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How to properly resign

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I am hoping someone here can give me a few suggestions on how to resign from my current job. I have read a few articles and looked at sample resignation letters and agree on keeping it short and simple.

I have worked with my current employer now for almost six years. I am the only Technician employed. This is a computer service company that services quite a few local businesses and individuals. I have also gotten to know my boss pretty well and have quite a bit of respect for him as a boss and as an individual.

I really don’t want to just find another job and put in my two weeks because that just would not be enough time to hire a replacement and provide proper training. Especially in this area.

I have been wanting out for almost two years now. Two years ago there were three technicians working here. Ready to put in my two weeks notice when one of them gets fired. I couldn’t quit then because we were swamped and it just wouldn’t be fair. Almost a year ago after realizing that no one else would be hired I got my letter ready again. The other guy decides to just quit that day. I can not wait for someone to be hired because I seriously doubt that will happen.

I have no complaints about the company or the people I work for. I wish I did because then it would be much easier. I am done with the IT career and just want out.

I’m just not sure how to word the letter professionally so that it says I am willing to stay until a proper replacement is ready to take over and at the same time it says don’t wait forever because I will be gone if you do.

Thanks for any suggestions

Topic

This is not a letter, its a talk

In reply to How to properly resign

Go to your boss and ask for some time to talk. Tell him/her your concerns. Maybe there is another role in the organization – maybe he/she has contacts in other organizations.

I would be prepared to write the letter after the meeting, once you have worked things out.

Good luck.

James

This is right…

In reply to This is not a letter, its a talk

James Linn is right. Don’t blindside your boss. There should be a discussion before submission of the letter, assuming you have a good relationship with your boss. You may be able to negotiate a mutually-acceptable timeline for your departure. If you don’t want to burn any bridges, have the talk and then submit the letter shortly after.

Keep the letter short, and remember to say something positive in the letter itself about the company and/or the people. In most cases, the letter not an opportunity to unload or say anything negative. They likely already know why you’re leaving. I have seen ugly letters come back to haunt people.

Good luck on your next venture.

First things First

In reply to How to properly resign

Have you located another position? Have you accepted an offer? When does this employer expect you to start?

As for resignation letters, keep it short and professional.

Dear Sir:

I am resigning my posistion effective (date here). I have enjoyed being an effective member of the IT organization and I wish the very best for the company in the future.

Sincerely,

(Your name here)

Just as an after-thought, there are a number of folks here looking for work. As soon as you submit your resignation letter, drop a note on who will be hiring shortly.

Best of luck in your next career.

Ditto

In reply to First things First

Simple as that……….and make sure your leave on (date here).

If for whatever reason your replacement doesn’t show……….you could allways work for your x employer on a per job basis.

He’ll never look for you replacement very hard until he sees your serious.

Less is more

In reply to How to properly resign

Not only in your resignation letter, but in the way you’re handling this.

The sample letter in the previous posting is fine, although I’d stop after the first sentence. Your message is that you’re leaving; you owe no explanations, nor should a resignation letter be an opportunity for self-congratulation.

Although I applaud your sense of responsibility I think it’s misplaced. You’re done with IT and want something new, but you’re reluctant to leave because your company “needs” you. Quite a dilemma, isn’t it?

Only if you make it so. You put in your time and from the sounds of it provided your company a fine service. That’s all you owe. If they’ve seen fit not to replace the other two techs, you need feel no guilt about leaving them in the lurch. They’ve put themselves in a tenuous position with poor planning and ostrich management, neither of which is your concern.

Don’t over-engineer your departure. Write a short letter, give two weeks’ notice, don’t be surprised if they shake your hand and tell you it’s OK to just leave at the end of the day, and walk out with your head held high. Done and done.

I also agree with the previous comment about making some plans for yourself before you resign. It’s generally not a good idea to go into volutary unemployment.

Best of luck, let us know what happens.

Try this…

In reply to How to properly resign

Sounds like you have a lot of respect for your current boss. Do try first, as was already suggested, talking with him/her to iron out your differences/concerns. If this doesn’t work, or no budget to hire someone else, draft your letter & take a referral to your boss on whom you think would be a good fit & why you think so. This will only cement your relationship as someone who truely takes their job seriously & is professional about it. Who knows… they may have a position for you later or may refer you to another company in a move UP! Can’t hurt.
Best wishes….

I Got Fired

In reply to Try this…

I have just recently been fired from a new firm which I helped “spin off” from a Fortune 10 company. After looking for info related to BAD CTOs, I came across an article on http://www.zdnet.com.au/insight/0,39023731,20282457,00.htm which is a TechRepublic article.

The CTO in question has many of the characteristics of a “bad CTO”, but here are some others which I came delt with recently…

I was dismissed by the new CTO, whom I interviewed, and gave a less than stellar review of to the COO. The CTO has good technical knowledge, but too many of his “habits” are reflected in your article.

FAILURE to COMMUNICATE:
My being dismissed was sparked by my disagreement with his management, and relationship skills. As part of a 5 person technology team, including the CTO, I would expect to be given all the proper admin privileges, passwords, access to hardware, given instruction and other pertinent information regarding the new infrastructure. But this CTO failed to provide any of these things. I was expected to support the network, desktop, and hardware without being given one ounce of information even three days after our opening. The issue was not that he was too busy, that doesn’t wash as an excuse, but when confronted, his reply was, “that’s none of your business” Why wasn’t I told the only other support individual would not be in the next day to do an install at the CEO’s home office?. When asked again why I wasn’t told this, his reply was, “that’s none of your business”. Isn’t communicating to your subordinates his responsibility?

OVER SPENDING:
Our new technology infrastructure was originally proposed to be around $1 million (US) for about a 60 user base, and an infrastructure which dealt with real-time market data, and trading software. The original proposal was from a respectable integration firm who are experts in this niche market. But he eventually dismissed the proposal and redesigned the entire infrastructure. The new infrastructure ballooned to around $2.5 million. Is roughly 2 users for every server really a good decision?

RAISING VOICE to OTHERS:
Should a CTO holler to another manager relating to a technology related question? I would guess not, but this CTO’s way of explaining things to users is to over emphasis by yelling.

NO ACCOUNTABILTY:
This CTO has no accountability to anyone due to his expertise in the field. The other officers in the organization will not, and have not challenged his thinking, decisions, or actions. What would be a good “checks and balances” to a situation to this kind or scenario?

Sounds like you’re under some pressure here

In reply to How to properly resign

I agree that the best way out here would be to work with your boss and try to find another position inside the company, or, pick a mutually agreed separation date for your departure.

However…. you may get stuck with the situation where that date is rapidly approaching, and no replacement has been hired, in which case, you will have to stick with your guns, and resign anyways.

Be sure to keep two way communications going even after you have departed, maybe even providing some out of hours (for your new job) support for them on a contractual basis (extra cash, helps you give OJT to the new tech, etc…).

Never hurts to have some friends out there.

The advices offered here have been..

In reply to How to properly resign

on the mark. Keep the letter short, you do not need a reason on the letter – Thanking them for the opportunity never hurts. But I would strongly advise you to have a position to go to first… a start date can always be worked out if they really want you.

And DO NOT EVER say anything negative about the place. Not in the letter, your talks with the boss, or the exit interview. You’ll get questions like “how can we make this place better” (or something to that extent). Go generic at that point, “I think you guys are doing fine”. While constructive criticism is always good… you need to remember that every word you say will be placed in your file. And you never know if you’ll be knocking on those doors again in the future.

And as the others pointed out.. that letter is final and more for your files than anything. So talks with the supervisor are always good.. it opens doors for alternatives – transfers, salary matching etc… if nothing else, the talk basically sets up your departure.. things like dates and other terms may need to be worked out and be placed in the letter (from the sound of it, you want this to go as smoothly as possible).

Salary matching is another issue…. folks will be on both sides of the fence on that one. Some will say why not, other will say never ’cause they’ve already lost trust in you and are just keeping you around until your replacement is up to speed…

In anycase, good luck.

Where To Next?

In reply to How to properly resign

“Done with IT”
I understand that completely.
And the previous posts are good — if you like where you work talk to your boss and see if there’s something else you would like to do within the company.
Else — keep the letter short and positive.

BUT – I am curious – what are you going to do?

Just resign.

In reply to How to properly resign

Trust me. They will quickly replace you. People will not take long to replace an employee. Don’t worry about it. I guess IT is no longer the right thing for you. Perhaps writing, painting, acting, singing, etc.?

Lemme know,
Dean G.

Thanks for the responses

In reply to How to properly resign

I appreciate all of the answers that were given. I do believe I will be having a talk with my boss before any official letter is given. I believe that to also be the best thing.

So what?s next? Well most of you would disagree but I will be going into a factory position. Punch in and punch out, at the end of the week here is your paycheck. I did factory work for a few years before entering IT so I am aware of what it is like. Where I live there just isn’t that much going for IT, however factory jobs are everywhere and they pay well.

I’m a little tired of how some of my friends from high school barely graduated and they make almost twice what I do, and have benefits. So much for my degree (only 2 year anyway) and certs (none special). I could continue my education and get some better certs but still no one is hiring or if they are you won’t make that much.

Being a tech has been interesting and fun at times, but now I hate it. Once you hate the job and refuse to learn anything new I don’t believe you can be a very good tech anyways. I have started to find myself not knowing certain things and also not caring to know them.

I figure it’s in the best interest of the company and mine if I just move on.

More to IT than techies

In reply to Thanks for the responses

I have always been a fan of finding something you enjoy – if you do that, the money will follow.

But if the idea of IT still intrigues you, but the role of a techie doesn’t, there are a wide range of jobs out there. Moving from a tech to another kind of job is probably easier than moving to another sector all together.

James

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