly be challenging. There are... Read More

Feng Shui Your Desk for Career Success

Have you used feng shui around your desk? It's a... Read More

Useless Resume Objectives

What's wrong with an objective on a resume? The problem... Read More

When Your Job Goes Away: Seven Tips

Q. "What do I do after a job goes away?"A.... Read More

How To Write A Résumé

Figure out what you want to do.You can't write an... Read More

Hiring the Perfect Fit Through ELance.com

Outsourcing has moved upward in the most-improved columns of efficiency... Read More

Resume Writing - Get That Job

Looking for a new job, whether it is with a... Read More

The Changing Values Landscape of the U.S. and How It Impacts Midlife Job Searchers, Part Two

The values landscape of our nation is changing, and with... Read More

Targeting Your Resume is So Important For Your Career

Targeting your portfolio, (resume and cover letter) can get you... Read More

Get In Career Shape

Research suggests that as many as 8 out of 10... Read More

Troubleshooting Your Job Search

OK. You've posted your resume online. You've sent out a... Read More

Adapting To Change In A Changing World

Have you learnt a new skill or improved upon your... Read More

Three Ways to Transition to a New Career

As a Certified Personnel Consultant working for Find Great People... Read More

Conduct An Informational Interview

Informational interviews are designed to get as much information as... Read More

The Telecommuting Tightrope

For many of us, telecommuting seems like the ideal situation.... Read More

Personal Grooming: 8 Top Reasons Why You Can?t Take It For Granted In Your Career

Most people when they landed "the dream job" after an... Read More

Building Your Army of Supporters: How to Build Strategic Relationships in the Work Place!

Once you have accomplished your task of getting in the... Read More

Job! Money! Career!

Feel somehow your life is stuck in MS-OFFICE ? The... Read More