Career Advice: How To Quit With Class

You may have decided to move on from a job, but you can't abandon professional courtesy on the way. The way you exit a company will affect the health of your network and the range of opportunities open to you down the road.

Count on it: Whatever your industry, you'll encounter former employers and colleagues. You can never tell when the co-worker you leave behind will become a future job lead, manager, subordinate or colleague.

Let's take a look at some techniques for quitting with class.

Prepare To Resign

After you accept position, don't immediately start spreading the news to your supervisor or colleagues. Of course you want to give proper notice and make sure you hand over the reins to your colleagues in a timely manner. But don't forget that there's a chance you'll be asked to leave the building immediately upon tendering a resignation. So before making an announcement and typing a formal letter, get your things in order. Remove personal files from any company computer, and secure any valuable personal belongings. Retrieve contact information and personal resources. In effect, make sure nothing important would be left behind if you have mere minutes to make your exit.

Check contract details for specifics on termination notices; benefits payable upon severance of employment; unused paid time off, personal days; and all compensation, bonuses and owed time. If separation terms are a part of a contract, breaching those terms will often lead to forfeiture of unpaid benefits. It's customary to give notice and submit a written letter of resignation to both human resources and your manager.

Resign With Class

When it comes time to offer notice to your supervisor, always act with class - rudeness will hurt you in the long run. You're not required to provide a reason for quitting, so do not offer anything negative on a resignation letter. Thank your manager for the opportunity to work with them and the company while staying positive. Don't let a supervisor pry for information that would be uncomfortable to share or be goaded into a shouting match.

On the other side, don't brag about leaving to co-workers or spread rumors and negative remarks. If asked to participate in an exit interview, feel free to comply, but don't say negative things about management or colleagues; instead, only offer constructive, non-personal critiques. Assume anything said will circulate through a company and can end up in the ears of future employers. No matter the attitudes expressed by your supervisor or colleagues, don't accept feelings of guilt. It may be difficult to leave, but ultimately, it's your career and your opportunities.

Tie Up Loose Ends

Your departure will affect the workflow at your company. To leave on good terms, do your best to pass along information and bring active projects to a close. If it's impossible to close a project, leave detailed progress reports and highlight imminent milestones to create a seamless transition. Supervisors will appreciate your efforts (and be more inclined to give you glowing reviews in the future).

It's also acceptable to offer to help find or train a replacement for your vacant position. However, do not commit to a promise that cannot be kept. Offering an e-mail or phone contact is a good way to help with the transition period even after leaving a company, but don't let past obligations interfere with a strong start in a new company.

During the final days, don't be late, absent or casual about work. Staying productive is both a professional courtesy and one of the best ways to keep relationships strong. Return any company property and relinquish any proprietary information. Before leaving, ask for a letter of recommendation; in years to come, it may be difficult to track down old supervisors and still receive accurate recommendations.

While changing jobs is one of the most stressful times in life, keeping your reputation intact can make the transition smooth and rewarding.