How to Say Goodbye & Leave a Job

When you leave a job, you want to leave on good terms if possible. After all, you probably will need the reference some day and it's never good to burn bridges at any point in your career. Here are some tips on how to make a graceful and amicable exit.

Instructions

1. Always give your employer at least a 2-week notice. This gives them time to find someone new, transition your work, learn what you're doing and generally minimize the impact of your departure.

2. Make sure to let everyone know how much you enjoyed working with them and that you will miss them. Maintaining positive relationships with your boss and co-workers, even in your last two weeks, is important. Again, you don't want to burn bridges.

3. Make sure everyone knows that your leaving has nothing to do with them (even if it does). Give a valid reason, but one that doesn't reflect negatively on them. "It's closer to my home" is always better than "I'm bored out of my mind at this job a trained monkey can do and can't take it a minute more."

4. Send a thank you note to your bosses saying how much you enjoyed working with them and appreciate the opportunity and experience they gave you.

5. Don't dwell on it. Announce you are leaving, answer why if asked and help make the transition as smooth as possible. Help your co-workers get a handle on what you were working on so they can take it over. Help train your replacement. Generally, make your departure as easy on your co-workers as possible.