10 Steps to Quit Your Job Like a Pro Without Burning Bridges

“Take this job and shove it

I ain’t workin’ here no more

You better not try to stand in my way

‘Cause I’m walkin’ out the door

Take this job and shove it

I ain’t workin’ here no more."

 — Lyrics from Take this Job and Shove It written by Johnny Paycheck and David Allen Coe

Whatever the reason you are leaving your job, knowing how to quit your job without burning bridges can be the key to your success down the road.

If you have spent any time in the professional world, you have seen people who storm out of a company in a cloud of drama.  

Making a scene or being passive aggressive towards your employer doesn’t change anything for the better. It doesn’t make a point because they won’t get it. Leaving a big mess for co-workers to clean up — literally or figuratively — shows they lost control and couldn’t deal with the situation any longer.

You could be working in a toxic situation where you are counting the minutes until you start at your new company, but that doesn’t mean you need to punish everyone around you for staying.

If you want to know how to quit your job without burning bridges, you treat your co-workers and bosses that same way you like to be treated — even if they don’t deserve it.

Often, they don’t.

Here is a simple rundown of how to proceed with dignity and grace no matter what your reasons for quitting might be.

• Be sympathetic to their situation.
• Don’t speak about your intentions to co-workers.
• Tell your boss in person.
• Write a resignation letter.
• Give proper notice.
• Understand your contract.
• Express your gratitude to co-workers.
•  Train your replacement if requested.
•  Finish strong.

Next, we will go into each of these topics in detail.  

Empathy can go a long way in this situation. How will your departure affect them?

Take the time to imagine the situation from their point-of-view and make an exit plan based on that.

Your company has invested in you. They have trained you and been patient through your learning curve.  They have paid payroll taxes and healthcare expenses for you and possibly your family.

The business workflow depends on your presence.

Even if you don’t feel appreciated — also if you feel taken advantage of and passed over for recognition or promotions — you should take a moment or two to see thing from their point of view.

It is not a good idea to let your co-workers know about your plans to leave the company before you have had a chance to speak to your superiors formally.

What you want to avoid is rumors spreading about your resignation.  If you are still negotiating with a potential new company and word gets back to your employer, everything could become very awkward and work against your best interest.

Keep your cards close to your chest.

Don’t allow any co-worker, who may have something against you, use this information to hurt you. You want to be the first person to discuss this with your boss.

There may be an exception if you are part of a two-person team such as is common in ad agencies or law enforcement. You may have developed an authentic, meaningful friendship with this person. If your departure will directly affect their company standing, it’s understandable you might discuss the issue. However, be discrete. This information is an “on-a-need-to-know-basis” situation.

When it comes to how to quit your job without burning bridges, this separates the professionals from the amateurs.

No matter how complicated your time at this company, you want to end on a high note.  

Your resignation letter is the official document of your resignation. Therefore, it is vital that the tone shows you in the best light.

Also, a resignation letter is a letter. A resignation letter is not an email you send after a couple of beers. It is a hard copy you have in hand.

If you need a resignation letter sample or advice for wording, visit monster.com and resumegenius.com.

Stay on point, don’t complain and always include the following:

• The fact that you are leaving
• When you intend to leave
• Express gratitude toward your employers

One or two short paragraphs is enough.

There may be specific reasons that the company is losing you. Your resignation letter is not the place to express those concerns.

Additionally, you don’t want to say something positive then follow it up with a “But…” or “However.” “But" meansforget everything I just said because this is what I really think.

Any discussions about specific issues should take place in person with your boss.

Set up a time to meet with your boss and resign in person. Have your resignation letter with you.  There may be some awkward issues that influenced your resignation that need to be discussed. Let your boss take the lead. If they ask you a direct question, answer the question they actually ask, not the question you want them to ask.

Don’t turn this into a critical review of the company and/or co-workers.  Stay on subject, don’t let your emotions get the better of you.

Here is some information you should know before scheduling this meeting:

• Last Day: Make sure you know the day and date of your last day (no less than two weeks away). Your intended last day should be included in your resignation letter.

• Flexibility: Can you be flexible on your departure? If your team is nearing the completion of a project, and your presence is necessary for its success, you need to seriously consider your timing.

• Willingness to Stay: Would you consider a counter offer? This is something to know about your situation before going into the meeting.

At the end of the meeting, hand him or her your resignation letter.

There is much debate on what is the best day of the week to resign your position with a company, but you should base your decision on when you think it is most convenient for your boss.  This isn’t a time to grab your boss on his or her way to an important meeting and dump your resignation in their lap.

There needs to be time for your boss to discuss the issue with you for a few minutes.  Make sure there are 15 to 30 minutes set aside for the meeting.  

Your resignation could be very disruptive and untimely for your company.

Two weeks’ notice is the minimum amount of time you should expect to remain in your position before moving on to your new job. If you have a particularly important and consequential role in the company, then it may be appropriate to stay longer and train your replacement.

If you want to know how to quit your job like a pro, then giving two weeks’ notice is paramount to leaving on good terms.

Nothing says you are more appreciative of the opportunity the company has given you than being agreeable to train your replacement.

Of course, the only way you can train your replacement is if the company has a replacement. Some human resources departments could take several weeks to find someone to replace you. That may not be possible based on your start date.

If you are an employee of a company that requires you to sign a non-compete agreement or you work on proprietary knowledge, you need to thoroughly understand your employment contract and any limitations placed on your future opportunities.

The legitimacy of non-compete agreements can vary, so don’t resign without knowing if you are even able to work in the same industry or market under another employer without meeting specific requirements.

A legal scuffle over your departure is not how you quit your job like a pro. Your bridges will all be burned before the sun sets that day.

After speaking directly to your company representative about your departure, your boss may ask you to keep this quiet for a few days. You should respect that request.

If he or she doesn’t mind you sharing the news, then you should take the time to write a genuine email to your team.

If there are people you would like to single out as being very important to your success within the company, send them an email directly expressing your sentiments.  You never know, they could be your boss one day.

Also, if there are any individuals within the company that you feel took valuable time to mentor you and help you grow, then you should definitely send them an email and express your gratitude for their involvement in your success.

Maybe you think this company stinks and your co-workers are a bunch of degenerates and charity cases. Leave all of that aggravation at the door when training your replacement.

Most likely, your replacement is excited about this opportunity. The last thing they need is for you to throw everyone under the bus and share a bunch of character flaws about the people they are going to be working with.

It isn’t fair to them, and it will make you look like a jerk.

If your boss asks your replacement about how the training is going, you want them to have nothing but positive things to say.

Also, if it is appropriate, offer to be available for any questions they have down the road.

Your final days are not the time to show how little you care about what happens from now on, or that you are mentally checked out from your position.  

Don’t stick around to punish your employer while the stakes are so low for you. That's isn’t fair to them or your co-worker.  

If there is absolutely nothing more for you to do, offer to leave the company early — if that works for them.

If you are working on a project and interact with clients, you need to be gracious at all times. Do not tell the clients the “real reason” you are leaving. It’s not showing good character and could get you in a hot legal mess.

This is a time to reinforce the company’s decision to hire you in the first place.

“Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it is my least favorite quality, and it leads nowhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get.” — Quote from Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show farewell speech.

Few public figures were more clearly wronged than Conan O’Brien when he was constructively fired from The Tonight Show by NBC executives. However, if you want to see a perfect example of how to say goodbye in the most dignified and gracious way possible (under the worst of circumstances), watch Conan O’Brien’s farewell speech.

Make your last day just like your first day. You never know whom you will find on the other side of the hiring table down the road.

If you burn bridges, you burn opportunities. It’s that simple.

Companies change and when they do opportunities present themselves. You may find yourself wanting to return to the company you left several years ago. If your departure was disruptive and an overall distasteful experience, they will write you off for any future opportunities.

Even when they don’t deserve it, treat people as you want to be treated.

Being gracious and considerate is how you quit your job like a pro and leave all of the bridges intact.

For more information about the factors to consider, check out this article on CNN.