Are you thinking of quitting a job you just started? If you have decided to resign from your new job, quitting the job earlier will be better than later. Knowing what day and time to quit is critical as well.
According to survey, almost 30% of job seekers have left a job within first 3 months of starting at the new job.
Reasons for quitting according to a recent survey.
- 43% of employees resign as their day-to-day role wasn’t what they have expected.
- 34% of employees experienced a bad incident on the job that make them decide to quit.
- 32% of employees attribute the company culture as the main reason for leaving within the first 3 months.
- 11% of employees say they changed their minds after signing the offer. While 6 in 10 of these job seekers are due to getting better job offer elsewhere.
No matter your reason for quitting, when a new job doesn’t turn out as expected, it is ok to resign even when you are less than 3 months in the job.
However, you’ll need to be prepared before you resign, especially if you want to quit without another job lined up or quit for a better one.
PS. Never burn any bridges when you are leaving your job.
How to Quit a Job You Just Started?
Quitting a job is a simple process, you’ll only need to type a resignation letter and present it to your manager while staying calm and polite. Serve your notice period and you can leave the company.
It may sound simple but leaving your job with a good lasting impression is just as important as joining a new job with a good first impression.
When leaving a job, it’s important to take steps to remain professional.
Thus, even when you are with the company for a short time, you may want to offer at least two weeks’ notice.
Here is the step-by-step process on the best ways to quit your job professionally even when you just started your new job.
1. Understand why you quit your job
There can be many reasons why someone might decide to quit their job, but understanding the reason why exactly you decided to quit yours can help you in your future job search.
Is it because of the feeling of being overwhelmed? Bad company culture? Toxic work environment? Or does your employer bait-switch your job role after getting you in as an employee?
Think if there is a way for any adjustment to be made in your new job that can fit your preference.
Here are the top 10 reasons why people quit their jobs.
- Bad managers and bosses
- Too much workload
- Lack of recognition
- Broken commitments made to the employee
- Relationship with coworkers
- No work flexibility
- Lack of career opportunities
- Micromanagement
- No clear goals or direction
- Bad company culture
If you are in a toxic work environment and have to deal with bad company culture. It might be signs to find a better job elsewhere.
2. Decided what to say
Knowing what to say is important. When you decided to leave, you’ll need to tell your colleagues about your plan.
Regardless of the reason why you are quitting, even when you’ve been with the company for just one day, one week, one month, or one year, you’ll need to know what to say to your boss and your colleagues.
Pen down your thoughts.
Decided what to say, and how to make it sound professional.
3. Talk to your boss in person
Giving your boss your resignation notice in person is the best way to inform your boss that you are leaving your job.
In-person notice is considered the most professional, as this demonstrates you have good interpersonal skills and show respect for the job and to your boss.
Simply tell your boss that this job is currently not a good fit for you and that you’ve decided to go in a different direction.
- Be respectful.
- Be polite.
- Be calm.
Bosses hear these types of things all the time, so you might be pleasantly surprised at how well they will take this news.
They may even thank you for letting them know early so that they can plan to hire a replacement early.
If you are feeling uncomfortable having a one-on-one meeting with your boss, you can always invite someone from the human resource team to join in the meeting.
Nonetheless, sometimes it can be difficult to arrange a face-to-face meeting, due to the busy schedule or remote working.
If that’s the case, you can use other modes of communication such as a phone call or sending a professional email.
4. Keep a positive tone
You do not have the obligation to tell your boss the true reason why you are quitting your job.
Tell your boss that it wasn’t an easy decision to make and that you’ve given it a lot of thought before you made this decision to leave the company.
Do not make any complains or badmouth any of your colleagues or even your boss.
Just keep the tone positive and thank your boss and the company for everything.
5. Don’t explain why you are leaving
Often, your boss or HR will ask for the reason why you are leaving. This is especially common if you’ve decided to quit the job you just started for a short time.
You are not obligation to tell them why you’re leaving the job.
Do not explain why you are leaving even if they ask.
Employees often leave their jobs for personal reasons, and the true reasons why an employee leaves the company are often not something that your employer like to hear.
Even when you are friends with your boss, if you want to leave on good terms, it is better not to discuss the reasons why you are leaving.
Feeling can be hurt, so you don’t have to tell them why you quit.
But there can be one exception where sharing your reason to leave your job might be logical, but highly not encouraged.
If you want to negotiate a counteroffer from your current employer, so you can get a higher salary and better benefits.
You can disclose relevant information on the offers made by the other company that has convinced you to leave.
Nonetheless, this will most probably burn bridges and make a very bad impression on both your current and potential employer.
6. Remain calm
Stay calm and control your emotions. Leaving a job is always nerve-racking. No matter how many times you’ve done this, it is not easy to remain calm.
Just let your boss know that you are leaving and what things need to be follow-up.
Keep on topic and remain professional through the conversation.
Your boss may or may not show an emotional response, but no matter your boss’s response, remain calm.
7. Write an official resignation letter
When you are leaving your job, it is always good to communicate in writing.
Write a professional resignation letter to officially announce your intention of quitting your job.
A resignation letter is a requirement whether you are able to inform your boss about your resignation in person or through other forms of multi-media.
- If you are meeting your boss in person, you can pass your boss your resignation letter to serve as an official notice.
- If you are not meeting your boss in person, you must send your boss an official resignation letter to serve as notice.
Either way, a professionally written resignation letter allows you to express your gratitude towards your company and boss, your notice period, and your last day of work.
- Be brief.
- Be concise.
- Be unemotional.
8. Offer at least two weeks of notice
Although you may have joined the company only for a short time, giving a two weeks notice period is always much appreciated.
Some companies may have a policy on the number of days required for the notice period, if that’s the case, simply follow the company’s policy.
But if you have the flexibility to stay longer, and your current employer requested it. You can offer to stay for an extended 2 to 4 more weeks before leaving your job.
Nonetheless, never offer to stay too long, or it will probably make no sense for you to quit your job at all.
On rare occasions, your boss may ask you to leave the company immediately.
If that’s the case, honor the request and leave the company after performing all the necessary paperwork.
Check out the list of things you’ll need to do on your last day of work Here!
9. Update your colleagues
Often, your boss will be the one who will be updating your colleagues that you have decided to leave the company.
Work with your boss on how and when to let your colleagues know that you will be leaving the company.
Having an official announcement to inform that you are leaving will prevent any gossiping.
Show gratitude when asking why you are leaving, this will ensure that you are quitting your job on good terms with your boss and company.
10. Support a smooth transition
Although you may have joined the company for a short while, you may have some tasks pending to be completed.
Guide and/or train the person who is taking over your job so that the person can transit smoothly into the role.
List down the tasks required to be passed down clearly and arrange a meeting with the person taking over your job to answer any inquiries that they may have.
You will leave with a good impression and will be pretty sure that you will have a reference for your future employment.
11. Don’t mentally check out at work
Even when you are quitting your job, you are still getting paid. You still have a few days or weeks before you officially leave your job.
Never mentally check out at work just because you have just announced that you are quitting your job!
You are a professional, and mentally checking out at work is not what professionals do.
Give 100% of your time and effort to the job.
Making an effort during your last weeks on the job can only help you build a great reputation.
Make your last days at work count!
12. Prepare for an exit interview
Large companies often have exit interviews which help your employer to understand how they can improve in the future.
Exit interviews are usually conducted by HR personnel and the information discussed is often kept confidential.
Stay calm and professional throughout the exit interview.
You may consider giving feedback about the work environment, or anything that you think the company can improve upon.
But never talk about people, or badmouth any of your colleagues, including your boss.
Is Quitting A Job Bad?
No matter your reason for leaving the job, quitting a job is never a bad decision if it makes you more aligned with your goals, feel happier, and potentially healthier. But when you are quitting a job, you need to leave the company professionally, so that you don’t burn any bridges.
In general, quitting a job will not look bad on your resume.
Studies by Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that the average employee have over 12 jobs in their lifetime.
Switching jobs due to better pay, benefits, company culture, and location are the most common reasons.
Quitting a job can be the best thing you can do for your career.
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