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The time may come when it is time to move on. After you have exhausted all other options, quitting may be the only thing left for you to do. While you may have wished things turned out differently, making the choice to leave your job and pursue something new is nothing to be ashamed of. As in all areas of life, making decisions that empower you and bring you to new heights in your overall well-being and development are smart ones.
But before you call it quits, keep in mind the things you should never do. Even if you are leaving on what you consider to be bad terms, professionalism and poise are always key to a smooth and sophisticated exit.
Here are four things you should never do if you are planning to quit your job. You may be fed up or just “over it,” but quit like a class act and you’ll be a better person for it.
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Don’t Lose Your Cool
You may be at your wit’s end, but once you lose control and say something you regret, you’ll want to bury your head in the sand. Stay level-headed and be as calm as you can, even if you are quitting at a time of great stress or frustration.
As per The Balance, “Don’t tell your boss and co-workers off… even if they deserve it. It is not just about being the bigger person. You never know who will turn up in your life at some point in the future. You may have to work with one of these people again. Even coworkers who are your allies may be put off by your behavior and may form a negative opinion of you.”
Take a deep breath and go into the situation with discipline and directness, but never cross that line and risk damage to your professional reputation.
Don’t Badmouth or Complain About Your Boss
If you know you are planning to leave the company, keep all thoughts about your boss to yourself, whether that means during “water cooler” chit-chat among co-workers or with a potential new employer. It does nothing to help your cause or credibility.
Similarly, do not badmouth the company as a whole either. It stinks of pettiness and lack of appreciation. Instead, The Motley Foolsuggests, “Stay positive. Focus on the exciting opportunities you have and how much you will miss your colleagues. Even if employees make a practice of badmouthing the company over lunch or post-work drinks, don’t participate.”
Remember, you are quitting anyhow, so name-calling is nothing but juvenile and mean-spirited. The rules of kindergarten always hold up.
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Don’t Sever Ties
You have your valid reasons for leaving, but that does not mean that the relationships you have built and contacts you have collected must be tossed aside and forgotten. If you depart from the company in a classy and friendly manner, you can keep those connections solid as you move towards the next step on your career path.
As per Wishing Well Coaching, “Don’t burn bridges. Your network is one of your most valuable career assets.Keep the relationships you have and build new ones in your new place of work. No matter how sure you are that you’re never going back to where you are working now, don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
Don’t forget, “You may need the company for references,” as The Motley Fool notes. Keep in touch.
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Don’t Give Zero Notice
As per Wishing Well Coaching, “Quitting a job without notice is a sure way to burn bridges with your manager and co-workers, who are all left to pick up the pieces after your departure.”
Your employer deserves respect and a decent amount of time to process your decision to leave and find a replacement. Walking in to your boss’s office and walking out for good immediately after is in poor taste, unless something truly horrendous has happened.
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The Motley Fool suggests, “You should give proper notice — two weeks in most fields, but more in a few others. During your notice period you should make every effort to tie up any loose ends. Think about what the next person in your job might need and leave a hand-off note containing the relevant info.”
You may be eager to move onward and upward but doing the right thing will end your time with the company on a high note.
Quit the quality way. And good luck in your next position!
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