BootsnAll Travel Community

How do you quit? What do you say? What is the best way to quit a job?

If you want to receive unemployment benefits later, the best thing is to get fired. If you have a good relationship with your boss, you might ask them to fire you. I stupidly didn't and just told her I quit. As that was kind of a dead-end job, she wasn't very surprised when I told her though. I found it much harder to tell my co-workers.

I don't want to start an argument, but i reckon in the US them's fighting words (I see you're not in the US, so this may not be so applicable, though i'm imagining it is).

I consider it highly unethical to 'ask them to fire you.' Unemployment shouldn't be a way to get paid because you don't like your job. Far too many people do this and it drains our economy while promoting laziness.

That said, either save some money so you can quit and then look for new jobs, or find a new job and then quit. I think the best approach is to say you have come across or are looking for new opportunities dong something different and leave it at that. give at least 2 weeks so that you don't lose a possible reference for another job.

Once it's over, you'll feel better. promise. I was terrified quitting my last job, but afterwards i felt great!

I wish I had your problem, Carmella! I'm stuck in this nasty job for at least another three months! At least Iv'e got this wonderful site and great folks to keep me going! Just go with your gut...good luck!

I agree with not asking to be fired. It could be good right away, but cause problems later on. When I quit my last job (I was miserable at it) I simply told my boss that I felt it was no longer the correct place for me and that I had decided to move on. When I leave this one I'm going to tell them the truth, that I'm leaving to travel. I want to be on good terms because this is the type of place that I might want to come back to.

I agree with not burning bridges...but there something that looks so satisfying out "jerry macquireing" it.

You can do both.

At my last job I loved my boss but there was a girl one step ahead of me who was terrible. She was out and out nasty to me and rude to anyone she saw as below her. She was a typical office phycopath. Most of the time their bosses don't see how terrible they are to everyone else, and this was the case. During my exit interview with my hr person I praised my boss but told them about various incidents with the nasty girl. Later I found out that she was repranded for it and I still got a glowing letter of rec from my former boss.

I agree that, as much as you would love to do it, burning bridges is usually a bad idea. I always insist on an exit interview. You can almost always get out what you really want to say with either humor, beating around the bush, or both!

I'VE JUST WRITTEN MY QUITTING LETTER!!!

It is in an email that will be sent to my boss this afternoon, after knock-off time (but I will probably still be here).

I decided to use the KISS rule. It has 4 sentences in total.

Dear ######,

This is to inform you that I will resign from ##### Company 4 weeks from today. My last day will be Friday 13th of April, 2007.

My reason for resigning is I have plans that are no longer compatible with working full time for ##### Company.

I am more than happy to help train a replacement during my last weeks if you require.

Kind regards,

MEEEEEEE!!!

The reason I am keeping to bare minimum is that if boss has gumption, boss will ask me to elaborate in private. As it is, boss is not approachable due to office arrangement. I can only ever discuss private issues via email so as to avoid ears of witches honing in at the first indication of "personal" affairs being discussed.

I'll let you know how it pans out over the next few weeks.

Mim - how exciting! I'm very jealous. My quitting day won't come for many months... ugh! But even though I'm deadset on my trip and so excited to quit, I hate the actual quitting process. (i'm a very nervous person). my job is frustrating but nothing my team leads do cause me to be angry with them and I feel more than anything they have given me nothing but support along the way... so quitting just kind of makes me feel like i'm letting them down in a way? anyone else have that? yeah weird i feel that way. We'll see how it goes in 8 1/2 months when I actually put word in! :-D

When I decided to travel, I first asked for a leave of absence and when I was denied I resigned on the spot and gave them a month's notice. Even though I was less than happy at my job, I couldnt burn bridges because word travels fast in my industry.

My mom always told me not to burn bridges so I have sucked it up most of my life except once.

I worked in Atlantic City as a cocktail waitress. I knew I was going to quit and never return to the casinos and my boss at the time was a real A**hole. He insulted me one too many times so I decided to quit on the busiest day of the year, New Years Eve - 15 minutes before my shift started, on an answering machine. I said "Im not coming in tonight, or tomorrow or ever again"

I must admit, it felt pretty good doing the "wrong" thing for once (sorry mom)

quote:

Originally posted by Brooke vs. the World:
I hate the actual quitting process. (i'm a very nervous person). my job is frustrating but nothing my team leads do cause me to be angry with them and I feel more than anything they have given me nothing but support along the way... so quitting just kind of makes me feel like i'm letting them down in a way?

Brooke - You are right, it is always hard to leave a place where you are well received. This is the first workplace in my life where I am actually glad to be leaving. Every other place I've worked I have had nothing but supportive workmates and felt included in the team. This place is different - I've given reasons in other threads - suffice that I have the same situation as Trekker. I'm not averse to healthy competitiveness, but I draw the line at power-tripping and constant put-downs (from day 1 I might add). I was determined to stick it out long enough to become valuable in the industry. Now I will work on my own terms... after a trip to India and Vietnam that is

Quimby - BRAVO!! I had thought about telling one of the witches I quit (while she was in charge) but never had the gumption.

Congrats Mim! I'm jealous too! My quitting day will be soon enough though. Probably the end of May. I'm moving back to Southern CA in July. Not my choosing, my kids just don't like it here in Charleston. But we are definitely going to do some travelling in June, not sure where yet! I have absolutely no bad feelings about quitting my current job. My boss promised me a raise after one month (November) and still am getting the run around. Not to mention he's just the biggest ass that ever lived! Good luck in all of your future endeavors! And happy trails!

quote:

Originally posted by bigmaude:
Not to mention he's just the biggest ass that ever lived!

If he is a quarter as bad as you described then only give the bare minimum notice. I have just learned that the hard way.

Ok Mim, I'd love to give the bare minimum...what is it, 2 days hopefully? Would serve him right! I suppose I should give 2 weeks - what do you think? I can't wait!!!

Oh, duh, you mean the bare minimum for a resignation letter! Yes, most definitely.

I might be wrong, but I have heard that when giving notice if you are salary and offer two weeks they must pay you for them, regardless of if you work them or not. I was VERY unhappy at my last job and it showed. I gave them two weeks but only worked another 1.5 weeks. They told me that I could go home but they would pay me. Also, you get paid for any unused vacation time. My old company just gave 2 weeks, no matter what. So I got two weeks extra pay while I was working at the new job. When I give notice here I won't get that as vacation time in acumulates.

I like what they do where I am leaving April 14th to start a new job April 16th. When you work here they give you one weeks worth of paid days every 6 months you first year and then give you more time the longer you work. If you leave or don't take them they give you the money. Great practice. No use them or use them and you get cash when you leave.

TODAY!!!

YIPPPPEEEEEEEEE!!

Congrats Mim.

You shouldn't sound so depressed though. Have a more joyful attitude and think some positive thoughts. It's hard when you have to do something you don't like but cheer up ok.