The
Resignation

It’s important to handle the resignation professionally as it’s a small world and you never know who knows whom. You may want to leave in a dramatic way, but it’s always better to not burn bridges.

So before you hand in your resignation, think about and plan your exit strategy so you can walk away with your head held high and start your new job feeling great about your future.

Before you quit, make sure you check over your job contract and know how much notice you’re required to give. If you’re still not sure, check on the fairwork.gov.au website as this may vary depending on how long you’ve been in the position. Notice periods are generally two to four weeks, so once you’re clear about your obligation, you can plan your exit. You may be offered the opportunity to forfeit your notice period and leave sooner, but this will depend on the company you’ve been working for.

Make sure you are really happy with your decision to leave before handing in your notice as you won’t be able to take it back once it’s out there. You may have been in the role for many years and may be apprehensive about leaving, but if you’ve been given a great new opportunity, you just need to grab it with both hands and welcome the next stage of your life.

When writing your resignation letter, keep it short and to the point. Focus on being grateful for the opportunity that you were given, but that you are now looking forward to a new start in a role that you’ve been offered. Specify the length of your notice period, and end the letter positively. The resignation letter is no time to be voicing your complaints from your time in the company. You may get to do this in an exit interview, or you may just need to be happy that you don’t have to put up with the problems anymore. Either way, remember there is no benefit in burning bridges.

Once you’re happy with your resignation letter, find the right time to discuss it with your employer. Make sure it’s not during their most frantic moments of the day and if need be, ask them if you could have a few moments of their time when they’re free. Then during your meeting, let them know graciously that you’re leaving, and hand them the letter.

Once you’ve handed in your resignation, you’ll feel a weight lift off your shoulders and will get to focus on being happy about the new opportunity coming your way.