It’s common to switch from one job to another. It happens all the time. But when you are quitting, what’s the best thing to do? Give the two weeks’ notice.
Basically, the two weeks’ notice is a written letter that informs your company that you’ll be terminating your engagement with them in two weeks’ time. Sound, simple right? Not at all. Let’s dive in so you can see just how detailed this process can get.
How to go about issuing the Two weeks’ notice
It’s not easy to talk about job resignation. It’s uncomfortable, to tell the truth. But you still have to do it so that you leave a bad reputation behind. Whether your two weeks’ notice is written or oral, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Be thankful
Quitting a job should be done gracefully and on good terms. You can do that by stating all the things you are thankful for. All the good times you had and what you learned. Recognize every positive thing that the company did for you.
What if you state all the things you are thankful for only for the manager to bash you with a bad review or say that you were a bad employee? The answer is actually simple. You have a bad manager and this solidifies your reason to leave.
A good employer or manager should acknowledge your reasons for leaving, be thankful for your service, and wish you well. The best employers will want to know the reasons for your leaving and use that info to make the necessary changes that will help them stop losing valuable employees.
Go straight to the point
You can easily get lost or come out wrong if you say too much. It’s best to go straight to the point, say why you are resigning, and where you are headed. Keep the conversation optimistic as at this juncture, you don’t need to complain so much. Even when the manager asks for honest feedback about the company, make sure whatever you say comes out right.
Anticipate pushback
If you were truly good at your job and luckily many people loved you, the manager will likely propose a counter offer. If this is something you anticipate, then have the answers ready. If you take the counteroffer, it’s possible the relationship could turn out awkward moving forward. Nevertheless, it will be entirely up to you to decide whether to stay or not.
Method of delivery
Companies work differently nowadays. Some are even fully remote. This means you may not be able to talk with your boss face to face. In such a case, you would be off sending your two weeks’ notice through email.
If they insist on one-on-one, then video conference tools like Zoom may come in handy.
For those sending emails, there are plenty of two weeks’ notice templates that you can adopt. Basically, the letter should include the following: name, address, date, subject line, body, and signature. In the body of the letter, state your resignation, a brief explanation as to why (optional), and a few lines of gratitude.
Here is a stellar example from Indeed:
What to do before you hand in your two weeks’ notice
There are a few things you need to get straight before handing in your two weeks’ resignation notice. Here are a couple:
Clear all the paperwork with your future employer
If you are moving to another company, make sure every hurdle has been streamlined. This can include passing a drug test, meeting all the requirements, and other work-related background checks.
Ask your current employer to fix your challenges
If you are looking for a raise, a promotion, a better work environment or tools make it clear before you think of resigning. Sometimes all we need to do is ask. You can resign if your demands are always ignored.
Keep your emotions in check
In some companies, your boss could be your mentor, your best friend, or a close relative. This can make you worry so much about the position you’ll be putting them in by quitting. But no matter how you respect or look up to them it’s imperative to remember why you are resigning in the first place. Furthermore, if they really value your relationship with them, then they’ll be happy for you and wish you well.
Wrap up
Before you go ahead to issue a two weeks’ notice for resignation, make sure your mind is made up. Having one foot in and one foot out makes things harder than they need to be. If you are expected to report to another company, then sending your notice of termination means you are ready to go.
What if you get a counteroffer?
Well, as we said before, you have to expect that. But you know all the reasons why you are leaving, right? Therefore, it will be up to you to decide whether to go on and quit or stay a while. Full disclosure, you need to ask for better work terms during the interview or before you even think of quitting. This makes it easier to leave when the time comes (since there is nothing to look forward to).
Finally, for the remaining two weeks, you must offer your personal best-whether that is work-related or improving relations with coworkers. You have to strive to leave a lasting impression. Whatever you do, make sure not to burn the bridges.
