Resigning Professionally!

No matter what level of career one has, resigning presents a major challenge. The correct way results in a cheerful goodbye and references that can take you places. On the other hand if done incorrectly, well let’s just say your career progress can be challenged even impaired. Without a doubt resignation is a delicate affair; but, you do not need a surgeon’s rock steady hands to carry out a successful resignation.

Make sure to be sure

Resignation is a serious matter and no matter how advanced technology becomes there does not seem to be a particular “undo” button should you decide you would like to take the resignation back. You need to be absolutely sure that resignation is what you want because once you walk that road turning back is not without consequences. Ideally, you should have signed another contract before putting in your resignation to the previous company. A promise of employment, a plausible cause of employment, promises made by family and friends do not qualify as a strong enough reason to resign. It might sound harsh, but in these times, jobs are hard to come by – so make sure to be sure about it.

Good to go?

So you have made up your mind and are certain a resignation will add to your personal and professional life. Your next step is to go through the contract you signed and make sure you know about any policies about resignation that the company may have set in place. This is again a very important part of your resignation; a good resignation might break a few hearts, it might even make a few eyes wet; but it will never end in any hard feelings. You simply cannot put a post-it on your boss’s table that says “Boss, I quit!”. Having said that, companies today often call for previous references and or recommendations before even giving you an opportunity to sit an interview; needless to say, you need to leave the old company with a confidence that if a new employer calls your previous one, they will say something good about you.

Writing that perfect resignation

We all like to write and talk, be it with friends, writing stories as answers for questions we have no clue about – writing is something we do a lot of. Professional writing is something very different; in fact, the difference is so major there are particular courses for Corporate Communication being offered in Business Institutes around the world. In short, the nature of business communication pivots around the idea of being to the point and “enough” – nothing more, nothing less. When it comes to writing a perfect resignation, the only information it needs is telling the company that you are leaving, and stating your last day of work; if you feel you should write a few liners about how you enjoyed your time there – please hesitate to do so. The ONLY information a good resignation letter needs is your “decision to leave” and “date of your last day at work”. Refrain from adding needless information such as; reasons for your decision to leave, where you are going, what would be your new responsibilities and such. There is a golden role when it comes to business communication, and that is “the more you talk, the more you expose yourself”. Exposure is good, but exposing yourself during a resignation is not a very good idea.

Breaking the news – making it easier on them

Make sure you know, by resigning you put a company at an immediate disadvantage. The opening you create may take a fair amount of time to fill, not to mention the costs associated with it. By resigning, you tell the company “I am not interested in this Company anymore”. The least you can do is to be civil, because whatever you leave behind may catch up with you latter on – remember what was previously stated about “references”? Make an appointment with your Boss, try to arrange a time when your Boss is in a good mood – hand deliver the letter. Put the resignation letter in words, vocalize whatever your resignation letter states. Do be prepared for one of three things that can happen: your Boss might professionally acknowledge your resignation, say a few words about how sorry he is to see you go, shake your hand and set you on your way. Your Boss might go silent for a moment before asking you what you wouldneed to reconsider your decision; or your Boss might even ask you to sit in another meeting to discuss the possibility of reconsideration.

This “reconsideration” in most cases rather in a majority of cases does not go in your favor. You might be offered something very enticing, an immediate pay increment, a new shiny car, a promotion – and that is just after they softened you into submission by praising your hard work and professionalism. As you walk out that office door, patting yourself on the shoulder and smiling for getting an amazing deal, your Boss is on the phone arranging with a recruiter for a confidential replacement. Once you have made up your mind, just stick to your guns – you will be better off that way.

Be wise, don’t fall for the spider web!

A counter offer is a direct and often dominating appeal to your ego and an intense attempt to push that “guilt button” that we all have. It is unprofessional of your company to even attempt it, similarly it is unprofessional, and to be honest ill conceived of you to accept it. So be civil; resign, smile, shake hands, smile again and walk away!

Thanks & regards,

"Remember Me When You Raise Your Hand For Dua"
Raheel Ahmed Khan
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