It is important to know how to resign from a job as this would allow for a smooth transition.
Resigning from a IT job can be done either verbally, via email or in writing. Verbal resignation will have the least impact on your reputation and professional relationships as it does not leave any paper trail.
Being more formal is better if you plan on continuing your career in IT. Saying that, an informal email can also work too.
You should never resign without first being clear on what the company’s policies are for resigning employees.
Let’s understand it better.
Resign from Your IT Job
If you plan on quitting your job, make sure to give at least one month’s notice and hand in all of your company property such as company car keys and passes.
It is really important that you officially resign yourself from the system and make sure to get your final pay-slips. Even passing through the accounts department can take a month or two, so make sure to stay in touch with them.
You should also think about what will happen next after you leave such as changing your phone number and forwarding mail to a new address. Make sure to let friends and acquaintances know that you have moved on too.
Here are some tips to resigning from a job in IT:
• Letting the employer go first when leaving your current employment can strengthen your hand for negotiations about how you should leave the company. If the employer suggests dates, be cautious. Only agree if you are sure you can stick to them.
• Make sure you have an exit interview with the HR department and that they give you a written version of what was agreed at this meeting.
• Make sure to get your last pay-slips and make absolutely certain that all outstanding accounts are settled: pension contributions, any loans you may have taken out against the company, etc.
• Take the necessary steps to stop your employer accessing various computer facilities, such as phone calls, email, etc. Ask for a new password if you know it!
• Be sure to hand back all company property – keys, passes and any other items of equipment that are provided by the company. Do not expect them back even if you leave in good standing.
• Make sure that the company is informed about your next address and phone number through a forwarding service if possible. You should also inform friends, family and previous employers of any changes in contact details.
If you have failed to start another job before leaving your current position because you didn’t want to damage negotiations with your current employer, you can expect to receive an offer after one or two months.
This is the most likely point that your new employers will want to know if you are available – be careful about making promises about dates!
When handing in your notice, it is important that you give at least one month’s notice unless there has been a significant event such as a death in the family or an illness. This allows for a smooth transition and also gives you time to get things right at your new place of employment.
You may opt to resign via an email if you want to maintain a paper trail. This is not advisable unless the company has a clear protocol for employees leaving and it is provided in writing.
If your manager is particularly difficult, however, do yourself a favor and don’t tell him or her personally. It will only complicate things for you especially when he or she talks to your coworkers about the issue.
If you want to resign from a job in a polite and quiet way, it would be wise to let your direct manager know too. Make sure that everyone knows how much you thank them for their help and support during your stay.
On the other hand, if you don’t want anyone from your company to know that you’re resigning, it is best to let the HR department or an administrative person from your team know about it.
One of the most important things that you need to do when resigning from a job is to settle your dues. This means that you should return any items that are owned by the company (e.g. a telephone or a laptop) and to fully pay all your debts (e.g. loans that you have taken from the company).
If you already left your current job, it would be best to get in touch with your previous employer before leaving this one so that you can ask about the proper procedures of settling any dues.
However, if you want to terminate your contract from a particular company, it would be best to consult an employment lawyer. There are times when resigning from a job might lead to a legal case against you.
If you have a fixed term contract with a company, make sure that the clause is stated in the agreement and that it is written in the company’s policies.
This means that if you resign before the end of your contract period or without serving your full term, you will be forced to settle the penalties stated in the contract.
For instance, it is often required in these contracts for employees to pay for their entire training hours (all expenses when they entered the company) when they resign early.
On the other hand, if you have left your job before serving your full term, it would be best to negotiate terms with your former employer.
This means that you should ask for an early release from your contract or for a settlement that is lower than the one stated in the agreement. Otherwise, there’s a huge possibility that you will end up with a huge debt that you can never pay off.
When leaving your current job, make sure to update all references of your previous company (e.g. on social media like LinkedIn).
If you were mentioned in an event or conference as an employee of the company, it would be best to alert them about the change in status. This is especially true if you have a LinkedIn profile since it makes it easier for people to contact you.
Furthermore, if the company has a website, it would be best to let them know about the update of your status. This is very important since not doing so will make it easy for your ex-employer to blacklist you from attending their events, conferences, and even from applying for a job in the company.
The best way to let people know about your resignation is through a straightforward statement over email.
Most importantly, make sure that the recipient of the email will not forward it to anyone else. This means that you should send it either directly or individually to your manager and HR/admin person.
If you have a lengthy explanation on why you are leaving, it is best to write a separate note instead of including it in your email for the recipient to read.
Finally, while you might want to let your friends know that you’re resigning, don’t post about it on social media just yet. This will only add unnecessary pressure to your decision and can also cause problems for you in the future.
Before leaving, you should clean up your workstation as this will help maintain a good relationship with your coworkers and managers.
Make sure that everything is placed neatly so that it will be easier for the next person who will occupy the space after. It would also be best to return all company materials (e.g. ID card, items that are owned by the company) before you leave for good.
After settling your dues with your former employer, make sure to update old references about your work (e.g. social media like LinkedIn). This is important since it will be easier for future employers to contact you and present you with job opportunities.
Finally, once you have left your current job and if possible, it would be best to ask for a transition period so that you can learn from your previous employer’s clients/contacts before starting in your next company.
This means that you will not leave the company in an awkward position where they don’t know who to transition your clients/contacts to.
