How do I give notice to my employer? What to expect…..
Great news. You have just been told you are the chosen person for this new and exciting role, you cannot believe how lucky you are… but then you have to deal with the dreaded conversation and tell your lovely boss you are leaving…
First of all, you MUST make sure that you receive the offer in writing, AND you are happy with all the terms and conditions BEFORE you give writing to your existing employer.
Prepare your letter of resignation. Within your letter, thank your employer for providing you with the job opportunity you have worked in and provide them with the contracted notice you are obliged to give with your last working day noted. Once you have done this , find the opportunity to ask your boss for a 5 minute catch up in private. It is highly recommended that you do not email them or leave a resignation letter on their desk!
When you are in the meeting, tell your boss you have found a new role which is perfect for your career development and you are therefore regretfully giving notice to them. Give them the prepared resignation letter. Tell them you have really enjoyed your time with the Company and working for them and it is not personal that you have decided to leave, more a career decision and something which you have to do and something which you have given great consideration for. If the reasons you are leaving are negative, is it worth going into this at this time? Remember, you have to work your notice and work with the team so may not be the wisest option to be too honest!
Your boss will likely inform you that he will come back to you once he or she has spoken to HR or the MD to agree your final leaving date. They may also try and tempt you to stay and counter-offer you. They will likely ask you if there is anything which they can do i.e. change of role, increase of salary and benefits, reduction in hours… Please remember the reasons you wanted to leave in the first place BEFORE you even start to consider the options on the table. The best way to handle this is to say that you are flattered and that you will give it some thought and come back to them but do not make any rushed decisions…
Working your notice, make sure you work as hard and if you are training your replacement, remain professional at all times and do not be negative about the Company or the staff as this would be unfair to the new starter. It is always best to leave on good terms as you will need a reference for sure and you do not know if your paths will cross again in the future!