Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with resignation

What should I say during my departure interview?

icollectpurses — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:55:01 -0800

What should I say is the reason for my resignation? I am leaving because of my supervisor. On my resignation letter, I am keeping it very simple but I am expecting questions on why I am leaving, especially from my supervisor's boss who has no idea what's going on in our division and the issues that my supervisor has caused.

I want to leave on a good term, not burn any bridges, and with class. It may not happen but I do expect many probing questions on why I decided to leave. I don't think I can get away with 'it's time for me to move on' or anything generic. Especially during my departure interview.

Any suggestions on what I should say will be appreciated, thanks.

Exactly how screwed am I?

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:03:58 -0800

How big of a deal is it to be looking for a job without a job? Background: I resigned recently and will still be on the payroll for about 6 more weeks. I resigned somewhat under duress, but was not actually asked to resign if that makes sense (it's a loooong story). In other words, it wasn't a "we're going to fire you but will allow you to save face and resign" situation but could have possibly progressed to that in the future. We both did some really stupid things and, while I can't speak for them, I know I learned some valuable lessons I'll take with me to the next job(s). It was sort agreed upon by all parties that it would be best for me to leave but I obviously would have preferred to job hunt on my own time schedule while still coming to work every day. However, they threw some money at me to leave on the spot (literally) with a glowing letter of reference and anything negative removed from my personnel file. I agreed somewhat reluctantly but only for salary continuance so I could still list myself as presently employed on applications.

Fast forward to today: The job hunt is not going well. I had a good job so I guess I knew I wasn't going to be able to replace it overnight but it's been almost 3 months now. I sort of figured on getting something word-of-mouth through one of my contacts but nothing worked out so far. There are many potential reasons why I haven't found anything yet but that would be too broad of a topic for a MeFi question. Let's assume for the sake of this question I'm doing everything right and just having bad luck. My main concern is whether I should lower my standards or stick it out and risk being officially unemployed on paper.

How concerned should I be that I find a job while still technically employed? I know it's a red flag for someone to voluntarily leave a good job without having something else lined up, but how big of a red flag is it? I know millions of people have successfully recovered from my situation but I'm starting to get nervous. Since I'm already having no luck I don't want another mark against when I'm being compared to other candidates. My "current" employer said they will give me an honest reference (he was not fired, he has excellent reviews, etc.), but I wouldn't want to count on that to land a job. I have several solid references so I would never use my employer anyway, but they would most likely be contacted if I apply for something locally in the same industry (I'm looking locally and in 2 other areas where I'm willing to relocate).

Do I have to disclose that I received a warning at a former place of employment?

onepapertiger — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:09:04 -0800

I'm very close to getting hired by the firm I want. They just want me to fill out their employment application now. It says, "Did you receive any formal discipline (warnings, suspensions, resignation at request of employer, discharge) at your former or current place of employment? Do I have to answer "Yes"? My former employer issued a warning against me, out of spite, which I appealed and issued a formal complaint against my manager and HR. They ended up terminating my contract and buying me out with a generous severance in return for my resignation. In all the reference agencies I hired to see what they would say about me, they usually just confirm the dates I was hired and nothing more.

Is it likely that they would disclose that I received a warning? I'm pretty sure that it would be a dealbreaker for the job.

How do I go full time on my start-up?

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:30:42 -0800

In the evenings and weekends, I've been working on a web start-up company with a colleague. I think our idea is great and can make money and we're both pretty smart. I want to go full time. What is the best way to do this? My day job pays well and I quite enjoy it, but it's stressful and sometimes involves long hours. This means that I'm working myself really hard both during the day and in the evenings.

Other data: I have a good degree from a good University and about five years' worth of job experience. The only outlay for the start-up would be hosting costs. I live in a capital city in the first world. I could quit my job and live for about three months on money I've saved up. I think if the start-up failed I would have pretty good job prospects afterwards. (Am I wrong on this one?)

Should I stay or should I go?

mamaquita — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:36:24 -0800

CareerFilter: Should I stay or should I go? A few weeks ago my boss and I had a major blowout that ended in him shouting that he owned me (in so many words). He has a very long history of blowing up at people in the company, people of all levels. Everyone knows this and avoids him like the plague. I was determined to resign then, however, his boss asked me to stay for the sake of the company. I am one of the key management team members in my department. I committed to staying through the end of the year.

However, the situation has been unbearable for me because I’ve basically lost all personal and professional respect for my boss. We have not had a conversation since the incident three weeks ago. He gave me a vague apology for the way he communicated with me. He’s also been piling the work on my plate without consideration for any other work I have going on and has been micromanaging me. The situation was intolerable for me so I resigned on Monday with no other employment lined up.

Yesterday he came in my office and asked me to stay. I was very frank about why I was leaving (the loss of respect for him) and didn’t think there was anything he could do to get that back. He began telling me that he finally realized that he couldn’t continue to treat people this way and was committed to changing. He said he feels I would be a good gauge as to whether he was making progress. I told him I’d think about it and we’d talk today.

So, now what do I do? I am not convinced that he is capable of changing. I’m convinced he has narcissistic personality disorder. I love my job though and the people I work with and would be willing to stay for those reasons alone. I think I need to be strategic about this and set clearly defined boundaries of what I will and will not tolerate. How do I do that without appearing to be making a power play? I really just want to work there and do my job.

How do you quit your job when your boss is out of town?

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 05:39:04 -0800

I desperately want to quit my job. Right now. Unfortunately, this is complicated by the fact that my boss is going to be out of the country for more than a month... I've been pretty much miserable at my job for the last few months, ever since I was demoted (without warning, and with a considerable reduction in my pay) a few months ago. I've stuck around because much of the work itself suits me and I need the money. Also, I've been planning on leaving the area at the end of the year, and better the devil I know, since it's only a matter of months.

However, recently my company has adopted a business practice that I consider deeply unethical (although perhaps not illegal). This practice would require me to engage in unethical behavior every day; I can't avoid it if I stay at this job without defying direct orders from my boss. I have voiced my objections to no avail. I want to quit NOW, but...

It's a very small company. I only have one boss. And this boss is going to be out of the country (with limited communication) for the next several weeks.

I'm not sure I can handle even the standard two weeks, much less however many more my boss ends up staying out of the country. My departure would be inconvenient but by no means fatal for the company. The questions is: is it unforgivably unprofessional to quit while the boss is out of the country?

Also, since I know I'm likely to lose any chance at a recommendation from my current boss whatever I do, how can I explain the lack of a recommendation to a future prospective employer without bad-mouthing my current one?

In summary-- how can I minimize the destructiveness of this situation while preserving my future prospects?

[throwaway email: whytrytodoright@gmail.com]

Quitting on vacation

octavia — Wed, 23 May 2007 17:14:38 -0800

I have a good job that's a little boring but a good opportunity. I recently scheduled all of my 2-week vacation at once to go to Europe, and I'll be leaving next week. An opportunity has come up to work over there for the next few months and it's really tempting. I had no idea this would came up when I scheduled my vacation, and when my boss jokingly asked me, 'you're coming back, right?', i said 'of course!.' So anyway, i guess my question is how to handle it if i do decide to leave. I won't be able to confirm this new opportunity for sure until the day before i leave. i get good reviews at my job and would probably get good references from them currently. But I'm afraid not coming back from vacation would look pretty flaky and immature. How big of a deal do you think this would be? and what would be the best way to break it to them...as quickly as possible? letter or phone call? email would probably be bad. should i try to convince them it wasn't premeditated? should i make something up?

before this happened, i'd planned on quitting in a few months, towards fall. maybe i'm overthinking this, leaving jobs has always been difficult for me under normal circumstances too. but this would kind of leave them in the lurch, a lot of things would be left up in the air, & i wouldn't want to do anything that would seriously jeopardize future job prospects etc.

How do I quit my job in such a way that I still collect upcoming bonus?

Anonymous — Thu, 10 May 2007 20:52:57 -0800

I am on the verge of leaving my job at a large game company (the largest) in order to start work elsewhere. Our annual bonus (based on company performance over the last year, expected to be quite good this year) isn't issued till June 1st. I am wondering-- if I give notice and leave before June 1st, am I still entitled to this bonus? How can I find out without potentially spilling the beans that I'm leaving? (I haven't told my manager yet.) Also, if I give 2 weeks notice in such a way that my last day is after June 1st, can the company terminate me in less than 2 weeks so that I don't get my bonus? (In other words if I want to be absolutely sure of collecting my bonus, would it be safest to not give notice at all until June 1st? Assuming I can delay my start date at the new place that long...) The bonus is related to our work over the last 4 quarters, so in a sense I've 'earned' it. But I don't know if that matters.

Quitting my job after 5 months. How do I explain to prospective employers why?

onepapertiger — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 08:36:48 -0800

Quitting my job after 5 months. How do I (or rather, "Do I") explain to prospective employers that I'm leaving because of a verbally abusive manager? I'm applying to new jobs and am resigning from the one I currently have this week. The trouble is, I don't know how to explain why I was with my current company for only five months. I'm only leaving because my manager is verbally abusive and I can't take it anymore. Otherwise, I've been outperforming and have been rewarded for it.

THE WHY
I've tried my best to keep my manager happy, but I feel emotionally unsafe in the workplace now. He belittles the work I've done (despite the fact that I've been recognized as outperforming) and he expects me to cover his ass when he's late to work, leaving early and when he doesn't show up for client conference calls. He speaks badly of upper-level management and colleagues at his middle level, and tries to manipulate me into believing that I can't trust anybody in our global company but him.

He also sees my high level of productivity as a threat.

I'm afraid. He is moody. I wouldn't put it past him to make up lies about me. I'm really scared. I have to cut my losses. HR, located in another city, asked me to adapt, but he's just so unpredicatable.

None of my old managers ever acted like this. I think this guy has problems but I just don't think I can do anything to make him feel like being a better manager.

THE HOW:
But how do I explain my decision to leave to prospective employers and not be seen as a problem applicant?

nixon's last mistake?

krautland — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 00:40:56 -0800

nixon's last mistake? hivemind,

nixon's resignation letter is being flashed all over tv again these days, for obvious reasons, and it reminded me of something that has bugged me for quite some time.

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I hereby resign the Office of President of the United States.

shouldn't it be I hereby resign from the Office? said office did after all still exist sans nixon.

work related abuse

cvoixjames — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 12:31:27 -0800

work related question. A co-worker I work with very closely threatened my verbally and physically, claiming I was doing a poor job. I reported to my supervisor, and said co-worker denies it. What should I do (other than quitting, but I like the job) I have been there 3 years and this came out of the blue. I feel now I have to resign. Suggestions?

How do I tell people I quit my job and don't have another lined up?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 11:12:34 -0800

So. I quit my job. What do I tell people? I have a job that has put me in a fairly high profile in my industry. I've made a lot of contacts and a lot of friends. And I quit my job because the company is run very poorly -- paychecks are late, health insurance not paid. All sorts of stuff.

So I gave my notice and now I'm out. I'm now telling people that I am leaving, and they are asking "where are you going?"

I don't want to say "Nowhere. I don't have any job lined up. I quit because my boss is an idiot and I'm tired of covering his ass" because, you know, burning bridges is a bad thing, and also because the people I am telling are still going to be working with the company I am leaving.

I have been given permission to let people know I am leaving (I am letting people know who my replacement is). And I have been telling people "I am pursuing other opportunities." But there are A LOT of the people that I am telling this to who I would actually like to work for.

So, I guess my question is this: How do I tell people that I am leaving, and I don't have another job lined up, and I'd love to work with them if they have something available, in a way that doesn't right out say "I quit this job because they're batshitinsane here" because I don't want it to seem like I am slamming this company on my way out the door?

Once I'm officially out the door here I'll be able to follow up in comments with my regular user name, but I'll get a sock puppet if you guys need more info.