Resigning the Right Way
There is a scene in the movie Almost Famous where Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s character advises a young journalist on how to treat people whom he encounters. He reminds the youth that you never know who you are going to run into on your long journey to the middle.
I say you never know who you are going to run into around the block, at your next job or at that cocktail party after the Futures Industry Expo. That’s why when giving your resignation, do it with tact and respect.
The Financial Times published a helpful article on May 4, 2008 addressing the right way to leave your job. The article, “Sack the Boss and Move On, But Try to Keep It Sweet” by Rhymer Rigby, focuses on the example of a UK publisher named Emma Barnes. Barnes left her post at Kingfisher in 2001 and explained the situation leading up to her resignation.
Barnes says that while she vented to her friends at the pub, when it came down to resigning she fibbed a bit. She said she didn’t want to burn bridges and that you have to assume you will meet these people again.
Ms Barnes also says it’s important to think about how your boss will feel on the receiving end. Actions speak louder than words and its better to soften the blow.
The article also quotes Sara Sweetman of the UK based consultancy Organisational Edge. She advises employees planning to resign to have a script of what they will say and to stick to it to maintain control of the conversation.
“Resignation scenarios can be quite emotionally charged…but the second you raise the temperature and start to antagonize the other person, the possibility of losing control of the situation raises its head,” she told the Financial Times.
After reading the article, I wanted to see if advice differed in the US. I asked Matt Kral of the Chicago-based Watson Dwyer recruiting firm if he had any words of wisdom on the subject of how to leave your job.
Mr. Kral believes that honesty is the best policy and that you should use tact when giving your resignation.
He also thinks that C-level resignations can be more intense and emotionally charged and that it’s important to think things through before making the move.
“Stray away from negative points,” he said. “In fact, write down all the things you accomplished at the firm so if they have negatives you can counter with positives.”
Just in case, it’s also important to be prepared for a counteroffer when handing in your resignation. Susan Lee & Associates, a print and graphic design recruiting firm, doesn’t think too highly of counteroffers. The firm explains on their website that “if you were worth “X” yesterday, why are they suddenly willing to pay you “X + Y” today, when you weren’t expecting a raise for some time?”
They explain that there are studies proving that the factors leading up to your resignation will eventually re-surface. It is important to think things through before making a decision regarding counteroffers.
People leave jobs for many reasons; whether it is to explore a new professional opportunity or to take a break from the workforce to spend more time with the family. Either way, it is important not to burn bridges. That new opportunity may not be as glamorous as it first sounded or you might actually miss going into the old office every day. It’s important to leave a job on the right note as well as keep in touch with those employers. You never know when you might need those contacts again. So give your resignation with respect and tact and don’t forget to consider the impact it will have on your manager.
Besides, you never know who you will bump into in your industry …..
