Comments on: 9 tips for quitting a job gracefully http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:48:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: toure llola http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-148512 toure llola Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:12:33 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-148512 i recently gave my notice to the boss that am quitting. my notice period is 3 months!!! anyway, am just tying really hard to be prim and proper because 3 months is such a long time that he could find something seriously wrong with my work or attitude may not be good.am planning on being vague in my exit interview about where i'm going.any different suggestions? actually, my work has improved now because i'm just so happy to be leaving.my boss is a very hard person to work with.just in the last 7 months, out of 9 junior staff, we've lost 3, am 4th, and two collegues are also leaving in 2 months.that leaves 2 of the original 9.anyway, his loss.I've got no regrets.anyway, no one is irreplaceable, especially junior staff, so i guess he doesnt think he loses much so he keeps up his insane attitude. i recently gave my notice to the boss that am quitting. my notice period is 3 months!!! anyway, am just tying really hard to be prim and proper because 3 months is such a long time that he could find something seriously wrong with my work or attitude may not be good.am planning on being vague in my exit interview about where i’m going.any different suggestions? actually, my work has improved now because i’m just so happy to be leaving.my boss is a very hard person to work with.just in the last 7 months, out of 9 junior staff, we’ve lost 3, am 4th, and two collegues are also leaving in 2 months.that leaves 2 of the original 9.anyway, his loss.I’ve got no regrets.anyway, no one is irreplaceable, especially junior staff, so i guess he doesnt think he loses much so he keeps up his insane attitude.

]]> By: mari http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-133860 mari Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:36:33 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-133860 all good points! i have quit jobs in the past and made it a point not to burn bridges. i need references and the possibility of going back to a previous employer is always open. all good points!

i have quit jobs in the past and made it a point not to burn bridges. i need references and the possibility of going back to a previous employer is always open.

]]> By: juliette http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-110069 juliette Sun, 28 Oct 2007 01:24:37 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-110069 Here's my tip to avoiding the dreaded (and tricky waters) of the exit interview. I write a thank you note instead of a resignation. There's no need to do an exit interview with someone who is so grateful, now is there? Then in "the talk," if there is an issue the boss wants to confront (say, "You're getting more money, aren't you?) it's much easier to be polite and courteous when you've just vibed some good thankin'. Here’s my tip to avoiding the dreaded (and tricky waters) of the exit interview. I write a thank you note instead of a resignation. There’s no need to do an exit interview with someone who is so grateful, now is there? Then in “the talk,” if there is an issue the boss wants to confront (say, “You’re getting more money, aren’t you?) it’s much easier to be polite and courteous when you’ve just vibed some good thankin’.

]]> By: JP http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-107461 JP Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:24:11 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-107461 Note: my first time ever posting a message Everywhere I read, I am told “never tell the boss you are looking for another job!” But, I feel I do need to tell him before the traditional 2 weeks, maybe before the 30 day mark.. I love my job and I am loyal to my boss. That is why it is important that I give my boss ample notice that I am planning on leaving. There will be a lot to prepare for when I’m gone. Please tell me your thoughts on my situation. My goal in this post is to find out “how” to tell her, when and what exactly to say. These are the reasons I want to let my boss know I am going to be leavening soon. *It would be very difficult for the whole institute if I was to leave with only 2 weeks notice. I help keep things running smoothly and a lot of clients emotionally depend on me. *I want to help my workplace prepare for when I’m gone because it will be hard for them to find a replacement with the (low) salary offered (the very reason I am leaving). *My boss has been my mentor and has always taken me under-her-wing. I would not feel right, just “up-and-leaving” with giving her mental preparation. When I was promoted to this position, I accepted a salary that was less than I wanted. I did this because I wanted the management title and experience. In conversations with my boss, I expressed that I was unsatisfied with my salary and my limited prospects to get it to a higher level In these conversation, I have said (maybe twice) “I won’t be here forever. At some point, I will move on….”. We both knew, at that time I wasn’t looking for another job. But now, that “move-on” point has come. I am presently preparing my resume and researching, how I am going to find my “dream job” with a reasonable salary. This job was my first professional / management position. I want bigger and better now. I believe my problem is I am worried about leaving my mentor scrambling to keep things together once I go. My biggest mistake – I admit- has been that I have said in passing to some of my friend / subordinates and co-workers in other departments, that I am “now on the job market” and ” if you know of any openings let me know…” (Breaking rule #1: don’t tell anyone you work with you are going to quit) Have I already sunk the ship by telling these people? In hind-sight this was very stupid and I am concerned that my boss may get wind of it. I don’t want my boss to find out from anyone but me. She knows I am stressed and underpaid. She has shown concern about my stress level. Should I tell her in one of our conversations that I am preparing my resume and preparing to going on interviews? I really want to maintain a good relationship with her after I leave. I feel her mentorship would be very useful and I want to stay in contact. Plus, I could really use a outstanding professional letter of reference from her. I already know that I must immediately stop letting people know that I am looking for another job. But what do I do now? Should I tell her? How? And when? How do I ask for a letter of reference under these circumstances? Please give me your thoughts…. * * * * * * * <I>Here are really important rules for quitting: 1. If you are paid a low salary then the office is not going to be disabled if you leave. If you are so important and so difficult to replace then they can pay more and hire someone quickly. The office can take care of itself when you leave. Really. 2. Most people under 30 are job hunting -- at least passively -- all the time. It should not be news to your boss that you are in an entry level job and would quit if someone offered you a beter job. And if you are entry level then most jobs are better than what you have, so the odds of you leaving are huge. 3. If your company laid you off, they'd give you two weeks notice. That's how the work world works. Play by the rules. Give two weeks notice. If your boss is so desperate without you she can double your salary to keep you there, right? And she probaby won't do that. 4. If someone has been a good mentor to you then you owe it to them not to screw them. This means, don't let them go to bat for you to, say, get you a raise, if you're quitting the next day. But if someone has been a good mentor and you have been a good mentee, the you don't owe the person more than telling him or her when you have a new job. Two weeks is fine. 5. It does't matter that you told people in the office you're looking for a job. If your boss has any sense she already knew. How could you NOT be looking for a job? You don't need to come out and tell her. There is nothign she can do in response to that. She can't hire someone new because you're not gone and you have no idea when you'll actually get another job. So telling her doens't help anyone. Good luck in your job hunt :) Penelope</I> Note: my first time ever posting a message

Everywhere I read, I am told “never tell the boss you are looking for another job!” But, I feel I do need to tell him before the traditional 2 weeks, maybe before the 30 day mark..

I love my job and I am loyal to my boss. That is why it is important that I give my boss ample notice that I am planning on leaving. There will be a lot to prepare for when I’m gone.

Please tell me your thoughts on my situation. My goal in this post is to find out “how” to tell her, when and what exactly to say.

These are the reasons I want to let my boss know I am going to be leavening soon.

*It would be very difficult for the whole institute if I was to leave with only 2 weeks notice. I help keep things running smoothly and a lot of clients emotionally depend on me.

*I want to help my workplace prepare for when I’m gone because it will be hard for them to find a replacement with the (low) salary offered (the very reason I am leaving).

*My boss has been my mentor and has always taken me under-her-wing. I would not feel right, just “up-and-leaving” with giving her mental preparation.

When I was promoted to this position, I accepted a salary that was less than I wanted. I did this because I wanted the management title and experience. In conversations with my boss, I expressed that I was unsatisfied with my salary and my limited prospects to get it to a higher level In these conversation, I have said (maybe twice) “I won’t be here forever. At some point, I will move on….”. We both knew, at that time I wasn’t looking for another job.

But now, that “move-on” point has come. I am presently preparing my resume and researching, how I am going to find my “dream job” with a reasonable salary. This job was my first professional / management position. I want bigger and better now.

I believe my problem is I am worried about leaving my mentor scrambling to keep things together once I go.

My biggest mistake – I admit- has been that I have said in passing to some of my friend / subordinates and co-workers in other departments, that I am “now on the job market” and ” if you know of any openings let me know…” (Breaking rule #1: don’t tell anyone you work with you are going to quit) Have I already sunk the ship by telling these people?

In hind-sight this was very stupid and I am concerned that my boss may get wind of it. I don’t want my boss to find out from anyone but me. She knows I am stressed and underpaid. She has shown concern about my stress level.

Should I tell her in one of our conversations that I am preparing my resume and preparing to going on interviews?

I really want to maintain a good relationship with her after I leave. I feel her mentorship would be very useful and I want to stay in contact. Plus, I could really use a outstanding professional letter of reference from her.

I already know that I must immediately stop letting people know that I am looking for another job. But what do I do now? Should I tell her? How? And when? How do I ask for a letter of reference under these circumstances?

Please give me your thoughts….

* * * * * * *

Here are really important rules for quitting:

1. If you are paid a low salary then the office is not going to be disabled if you leave. If you are so important and so difficult to replace then they can pay more and hire someone quickly. The office can take care of itself when you leave. Really.

2. Most people under 30 are job hunting — at least passively — all the time. It should not be news to your boss that you are in an entry level job and would quit if someone offered you a beter job. And if you are entry level then most jobs are better than what you have, so the odds of you leaving are huge.

3. If your company laid you off, they’d give you two weeks notice. That’s how the work world works. Play by the rules. Give two weeks notice. If your boss is so desperate without you she can double your salary to keep you there, right? And she probaby won’t do that.

4. If someone has been a good mentor to you then you owe it to them not to screw them. This means, don’t let them go to bat for you to, say, get you a raise, if you’re quitting the next day. But if someone has been a good mentor and you have been a good mentee, the you don’t owe the person more than telling him or her when you have a new job. Two weeks is fine.

5. It does’t matter that you told people in the office you’re looking for a job. If your boss has any sense she already knew. How could you NOT be looking for a job? You don’t need to come out and tell her. There is nothign she can do in response to that. She can’t hire someone new because you’re not gone and you have no idea when you’ll actually get another job. So telling her doens’t help anyone.

Good luck in your job hunt :)

Penelope

]]> By: Alex B http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-939 Alex B Mon, 18 Sep 2006 21:02:27 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-939 My problem at work it not the boss but about 75% of the people that I work with have been trying to get me fired and they also put all the work on me. They come and tell me a bunch of ridiculous things that I said. They are all nice to you one moment and then the next you're being complained about something that you supposedly did or didn't do. I know many people who had this problem even my own parents. There is so much gossip there and they're always talking about who got fired and who did this, I think you understand. You are right that your boss should know first what's going on or that can cause a lot of problems. It's always good to leave your job not angry but relieved that you don't have to work there anymore if the environment isn't healthy. The people you work with can't be 100% trustworthy and I had to learn that the hard way. I do regret applying for that job in the first place. I called up my mother and my friends and they said that it wasn't right for me. I should of just taken their advice in the first place and now I regret it. My problem at work it not the boss but about 75% of the people that I work with have been trying to get me fired and they also put all the work on me. They come and tell me a bunch of ridiculous things that I said. They are all nice to you one moment and then the next you’re being complained about something that you supposedly did or didn’t do. I know many people who had this problem even my own parents. There is so much gossip there and they’re always talking about who got fired and who did this, I think you understand.

You are right that your boss should know first what’s going on or that can cause a lot of problems. It’s always good to leave your job not angry but relieved that you don’t have to work there anymore if the environment isn’t healthy. The people you work with can’t be 100% trustworthy and I had to learn that the hard way.

I do regret applying for that job in the first place. I called up my mother and my friends and they said that it wasn’t right for me. I should of just taken their advice in the first place and now I regret it.

]]> By: Howard Wexler http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-938 Howard Wexler Sat, 26 Aug 2006 00:49:46 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-938 When you give your two-week notice, be aware that you may get fired immediately. It has happened to me a few times, so much for being nice about it. The employers always said that it is best to cut the ties immediately, rather than having the old employee hang around. So one should not give notice unless their desk is neat and everything is spotless. I once had an ex-employer attempt to sue me. His charges were ridiculous and nothing ever came of them. But I did learn some lessons from it. When you give your two-week notice, be aware that you may get fired immediately. It has happened to me a few times, so much for being
nice about it. The employers always said that it is best to cut the
ties immediately, rather than having the old employee hang around.

So one should not give notice unless their desk is neat and everything is spotless.

I once had an ex-employer attempt to sue me. His charges were ridiculous and nothing ever came of them. But I did learn some lessons from it.

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-937 Penelope Trunk Wed, 23 Aug 2006 13:10:51 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-937 I see there are also examples here of leaving hated employers. No point in burning those bridges, either. Just becasue someone's a jerk doesn't mean you have to be a jerk back. And, you never know what someone will be like in another context. Maybe you'll be friendly later on. I see there are also examples here of leaving hated employers. No point in burning those bridges, either. Just becasue someone’s a jerk doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk back. And, you never know what someone will be like in another context. Maybe you’ll be friendly later on.

]]> By: empty spaces http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-936 empty spaces Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:15:39 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-936 great points. I quit my job a few months ago and I definitely made sure I left the door open. Why would you unnecessarily burn your bridges? great points.
I quit my job a few months ago and I definitely made sure I left the door open. Why would you unnecessarily burn your bridges?

]]> By: Daniel http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-935 Daniel Tue, 22 Aug 2006 04:57:18 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-935 As I read this at work today, a friend looking over my shoulder noticed the title. He burst out laughing, knowing my dissatisfaction with the job recently. Then he asked that I forward it to him. So much for the boss being the first to know . . . As I read this at work today, a friend looking over my shoulder noticed the title. He burst out laughing, knowing my dissatisfaction with the job recently. Then he asked that I forward it to him. So much for the boss being the first to know . . .

]]> By: Kenneth Wolman http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-934 Kenneth Wolman Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:13:24 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/20/9-tips-for-quitting-a-job-gracefully/#comment-934 Penelope, It All Depends. I left a job voluntarily in the middle of January. I left for money, to get back to writing, and because I was afraid of the man I worked for: he had a habit of losing his temper and going into near-incoherent rages. I walked into his office and handed him a two-sentence letter. He acted shocked. His main issue was that I gave him nine days notice instead of the "customary" two weeks--this even though there was nothing to do and even though 69 of my colleagues had just been terminated and 50 more would follow me. When I left he did not even wish me goodbye let alone well. Not exactly the guy I'd want for a reference, y'think? BTW, if you remember me, I am not one of those 20-something careerist types who leaves a job every year to advance myself. I am a 60-something type who a document from a subsequent employer proving age discrimination. I'm still doing this only to make the GD alimony. Penelope, It All Depends. I left a job voluntarily in the middle of January. I left for money, to get back to writing, and because I was afraid of the man I worked for: he had a habit of losing his temper and going into near-incoherent rages.

I walked into his office and handed him a two-sentence letter. He acted shocked. His main issue was that I gave him nine days notice instead of the “customary” two weeks–this even though there was nothing to do and even though 69 of my colleagues had just been terminated and 50 more would follow me.

When I left he did not even wish me goodbye let alone well.

Not exactly the guy I’d want for a reference, y’think?

BTW, if you remember me, I am not one of those 20-something careerist types who leaves a job every year to advance myself. I am a 60-something type who a document from a subsequent employer proving age discrimination. I’m still doing this only to make the GD alimony.

]]>