I decided today to quit my job. I plan on giving notice tomorrow, and I’m afraid of what I might say if they ask me why I’m leaving.
I’ve never quit a job before (except for a telemarketing gig, and I didn’t quit, I just never showed up again). I don’t know the first thing about writing a letter of resignation, or giving notice. And I’m afraid what I’ve got so far isn’t very good:
*To Whom It May Concern:
I hereby tender my resignation from this dictatorshi–er, company, for the following reasons:
I have been unhappy here for quite a long time, and I finally have decided that I’d rather be unemployed and uninsured than miserable.
I am possessed of a fully adult level of intelligence, and would like to be treated as such.
I want no association with a corporation that actively encourages its employees to tattle on each other like we’re in third grade and I put bugs in somebody’s lunch.
I wake up in the morning and discover I would rather be stricken with malaria than have to get up and go to work.
Would it kill you to buy us real cream instead of the powdered crap?
Please accept my two weeks’ notice, and good luck on that Fourth Reich thing.*
Somehow, I don’t think that’s the best idea I’ve ever had. Any advice?
You know, you’re the SECOND person to suggest “jack-booted thugs”!! Amazing.
I’ve also briefly considered altering the company logo to include a beautifully emblazoned middle finger on the globe, and even resigning via the PA system (since I’m the only one who knows how to work it, anyway–can’t wait till they have a problem with it once I’m gone!), but I need something even classier than that.
…In fact I think it may be true to say that there simply is no way to insert complaints in a letter of resignation without it sounding bitter and whiny; if they care, they will ask you why you’re leaving (I had an ‘exit interview’ when I left a company once - it was quite good), if they don’t care, stuff 'em!
Draelin, I think the best way is what I did once. I wrote a letter of resignation that essentially said the same things as your draft, except I worded it in such a polite way that it was impossible to take umbrage. Everybody knew exactly what I meant, but it was so polite, they couldn’t get mad.
Just a thought. There are other options, if you have access to a flame-thrower.
I wasn’t sure that your reasons were valid until I got to number 5. Any company that serves that powedered crap should have the entire management and all shareholders disembowled, with their heads left on pikes outside the office doors.
Seriously, the formal letter of resignation should be as short and sweet as possible, no matter what the basis for the resignation. You may want to try something like the following:
Dear [Your Manager/VP/Head of HR]:
Please accept my resignation as an employee of [company], effective [date].
I have decided to take the opportunity to seek other professional challenges. You can contact me in the future at the home address you have on file.
Very truly yours,
Draelin
If you can stomach it, add in a line to the effect of how you appreciate the training, experience, colleauges or some other aspect of the job.
As to explaining why you’re leaving, if you really feel you must, take what you said in the OP, doctor it up so it sounds like suggestions to improve efficiency or morale. Then you can turn it into a memorandum to your boss (or VP or the CEO or whoever) as your thoughts for corporate improvement on your departure.
Please accept this as notice of my intention to resign my position with XYZ company. This resignation will become effective at the close of the normal business day on DATE, or earlier at your convenience.
I wish to express my appreciation for the courtesies and considerations shown me during my employment with XYZ company.
I would suggest that you should NEVER include anything in a resignation letter that is unprofessional or discourteous. If you have issues with the company (it’s clear you do!) write a separate letter and ask that it be placed in your personnel file.
Never, ever burn bridges! I live in a huge city, and run into former co-workers, bosses, and employees all the time. I would simply state that you have decided to pursue other opportunities, thank them for the experience, etc.
I say this knowing I’ve wanted, on several occasions, to tell everyone where to go as I walked out - but you have to trust me that it’s just not worth it.
Yeah, I agree. I recently quit a job that I really, really hated, and although I would have loved to unload my feelings on the way out, my resignation letter said simply that I had decided to accept a position elsewhere and that I would be leaving as of (insert date here).
It doesn’t really do any good to complain. If they didn’t listen to you while you worked there, they’ll be even less likely to listen when you quit, in general.
Draelin, hope you don’t mind me taking a shot at this.
*To Whom It May Concern:
I hereby tender my resignation from this company that displayed, moreso than any organization with which I have ever been familiar, the ultimate Gordian hierarchy. I depart for the following reasons:
I have noticed every day I work here that other employees find some immense satisfaction I am unable to locate. Rather than continuing to bring morale down amongst those who are clearly cranially saturated with such wondrous chemicals as can truly create such an environment, I have decided that it would be best for me to risk unemployment and lack of insurance rather than continue to operate within this ultimate polarity of workplace attitudes.
It is my zealous belief that those who are able to function at a certain level of competency and skill be recognized as such. While it may well be the case that work abilities as displayed previously are atypically high as compared to those of the average company worker, that atypicality does not warrant inferior treatment by said hierarchical components nor fellow employees.
While the honor system is a valid manner of conduct maintenance in many organizations, it is my firm belief that such organizations should not include corporations that do not deal with youth on a daily basis (chronological age here being the key, despite evidence of emotional, mental and psychological age displayed by said hierarchy). To suggest, condone, sanction or otherwise enforce or bring about such a system is degrading to the corporation as a while, in addition to being deeply damaging to company morale (wondrous chemicals nowithstanding).
When one awakes from slumber and comes to the grand realization, day after day, that being stricken with diseases and maladies currently infesting the citizenry and sanitation facilities of such countries as Botswana and Burkina Faso is preferable to the continuation of what can only realistically be described as Darwinian thought applied to those with a Randism school of thought heavily infected with Hedonistic thought so deep and profound that the Marquis de Sade would lose his lunch, the time comes to disassociate one’s self with the guilty parties.
Would it kill you to buy us real cream instead of the powdered crap?
Please accept my two weeks’ notice, and good luck on your studious and dutiful emulation of those aspects of the governments of noted European countries circa 1930s to 1940s and certain other mirror nations both before and since.*
I took some liberties, of course, but I hope you enjoy:)
I’ll echo Blonde and FisherQueen; the only thing that can come from venting is possible boogers down the road.
The only time I’ve written one was when I left a company where I’d spent nine years (first job after college). It was a privately owned pirate ship, er, excuse me, oil company. My letter praised my colleagues (many of whom I truly liked and who were also looking for a way out), thanked the company for the great experience I had gained working there and cited the many fond memories I’d carry forward (I was miserable, and you’re not imagining things when, in a corporate environment, your co-workers think you’re getting screwed).
And, in a nod to the evil one whose company it was, commented that he’d inspired me to “captain my own ship.” In the past, anyone giving the standard two weeks notice was sent packing that day, and it became dangerous to mention their name.
Well, I was asked to work out my two weeks, and Mr. Big even came down to chat about my business plan. I realized that he’d been told I was going into music production (and I did have a little music production company at the time), but my boss knew fully well that I was starting an oil & gas exploration service company. I figured let it ride, and let Mr. Big think I was yet another of his contacts in the world.
The letter was xeroxed and circulated, and my many friends who were well aware of my feelings got a great kick out of it.
Thanks for the advice, everyone! T-minus about two hours until I officially resign. insert happy dance and woo-hoo noises here
I realize the letter should be short, sweet, and to the point, despite some of the lovely alternatives I’ve been offered here. What I’m truly afraid of is what might come flying out of my mouth when my boss or some other higher-up decides they want to “talk” to me about it. (I use the word “talk” loosely, the term meaning something to the effect of “try and convince me to stay which will only make me madder.”) I have a tendency, inherited from my mother, to tell people what I really think. This gets me into trouble more often than I’d care to think about right now.
Again, thanks for all the good–or at least entertaining–advice. I’ll let you know how it goes!
