I’m normally all for very straightforward, no-nonsense emails, so my first instinct is to send an email to my supervisor that just says something like “I am resigning my position effective January 9, 2015.” Then if they want to talk about it or anything, we can do so in person.
Is that about how it works out there in the real world?
People are going to be kind of taken aback by this, and there are no ongoing problems involving me or anything like that, so there’s another instinct I have to be a little more forthcoming in the email. Maybe say where I’m going, let them know it’s not something I do lightly or happily, tell them I would like to continue working as an adjunct once my new workplace allows it (one year from January 12), maybe even recommend who I think should replace me, things like that.
Every workplace is different but do you have any strong instincts (or even outright knowledge) about how much to say here?
I think a brief expalnation is on order. Assuring your only reason for leaving is a better opportunity. If you have anything nice to say this would be a good time to say it.
(BTW, why tell them so early? Because I want to leave on very good terms, and because previous staff who have resigned (and not actually been fired in a way that looked like a resignation) weren’t walked out the door on the spot or anything like that. And I have verified that if they were to do something unfortunate, I would qualify for unemployment til my stated resignation date so it won’t be a huge disaster, just a major inconvenience. Actually, maybe kind of a nice bit of catch-up time with my wife, who may welcome a month or two of help with the kids… Also because though I know they should be prepared for the possibility of the person in my position quitting, they aren’t, and I want there to be plenty of warning so we can make the transition work.)
If you’re actually planning to leave on 9 January, it’s too early to give your notice now. They wouldn’t give you that much notice if they were planning to fire you.
Two weeks, or even just one, is fine. If you’re with a big company, giving more than a month’s notice is likely to get you fired prematurely.
Typically, you say something about “leaving to pursue other opportunities”, not “take this job and shove it”.
It is also conventional to express some sentiment about “enjoyed my time working here”, “learned a great deal from the experience”. You leave out the fact that neither is true (if in fact they are not.)
I have a face-to-face conversation with my direct boss and then follow up with the no-nonsense letter for HR’s files. Nobody reads those things anyway, it’s just a formality. The letter shouldn’t be a surprise to your boss and I never give a shit what anyone else might think. Last time I quit a job, I was a manager, so I had to tell my staff – and I did that in person, in an impromptu staff meeting. I wanted to short-circuit the rumor mill, but beyond that, I never recommend writing some sort of flowery farewell email to people you worked with. I’ve received a few of those and wondered why. If you have built some personal relationships with anyone, just tell them in person.
Are you in an office where you can meet with your boss and tell him/her directly? If so, then sending an e-mail is kinda chickenshit, to me at least. Why not just schedule a meeting with the boss and tell them face-to-face?
If you are not physically located with the boss, then I would think a phone call would still be better than an e-mail.
Why send an e-mail at all? Seems anything you may say there could be saved and come back to haunt you later, even if well-intentioned. It seems less professional than a conversation. IMHO.
Company size has little to do with it. It would depend on relationship with the manager, the need for transition, and worries about walking out the door with proprietary information (which are dumb worries, but some have them.)
Given that nothing gets done over the holidays, resigning two weeks before Jan 9 would be like giving one week’s notice or less. A person who felt they had been treated unfairly could do this, no problem, but if there is no rancor a bit more time would be good. Not everyone hates his job.
I don’t understand why the OP would think he could work at the place at all, but I don’t know where he is.
As for the letter, just the minimal information - I resign effective <date> is fine. No reason to say nasty things, good things, or to give an explanation.
Where I work people leaving typically don’t say where they are going, even if it is all lined up.
Yeah, I know it’s pretty early, but I actually care about this place and am not leaving because I’m mad about anything or anything like that. I don’t want there to be any sense that I’ve left them “high and dry” or whatever it is people say, because I want to maximize the chances that they’ll be happy to have me back as an adjunct instructor later on.
It’s not a big company, it’s a tiny non-profit org. (Actually, a university, but not just legally “non-profit” but an actual honest to god mission-driven institution, where people actually work for too-low pay because they believe in the place. That kind of thing.)
Right, I didn’t make that clear–it’s a university. I’m a faculty/admin right now, and I imagine it’s very possible I might continue teaching for them as an adjunct. I wish I could tell them I can keep teaching my class next semester (they’re going to have to scramble to find somebody as it is) but new place won’t let me work for anyone else for a year after I start with them.
The two times I’ve had to quit, I wrote out a letter and then delivered at a face-to-face meeting.
In one case, the letter was “We’re moving… thanks for everything… blah, blah.” I actually offered to work remotely to help the transition, which turned out to be good for everyone.
In the other case, the letter was “We have been talking for some months about me taking on [new role]. When I finally saw the terms you were offering, they’re not sufficient for that kind of role. I’m pursuing opportunities elsewhere.” I gave the notice effective for two weeks, but the boss fired me right away. Which is funny because then for the next months, I got numerous phone calls and e-mails about all the stuff no one else knew how to do.
This is how one of my resignations went. However, when I responded to the phone calls & e-mails, I jokingly charged them a consulting fee. I was very surprised when they paid it! I still do some consulting work for them five years on. Weird stuff.
No reason not to give as much notice as possible if the employer doesn’t have a history of shitcanning people the moment they resign. But yeah, the e-mail thing is lame. Be a man and do it face to face, then follow up with an email or letter.
