Resigning from a job...

Australia
May 17, 2008 9:41pm CST
I'm currently contemplating resigning from my current job. I've been in my current role for about 7 months and a permanent member of staff with the company for 3 years and so many months, at least that is what the systems at work tell me. :) I'm looking to quit for numerous reasons, some are personal related I guess, others are job and people related, none of them I particularly feel sharing with my employer. It's a large orgaisation and people talk very quickly within my operational department, I need verbal references off some of these people. :) This would happen to be my first job resignation ever, happens to be my first job (besides temping for the company for a year) for that matter. I'm well informed on the HR/legal requirements - resignation in writing to my people leader, 3 weeks notice etc but am a little nervous for numerous reasons. So tell me about jobs you've resigned from. How you approached the matter and what you've actually told your boss when you haven't wanted to share the truth to the reason your departing. Sadly I don't believe better career opportunities would work. Also, any opinions on the following would be good as well. I feel I have a little grey area as to who I should tell/give my resignation letter too at work. My manager is meant to be say person Y but for some weird reason they apparently couldn't put me down as under them when I started, so system wise I'm under person X. Who would you give your official notice too, person X or Y? Either way I have every intention on telling person Y personally as I have nothing against that person. Person X is rather horrid and isn't approachable in the slightest, but he'd obviously have to do any official paperwork so blah... I realise whoever I tell first could end up with me having one super big three week headache, so lets go for a majority rule. :)
2 people like this
10 responses
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
18 May 08
Well, personally if you are planning on leaving your current job, I would be finding out if I could who is the appropriate person to turn in your letter of resignation with, and then decide on your best way to approach this. I would let them know that at this time you feel you are not a good fit or something like this with their company, and have chosen to move on. But you might want to consider from here, will it be easy to find a job again doing something, and do you have one to go too? I know for me, this is very important as in the high Financial expenses world I live in, I would have to have something to fall back on when I leave my job. Just some thoughts for you to think about, and wishing you the best.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
18 May 08
I resigned from one job by writing a letter saying i would be leaving at the end of a certain month (a months notice basically) due to having to move away for schooling. They were VERY understanding and when i moved home a couple years later i was offered a job back there. Another job I cant even say I resigned. I got sick and tired of being shorted wages and having to work extra hours without pay. On top of those the boss claimed everyone working for her was lazy and she was going to REDUCE wages and take half the tips. (Owners of a restaurant in my understanding aren't allowed to accept tips here). I wrote her a letter stating why I was leaving gave her two weeks notice right before I left for my 2 week vacation. Then I filed a complaint with the Labour Board. I had a new job before I ever wrote the letter. At the end of the summer season I was laid off cause the new place closes for the winter and I got unemployment for a month or so despite have quit the other job due to the complaint being legit. That was 4 years ago and She finally will greet me. After I gave her the letter (which I dated and signed and submitted a copy to the Labour Board on the same date) She didn't read it until AFTER i came home from my vacation and tried to claim I didn't give her any notice. After I quit three other waitresses quit and filed similar complaints.
@Sir_bobby88 (8231)
• Singapore
18 May 08
Seriously i think it is alright to quit for a better job or you are tired from that job yea , just tell them that you are looking for some new challenges from the outside world is the best that i could think yea .
• Hyderabad, India
18 May 08
Hmmmm resigning wasnt difficult for me what was difficult was the emotional bondage which i have with my colleagues. Always i take it upfront with them and believe me i think about it for months and months with patience if nothing gets better after trying for a change i quit. I usually smoke before coming to a discussion. I also weigh my opportunities and keep the doors open with my present employer in case of future needs.
@longbangod (1785)
• Philippines
18 May 08
The standard and I think are being carried on by every companies is that resgination letters should be addressed either to you direct manager or to the HRD Manager. Whatever reason we may have or whatever feelings we have to our boss, it is part of the standard operation procedure. I have about 6 employments so far and resgination is being carried out each company I leave with reasons ranging from better opportunity outside and working opportunity abroad. Lately I submitted my resignation supposedly effective 26 of May with health reasons in my letter but I was not allowed to go, I mean our boss asked me to stay for I am still needed in the project. I hope you will think more about you plans. Though if you are not really happy with your job anymore, then go on, there are still a lot of opportunies that are waiting there for you to grab. Good luck!
@bliech (13)
• Portugal
18 May 08
I resigned from my last job. It's not that hard. If that's what you really want and think is the best choice, do it. The hardest thing for me, after resigning was to get another job. Only one year later, last thursday, I got another one. But, once again, if you think that's the right choice to make, go do it. You'll feel a lot lighter after it.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
18 May 08
well, i am assuming that you had already have another job to replace the current one... otherwise, it is a risky thing to let go of a job nowadays as it is not easy to find a job and the price of everything has risen a lot nowadays... for me, i would prefer to stay in my current job no matter how much i despise it as long as i still don't have a replacement job yet... i need money to survive and it is better for me to hang on rather than being penniless, hungry and homeless... at least i am still earning and can survive... that is the most important things for me... this is my opinion though... good luck to you and have a nice day...
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
18 May 08
i have plans to resign from my work already too.. that was like 3 years ago, 4 years ago, 5 years ago. hehe now i am with the company for 6 years already. i have considered many things and there are numerous reasons why i should not leave, almost the same as the number of reasons why i should leave. when you move to another company, you will start again, work harder and try to get people's respect once again... moving to another company does not guarantee you your security. weigh everythingm, from compensation, to benefits, to the people you work with... i hope this helps
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
18 May 08
i would go to person y as you seem to have some report with them then also go to x even though he is horrid as he will have to do the paper work. If you could prevail on person y to give the notice to person x you may be able to avoid some fireworks from horrid x.
@mclendon (308)
• United States
18 May 08
Do you have another job prospect or don't need a job? I'm wondering why you are resigning without another job lined up. And are you legally obligated to give 3 weeks notice? That's usually a request, not something they can really hold you to. It's nice to do and good for reference purposes, but if you get a week or so into that notice time and things are horrible you could just quit at that point. Just make sure it's not in a contract you signed or something. You should talk to whoever directly supervises you first. Just keep it simple. "I feel I need to move on because this isn't the opportunity I was expecting.." or "I am seeking a different opportunity and need to give my notice.." etc. Don't say "I'm quitting for personal reasons and reasons I'd rather not share." That's suspect and unprofessional.