People leave their jobs due to various reasons. Your boss or co-workers may be toxic, the current workplace may trigger health conditions, you want to try something new, or you may simply want to relocate to a new town and change careers.

Whatever the reason, it is essential to have a solid plan before quitting your job.

We have covered some points you should consider before handing over that resignation letter.

1. Analyze the Current Situation

Before you resign, evaluate the options on the table.

Is there something you can do to eliminate the dissatisfaction you have with your current workplace? If there are toxic people in your workplace, you may consider talking to your supervisor about it to make them mend their behavior.

If your current department triggers health conditions, you may ask your supervisor to move you to another department. If you are dissatisfied with your compensation, you can approach your boss, demonstrate your contribution to the company, and then ask for a raise.

2. Have a Plan

Ensure you have a backup plan before you quit. You don’t want to call your friends and family often for assistance.

If you want to shift jobs, ensure you have an offer from the new job. Even if you have discussed with your new employer about your new job, always ensure you have an offer before you leave your current job.

If you have not completed negotiations with your prospective employer, it is not wise to leave your current job, as your prospective employer may change their mind.

If you want to leave your current job to start a business, confirm that the business can fully sustain you and your family.

You can run the business on the side as you continue working for your employer to test the sustainability of the business. After a few months, you can tell whether your business can support you or not.

You can also look for skills to monetize before you leave your job. Fortunately, the internet has made it easy to learn new skills. Ensure you have proved that the new skill can generate sufficient revenue to sustain you before you quit your job.

Most importantly, have an emergency fund. It is important to have some money you can fall back on before you receive a paycheck from your new job or your business starts generating revenue.

3. Note Down Your Accomplishments

It may be difficult to remember your responsibilities and accomplishments in your current role after you leave, especially if you have worked with the company for many years.

Consider noting your responsibilities and accomplishments while still on the job to ensure you don’t miss out on anything. You can then showcase these accomplishments to clients or prospective employers.

Also, you can ask your supervisor for a recommendation letter before you leave. They may be reluctant to draft one after you leave, especially if they are unhappy about your resignation.

Remember to save your work samples before you leave.

Most companies will lock you out of their servers or databases and disable your company email. If your work samples are not considered company property, you can save them to build a portfolio to showcase to prospective clients.

4. Research on Your Prospective Employer

If you have already received an offer letter, find out more about your new employer. Sometimes the money may be good, but the workplace may be intolerable.

If you are leaving your current job due to a toxic work environment, look up online what other people have to say about your new job. You don’t want to jump from a frying pan to the fire. You can look up employee reviews on sites such as Glassdoor.com.

Also, analyze the offer letter to ensure you are comfortable with all the terms. You don’t want to take up a job where you will work long hours without proper compensation.

5. Follow Resignation Protocols

Different companies have varying protocols for resignation. Some companies will require you to give a two-week notice, while others may require a one-month notice. It is not a good idea to wake up one day and fail to show up for work.

Serving the notice period is essential for a smooth transition. During this period, you may be required to train your replacement on your daily duties. This helps to maintain a good relationship with your former employer.


Conclusion

Having a solid plan before you submit your resignation letter ensures you continue to take care of your bills and enjoy peace of mind since you don’t have to worry about when you will get your next paycheck.

Also, following the correct resignation procedure helps to maintain professional relationships and offer a smooth transition.