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How to quit my job

mpls2 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:22:09 -0800

I'm planning on quitting my software engineering job in the near future, and I'd like some practical advice on how to go about it. As a practical matter, what protocol do most people follow when quitting their job? The only thing I can think of doing is going to my boss's office and saying "My last day will be X" (my boss is not a friendly person--in an introverted, arrogant, misanthropic way--so I don't think he'd expect, nor be comfortable with, much more than that). I hear about "resignation letters"--is it common these days to actually write a letter, or would a brief email suffice? Who would I address it to (my boss, I presume)?

Actual anecdotes would be especially helpful. Thanks!

help us leave the smelly city behind

thenormshow — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:21:42 -0800

Urban burnout-filter: My wife and I are exhausted, frustrated, and otherwise burnt-out by our by the city life and our jobs in Toronto. We're contemplating quitting, moving somewhere with a slower pace and starting over. We need advice! If you've done something like this, When did you know it was time to get out of the city? How did you decide where to go and what you were going to do? How did you get through the transition to the new job and place? Thanks!

Where to go?

jourman2 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:11:23 -0800

So I've got this new job and two weeks between finishing one job and starting the other. I'd like to travel for a week of those two, but to where? I realize that that its kind of a vague question but here are my parameters. I gave my two weeks notice today, so Friday the 11th is my last day of work. I'm in New York and I'm really up for going anywhere (I've got a valid passport). I'd like to keep the trip in 1000-1500 or less range and I'd like to go internationally. I've traveled a bit (just to various parts of the US and Canada + England and a few parts of the Middle East), but certainly not extensively. I'd like to make definite plans soon, so lets hear what you all have to say.

Thanks.

How do I gracefully quit this job?

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:48:56 -0800

I need help with formatting a resignation letter. It's a bit complicated. I work for a major medication corporation as an IT geek. I've been working here for a few months, after graduating from school this past year. It's a good job with a good pay, far higher than other companies offered me, but it's almost time for me to leave.

I've always wanted to have my own business, and I've finally hit upon an opportunity that I've grabbed that will let me make about 2/3 of what I'm making now, with only 1/2 of the work (officially). Unofficially, I'll be working a few hours a week, and the rest will be free for me. It's an IT contract with an old client of mine, and very lucrative and an awesome opportunity. Between that, my other IT work and a writing business that I'm starting to be overwhelmed with work in, I'm finally in a position to quit my job and make as much and more money than I'm making working my current 8-5.

So, Hive Mind, tell me, how do I write a letter to these nice people who gave me this job? It was a real blessing, and I would have been out on the street if not for it. But I'm through with it. I want my last day to be on or close to January 1st, and I want to draft a letter to give to them in a couple of weeks to prepare for that date. My trouble is that I've only worked here for a few months, we're going through performance reviews/next year's goals and I do, to tell the truth, feel a little bit bad for being here for such a short time and then leaving. But it is a big place, and though the IT department doesn't have a huge turnover, the place as a whole does, I'm sure.

What do I say? Do I tell them thank you for the job? Do I tell them about my businesses? Do I ask them to keep me in mind if they have any contract work they need done? This is my first *real* job, and my first resignation letter I'll be writing, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

(Note: Please don't suggest I stay here any longer. I really hate working for a company, I can't stand working under unnatural light and looking at a grey cube all day and I've worked my arse off the past few months every spare moment I've had to make myself opportunities to get out of here, and I'm not staying any longer than I have to. I *love* working for myself and I'm so excited about doing it. I just need help figuring out how to write a resignation with these slightly odd circumstances in mind.)

Why did I quit my job?

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:05:19 -0800

I walked out on my job, what do I tell future employers? My job sucked. So two weeks ago, amidst some political bullshit, I walked out. Not the wisest move considering I'm no where near financially stable, but it was the best thing I could do for my soul. Yeah, I know it sound cheesy, but the job was utterly demoralizing. A friend very astutely observed it was a "toxic situation".

So what do I tell future employers? Having done job interviews, I know how horrible it sounds when the interviewee says something bad about the former company. It doesn't matter if they're justified, no one wants to see a bitter candidate. But what if they call my previous employer? The asked me to sign termination papers afterwards, so I was blunt and asked them what they'd say - just the employment dates and if asked they'd say, no, they wouldn't hire me again but they wouldn't disclose why.

Now, the upside, my direct boss and I go way back, and he was surprised at the timing, but he also was surprised I stayed as long as I did. He's agreed to give me a good reference "off the record" since he can't really do it in an official capacity.

So how do I approach this? Do I just not say anything unless asked? I read some other job threads here and they suggested talking about not fitting into the corporate culture, or taking time to be with family, or what have you. But they were smart enough to give notice at least.