Video - How to Resign
I'm sure for a small pool of people out there, the thought of resigning just fills you with absolute joy. You cannot wait to do it to slam your resignation letter down in front of your boss! But for the majority, it can be quite a daunting thing to experience. So here's a few hints and pointers to help you resign effectively.
Firstly, request a formal meeting with your boss, either by email or by the telephone, requesting that you need 15 minutes of their time. Get that booked in the diary, and do it formally. Always prepare a resignation letter.
There is a great website called i-resign.com, which has templates within it. They're to the point and quite blunt, but they're a very good starter to help you draft up your resignation letter.
Within the resignation letter, be both grateful and gracious. Thank them for the good times that you've had, for what you've learned, and for what you've taken from the company for the future. Be gracious within that letter. It's really important during the resignation meeting you're cooperative. Explain how you're going to hand over all of the accounts.
Explain how you're going to make sure that your colleagues that work alongside you are going to know and understand all of your work practices so there is an effective handover. Make it as painless as possible when you move on. That way, you may be in a position to reduce down your notice period so that you can start with your new employer that little bit sooner. It also means that, by cooperating, you've not burned your bridges and this is really important.
Business is a small world. And if you don't resign effectively; if you don't behave professionally during the notice period, they're not going to give you a decent reference in the future. So always bear that in mind. People talk. So just be professional throughout.
Expect to be counter-offered. If you're good at what you do, you will be counteroffered. What does that mean?
A counteroffer is where your existed employer offers the same package as the offer that you have on the table, or more, or the same benefits, or more, greater responsibilities, or whatever it may be. There are many reasons why I would recommend that accepting a counteroffer is not a good idea.
Research shows that 80 - 90% of people that accept a counter offer are no longer in that role in 12 months time. And why is that? The main reason, when you think about it, is you've demonstrated disloyalty. If there is you and your colleague who's up for a promotion, they're going to go with the person who has been loyal.
I've seen many, many candidates that have accepted counteroffers. In the short term, they want to keep you on board. They want to maintain the status quo because you're an important role. But in time, responsibilities will be taken from you. They won't put you on that training session that the rest of the team is on.
And gradually, you'll be put in a position where you'll be forced out of the business anyhow. So how do we counter the counter offer? Well, first off, expect to be counteroffered. If you're good, your existing employer will match the offer that's been made by the company that's offered you the new role.
So how do you counter the counter offer? Well, firstly, visualise it. If you stay in your existing role, OK, the basic salary may be that bit higher. The benefits may be that bit greater. But what really is your role going to look like in 12 months time? Fundamentally, is it any different?
Write down the reasons why you're looking to leave your existing employer and why you're looking to join the company that's offered you the role. Really go through that process of due diligence, because when you've got that prepared in front of you, you've got that the back your mind. When you are counter-offered, you can say, very professionally, "I'm sorry, but I really thought this through. These are the reasons why I'm leaving. These are the reasons why I'm looking to join a new company. My decision is final, and I will be leaving."
It's important to resign professionally, to work in cooperation with your existing employer through your notice period so that you could leave with the bridges still in place for the future because you never know, you may need them at some point.
I hope this has helped you. Good luck in your new role.
Published: 26th March 2021
Date published: 27th Feb 2024
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by Rob Scott
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