How to Resign Professionally

Maybe you have found greener pastures in the building sporting a “For hire” sign in front of your current workplace. Maybe you have realized that your love affair with paperwork and disrespectful officemates must come to an end. It could also be that travel time to your office literally feels like time-traveling two hours into the future.

Sometimes, an unlucky streak may be your only reason for having those deep, dark thoughts of abandoning your income source, but for those of you who are sure that enough is enough, the pay is not worth your time and effort, and you have hit a solid dead end, maybe it is time to resign and start anew. But before you think of anything crazy like obliterating your cubicle as a sign of resignation, here are some guidelines you must remember:

Make sure you have a new job. Before you plan out your “artista” walk-out from your company, make sure you have another company already considering you for employment. Not just a shot for an interview, but a sure slot for admission. If not, you might be spending the next month on a date with the classified ads section and online job postings while your savings drop every day. Looking for a new job is easy, but landing one may take months.

Prepare your resignation letter. Everything has a due process, and that includes your resignation. Prepare a letter of resignation, and do not forget to include a clear reason for it so that the company could address the faults and problems on their side. If the reason behind your resignation is personal, like wanting to have a better pay, a more suitable job fit, or better opportunities, then be honest and say so. The company will not take negatively your wanting to grow professionally. Remember that a resignation letter is a hard document that will be in the company’s records, so keep it nice and formal.

Refrain from tendering immediate resignation. Show respect to the company by at least giving them a heads up and telling them your intention months before your resignation. This will not only give them ample time to look for your replacement, but also to possibly make an offer for you to stay in the company for a few more months. See if anything changes from the moment you gave the company your intent to resign. If everything turns out well, then think about whether or not you will still continue with your resignation. Also, be willing to train your replacement for at least a week before leaving the company. Do not tell him exaggerated horror stories about work just to get back at your boss.

Return all company assets, equipment and materials. Still enjoying the car plan? Still using the company-provided phone? Remember that all those items are given to you for your work, and not as a gift. If you plan to resign, make sure to return all the materials, neatly packed. If the company insists you keep it, then good for you. But if not, they remain company property, and it is your obligation to return all of them.

Remain professional during the exit interview. No matter how much you want to just punch the living gut out of your boss for that rejected salary increase you thought you deserved, remain calm and polite during your exit interview. From this point, “anything you say can and will be used against you,” especially if your new company decides to conduct a background check on you with your previous employer. Just point out the things you have learned during your stay, the skills you have developed, and the finer things you found in the company. Be honest in telling your story, objective in admitting your faults, and be polite—it is your last day in that dreaded workplace anyway.

Resigning from your job is a major step that must not be taken lightly. Make sure the decision is not taken while you are in an emotional state so that there would be no regrets afterwards. If done for the right reasons, resigning may be the best way to move your career forward.

*Originally published by the Manila Bulletin. C-4, Sunday, August 24, 2014. Written by Ruben Anlacan, Jr. (President, BusinessCoach, Inc.) All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or copied without express written permission of the copyright holders.