How to Quit Gracefully

So, you’re ready to move on from your first job? Maybe you only planned on working for the summer, your sport season has started up and you don’t have time, or perhaps you are ready to move on to your next career endeavor. Whatever the case may be – congratulations! You have more experience behind you now from your time on the job, but part of the job is also learning how to quit gracefully. Here are some things you may be wondering when it comes time to quit. 

How much notice should I give?

A good rule of thumb is to give two weeks notice from the day you decide to leave your current job to the last day you’d like to work there. That gives you enough time to not leave your coworker’s hanging on any of your scheduled shifts, and it also leaves your manager enough time in case they need to fill our position. Another tip? Look in your employee handbook, as there might be information in there about what is expected of you when you are reading to leave.

So, how do I actually tell my boss?

Be yourself! Schedule some time to talk to your boss/manager, and it is also a great idea to prepare an official letter. Be ready to let them know what the last day is you are available to work (ideally two weeks away!).

 Can I reach back out to my manager in the future if I need to?

Yes – they will love to hear from you! In fact, when you are on your way out, make sure you don’t burn any bridges. What does that mean? It means you want to keep the relationship between you and that employer on good terms. Truth is, you might want to use that employer as a professional reference, or you may reapply for that same job later in life. You just never know! 

We will leave you with one last word of advice: Always finish what you start. And finish strong! By doing so, you are showing a level of emotional maturity at a young age. The goal is to end your job on a great note and complete your last day scheduled. By completing that job, it shows good character, that you are responsible, focused, and thoughtful. It also shows you are appreciative of the lifelong skills you learned there, you hope to apply them elsewhere, and you are ready for what is to come. You got this!