There are many reasons that you might want to hand in your resignation, particularly at the start of a new year and a fresh outlook on the year ahead. With record numbers of job postings available, more people than ever are looking to move jobs. But whether you fancy a change or your current role no longer feels right for you, resigning from your job in 2022 is a big move.
Before you hand over your letter of resignation, take a moment to think through your options. You need to be 100% sure that you’re doing the right thing. If you decide that it’s time to leave, then you’ll need to start thinking about your letter of resignation and having a chat with your boss.
This can often feel uncomfortable, but try not to let it make you feel too nervous; you need to do what’s best for you and your career. But it’s not as simple as handing in your letter and saying goodbye. You don’t want to leave your job on a bad note, so make sure you follow the proper channels and stay out your notice period.
You should also do all you can to aid the company in finding and supporting your replacement. If you’ve never resigned before, or if it’s been a while, here’s all you need to know about handing in your notice and leaving your job gracefully gratefully advised by Lee Biggins, Founder and CEO of CV-Library
Handing in your notice and leaving on good terms
Now you’ve decided it’s time to quit your job in 2022 there are a few things you need to do to prepare for leaving. If you’re unsure about the process of handing in your notice, you could always double check the staff handbook and look into your contract to confirm your notice period. Next, you’ll need to think about writing your formal letter and whether or not you want to request an exit interview. You should also prepare yourself for all possible outcomes (don’t let us make you feel nervous, it’s always best to be prepared!)
Writing your resignation
First and foremost you have to write your letter of resignation. This doesn’t have to be long, and you don’t have to go into detail about your reasons for leaving. You should set your letter out as a formal letter as it’s usually a formality for HR and will go on your employment records.
Here is a resignation letter template with examples to help you write your letter for 2022.
Step 1
Start the letter by stating the position you’re resigning from and the date of your final day of work.
Example:
Dear [your boss’s name],
Please accept this letter of resignation from my position as [your job title] with [company name]. Per the terms of my contract, my last day of work will be [date of your last day].
Step 2
It’s also nice to thank your boss for the opportunity to work for them; you want to end things on a good note! Remember, you may need a reference from them down the line. So even if you’re thrilled to be leaving, you should avoid burning your bridges!
Example:
I have really appreciated my [number of years of employment] years at [company name] and the opportunities that it brought me. I’ve learnt some great skills that I will take with me through my career, and I have really enjoyed having the pleasure of work with some great people.
Step 3
In your sign off, you should state your willingness to make this transaction as smooth as you can and give the company your best wishes.
Example:
I will do what I can to help make my leaving as easy as possible for both the company and me. Let me know what you would like me to do in the way of handing over my responsibilities during my final [month, two weeks… whatever your notice period is].
Best wishes to you and all at [company name] in the future.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
Book your meeting
Once you feel completely ready to quit your job, book a meeting with your boss. It’s time to hand in your letter. Explain this situation to them and find out what the next steps are. You can also take this opportunity to find out what they’d like you to do in the way of handing over your responsibilities.
Prepare for any outcome, including a counter offer
Even if you get on well with your boss and they’re usually friendly, you should still prepare yourself for a negative reaction. Though hopefully, they’ll be accepting, you need to remember that they are losing a member of staff and now have to begin preparing for your departure. This is especially true if your resignation has come quite suddenly. So don’t take it personally if they are uncharacteristically quiet or don’t react as you’d hoped – they’ll come round. If you have a notice period, generally you’ll be expected to work as normal for the duration of this.
However, you should prepare for all eventualities. Some employers may ask you to leave with immediate effect (although hopefully, this won’t happen!). If it does, you can ask for the reason behind your immediate dismissal. But try not to let it get personal and cause a dispute. Instead, leave gracefully as requested. It’s useful to be aware that if this happens, the company will still have to pay you for your contractual notice period as normal.
You should also prepare yourself for a counter offer. If your current employers really want to keep you, they might approach you with a counter offer in an attempt to get you to stay. Prepare for this situation by thinking about why you’re leaving – is a pay rise or better benefits enough to make you stay? Or, is it time to move on? You may not be able to make a final decision until you’ve seen the counter offer. But, just be aware that this could happen.
Tell your boss in person
Once you know you’re leaving, don’t tell anyone else until your boss knows. Even if you think you can trust your colleagues, office gossip is inevitable and these things always seem to have a way of getting out. Your boss will be much happier to hear that you’ve decided to leave directly from you, rather than hearing it through the grapevine before you’ve had a chance to tell them.
Stay strong
It can be an uncomfortable conversation to have, but once you’ve decided to leave, it’s going to have to happen at some point. Don’t put off handing your notice in, get the ball rolling as soon as you can. During the conversation with your boss, be sure to stay strong! It’s difficult for any boss to hear that a member of their staff wants to leave, particularly because they now have to find a replacement for your position. Whatever is said during your meeting, remember that you’re handing in your notice for a reason and don’t feel guilty for doing so.
Giving a reason for leaving
You don’t need to give details about why you’re leaving in your resignation letter. If you get on well with your boss, you could always tell them in person. But, you have no contractual obligation to give a reason if you don’t want to. If you have some issues you would like your boss to be aware of, maybe issues that have influenced your decision to leave, you can request an exit interview.
This will give you the chance to discuss any problems you may have had. Hopefully, they can help to rectify these for future employees. Even if you’re upset, make sure you discuss any problems calmly. Also, avoid disparaging the company, its products or services. You don’t want to leave the job with a sour taste in your mouth.
Notice periods
A notice period is the amount of time you have to continue in your position after you’ve handed in your letter of resignation. Notice periods are often a key part of your contract and can range from a few weeks to a few months.
If this isn’t the case, and you aren’t given a formal notice period, then standard practice is two weeks or more – it’s better if you can give your boss a bit of time to prepare for your departure. What you should avoid doing is saying that you’ll be leaving with immediate effect – even if you can’t stand your job anymore. If your current position is affecting your health or vice versa, your HR team may be able to overlook your contractual notice period.
Don’t slack off
Once you have your final day confirmed, it doesn’t mean you should spend the next few weeks doing as little work as possible. You’re still an employee of the company and are being paid to do your job, so avoid procrastinating on Facebook or doing personal errands during work hours. It’s important to remember that when you get a new job in 2022, you’re likely to need a reference from your boss – so you want to leave a great lasting impression. Keep working as hard as you can for the remainder of your time at your current company.
Inform your colleagues
Even if you try to avoid it, we all know that office gossip happens. So, once you’ve told your boss that you’re leaving, find a suitable way to inform the rest of your colleagues – check with your boss first that they are happy for you to do this. Perhaps the best way to do this is to circulate an email to everyone just to let them know and make sure you remain professional.
Here’s an example goodbye email for inspiration:
Hello all,
Just wanted to inform you that I will be leaving [company name] as of [date of last day].
It’s been a pleasure to work with you all during my time here and thank you for all the support you’ve given me.
Best of luck in the future!
[Your name]
Handover documents
A great way to make a final good impression is to help your boss with the handover process. This will mean your replacement can begin working effectively. By writing a handover document, you can give your boss and the person filling your position, a comprehensive guide to what you do and how best to do it.
Begin writing your handover document by making a list of all your responsibilities. You can then go through each one and write an in-depth guide to how and why you do your job. You can also take this chance to explain any specific software that you use and leave any usernames and passwords they may need when they start. Make sure you’ve tied up any loose ends with your workload. This could be things like finalising projects or giving the appropriate forwarding details to clients.
Once you’ve done all these things, you can leave the company and begin your next adventure in 2022 and beyond! Handing your notice to your boss can feel scary. But, once it’s over, you can begin to tie up any loose ends and prepare for leaving. Leaving on a good note is important, especially as you might need a reference one day. So, remember not to become lazy just because you know you’re going soon! Don’t burn bridges by making an abrupt exit. Stay out your notice period and do everything you can to make you’re leaving as easy as possible for the company.
