Resignation Letters: Dos and Don’ts Of Handing It IN

By Dorcas Karuana,
If you were to resign from your job, how would you do it? Honarably? Or unceremoniously?
I have seen people resign by sending an email to the boss and not reporting to work the following day, while others just walk out without a word.
Whether you hate the job or your boss is a tyrant and the pay sucks; you may be tempted to “Screw the boss” after getting a new job offer.  This is fine at the time, but a few years down the line you never know how you may cross roads with your boss; may be in another company as a boss or even in an interview panel.
Many careers are built and broken on personal relationships, so by writing a letter of resignation when you leave a job can help protect possible future relationships. It can also ensure you receive a decent reference from your ex-employer.
Depending on your relationship with your boss, handing in a resignation could be a troublesome task if you liked him and do not want to breakhis heart. It could also be wonderful if you hate them. But whichever way it comes, you should ensure you do it in a proper manner so you don’t shoot yourself in the foot.
Here are the Dos and Don’ts of handing in resignation letter.
DO’s
1. Tell your boss face-to-face. Emailing them a letter or just leaving it on their desk is awkward and dismissive. Be brave and you’ll look better for it.
2. Give CONSTRUCTIVE criticism if you have to, but stick to the facts and keep it relevant to why you’re leaving (e.g. the pay is lower than at the new job, there wasn’t enough training, there’s no room for promotion here).
3. Be prepared: your boss might ask you to stay and offer you more money or a better position. You really must have known your worth at such times so you are not caught off guard.
4. Be helpful. Don’t leave your colleagues in the lurch – hand over your work properly with explanations about how you do things and if there’s anything outstanding that they need to pick up.
5. Remember colleagues could be good contacts for the future… Give them your number/email address/Facebook/Twitter and ask them to stay in touch.
6. Choose the people you want a job reference from carefully and tell them on why you think you’re suitable for your next job.
DON’Ts
1. Do not hand in your notice when you are feeling angry. Ever.
2. Do not focus just on the negative points of your time in your job. EVERY job has some good points.
3. Do not feel like you have to give reasons for your resignation if you don’t want to.
4. Do not refuse to work your notice period. If it’s in your employment contract then it’s legally binding.
5. Do not go straight on social media and start slating your old job – not nice and possibly slanderous!
6. Do not make things awkward for the people left behind. If other people don’t like their jobs don’t boast and make them feel bad.
Dorcas is a Human Resource Consultant at Corporate Staffing Services. Email: dorcas@corporatestaffing.co.ke Website: www.corporatestaffing.co.ke