You’ve had it and you’re about to quit your job! Years of planning, working, sacrificing, and delaying gratification for a future with your company that you now know will never come.
Weekends and nights without overtime, not being fully appreciated for creating solutions when no one else could, and finally, getting passed up for that promotion you deserved… it’s enough to make you want to unload on your boss, as Albert Brooks’ character did in Lost in America.
As satisfying as it might feel to get the resentment off your chest, doing so could cause irreparable damage to your career prospects. You don’t want to wind up like Brooks in this scene:
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Things fall apart quickly when we act in haste. Soon, you’re selling your house and taking an RV trip to Vegas, where your spouse gambles away all the proceeds while you sleep. Now you can’t even afford a cheeseburger.
To help you keep your house, your life savings, and your burger-buying power, take to heart this valuable advice on quitting your job gracefully:
1. Write a resignation letter including your accomplishments. Your goal is to create a lasting, positive impression on anyone from whom you may need a good reference—this week, or in 10 years. You’ve already learned your hard work may not be remembered, so take advantage of your opportunity to change that fact. Leave them with the details about what you brought to your organization. The tone of the letter should be positive and personal, and should mention how much you enjoyed working for the company. This letter is a part of your legacy and will be kept in human resources’ permanent records; make it a reflection of your best qualities.
2. Send an email thanking your colleagues. Whether your experience with superiors and colleagues was positive or something less than that, writing a thank-you email will prove to be cathartic. It should resolve some of the bitterness, leaving you in an emotional state that is more conducive to your future success. It’s akin to the value of forgiveness; the objective really isn’t about the recipient. Nevertheless, think about the positive experiences you’ve had and show sincere gratitude to the people who worked with you.
3. Make your last days your best days. Sure, you’re filled with resentment and bile from acid reflux, but let your last days reflect your true character rather than your urge to indulge bitter feelings. Continue to work as hard as ever and stay focused. Finish any remaining projects you’ve been working on, ensure a smooth transition to whomever will be assuming your responsibilities, and provide instructions in writing to help when you’re gone. Ask if there is anything else you can do to assist your team and your successor. When you leave, make the rounds and say your gracious goodbyes. You may get an unexpected hug or two, and that form of appreciation may be just the thing you need to let go and move on.
Quitting a job with your integrity intact isn’t easy, which is why it reflects so well on your character when you do. Sometimes the most important bridges we build in our careers are bridges over troubled waters.