What to Do Before You Quit Your Job

What to Do Before You Quit Your JobThinking of shifting careers? Go through this list to find out if you’re making the right decision.

If you’ve been planning to quit your job, it’s normal to feel nervous and excited at the same time. Once you think you’re ready to move on to a new job, make sure to leave in a professional manner to avoid future issues.

Make sure you’ve done the following before handing in your resignation letter:

1. Think your decision through. What’s pushing you to quit? Whatever the reason may be, make sure your decision isn’t a product of peer pressure. It’s important not to make big decisions in the heat of a difficult moment. Perhaps you may want to talk to someone you really trust, such as a mentor or best friend, to help you weigh your options. It’s important to talk to someone about your decision to gain more confidence.

2. Find out how your company handles resignations. Talk with your colleagues about how employees who resign are usually treated. Most companies handle resignations well, but you don’t want to leave a negative impression.

3. Delete personal files from your work desktop. You don’t want to leave digital traces of yourself in the company’s computer when you’re gone. It’s better to transfer all your personal files and delete them as soon as you have your own copies. The same thing applies to your work email—Scan through everything to make sure you haven’t left any personal emails or information using the company’s email address.

4. Have a formal and confirmed offer when switching jobs. This is very important if you’re leaving your current position. If you need to continue working, don’t quit your job without a concrete offer from a different company. And a verbal agreement is not enough to make you quit—Always ask for a firm formal offer to avoid becoming suddenly unemployed.

5. Be prepared for a counteroffer. Make sure you have something in mind if your superior offers you more benefits to compel you to stay. The next step depends on your personal convictions. Will you allow salary to sway your decision? Some people may also decide to stay if they are offered better benefits—but they will end up leaving after a year or so. Be sure to take the time to consider the pros and cons of any offer.

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Alan Carniol

Alan is the creator of Interview Success Formula, a training program that has helped more than 80,000 job seekers to ace their interviews and land the jobs they deserve. Interviewers love asking curveball questions to weed out job seekers. But the truth is, most of these questions are asking about a few key areas. Learn more about how to outsmart tough interviewers by watching this video.