Resignation Advice

After accepting a position with a new employer, the next stage of the process is to resign from your current employer. For most people, this can be a stressful and worrying time as you do not wish any bad feelings between you and your employer and you would not want to leave with a bad reference. It is essential that you are fully prepared for this process as handling your resignation in the correct way will contribute to the continued success in both your personal and career development. Here are some guidelines covering what to do to help you resign in a professional manner. We will cover the following points:

• The Resignation Letter
• The Resignation Meeting
• Counter Offer Scenario

The Resignation Letter

The next stage in the resignation process is to prepare a Resignation Letter. It is vital that you submit your resignation in writing as this is a formal document between you and your employer. It also gives you more time to prepare what you want to say and gives you greater control of your message. Your letter should be short & brief and contain the following:

• Name & Date
• Name of the person it is addressed to
• Notice of Termination of Employment
• When this is effective from
• Your signature
• Providing you are leaving on good terms, you may also wish to thank your employer for the opportunities and experience you have gained since joining the organisation.

It is also important to remember that your letter will go on file and in the future you may wish to use the company as a reference therefore you should not include any negative or personal comments in the letter.

The Resignation Meeting

The resignation meeting should take place with your manager. It can be difficult to predict your manager's reaction to your resignation therefore it is imperative to remain businesslike and professional at all times. See below for other points and advice:

• Prepare what are you are planning to say and stick to it
• Communicate your reasons for leaving, focusing on the positive points of your new job opportunity
• Avoid any negative reasons for leaving as you may need a reference in the future
• Retain your composure and avoid becoming emotional
• Ensure your notice period is correct and stress that you will ensure a detailed handover is prepared before you finish your employment
• It is common to be made a counter offer by your employer at this stage, stress that you have not made this decision lightly and reinforce the fact you would like them to respect it.
• Explain you have documented all of the information in a formal letter and hand it to them.
• Leave the meeting on a positive note after agreeing your leaving date.
• Be prepared that some organisations will ask you to leave immediately after you resign.

Counter Offer

It is a very common scenario after an individual resigns from a job, many receive a counter offer from their current employer. This is a decision that you will need to take seriously. Below are a few points or questions that you should wish to consider before making your final decision.

• Are you being offered a step up in the career ladder?
• What were your motives for seeking alternative employment?
• Have the factors that helped you make the decision to resign in first place been addressed?
• Accepting a counter offer may adversely affect any future relationship with the 'would be employer'.
• Would your loyalty and commitment be called into question in the future?
• Your employer may remember your resignation when they are looking to promote within the company
• A counter offer is often the most cost-effective and productive solution to your resignation. Persuading you to stay may be cheaper than recruiting your replacement.