Engineering Jobs for Global Professionals

There are two ways to do this - the right way and the wrong way. Sounds simple, but there are certain rules which should be followed. When it comes to a resignation, there are certain things you should do to ensure success and a smooth transition.

Don’t forget, you may well need a good reference which could affect your career, so the easier you can make your resignation, the better.

Once you decide to resign, the first thing to do is to tell your manager. Your resignation letter is your formal notice which communicates this desire, and it will act as a legal document stating the date from which you wish your notice period to begin.

The most simple form should include the details of the person to whom it is addressed, the term of notice, when this notice period will start and your signature. (Before you write your letter, go and check your contract of employment to ensure that your notice period is in line with this - it avoids any complications to accepting your letter.) On your resignation letter, clearly indicate the date which will be your last working day - check it on a calendar to make sure of the day of the week.

Are you leaving on good terms? Then you will probably have made some good friends in the job. An additional sentence or two expressing your regret and thanking your boss for the opportunities will cost nothing and will go a long way.

If something went really wrong, then do not go into detail. Just state your intention to resign as simply as possible. Don’t be bitter in writing. The old adage applies, if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all. Do not write your resignation letter in haste or as a result of a altercation. Think it over carefully. Consider writing it - putting it away for a day - and reading it again, to ensure the tone is polite and reasonably formal.

So now you’ve written your letter and you’ve got to bite the bullet and give it to your boss. Don’t think for a moment that this hasn’t happened before. You’re not alone, and in fact your boss has probably had to do it at one time or another. The company will not collapse without you, and you will definitely not be the first person to resign from your company, so don’t worry.

Make sure you use your common sense when you resign. Keep it quiet. Your boss will appreciate being the one to decide who else to tell and how and when to break the news. Pick your moment. Don’t do it just before your boss is about to make a yearly presentation to the main board!

Make sure you are confident about your reasons for leaving. If you don’t want to tell your boss where you are going, you don’t have to. You’re perfectly within your rights not to declare your intentions.

Be prepared for your boss to be angry. This will pass. Remember, you are only resigning. Above all, remember your reasons for resigning in the first place.

Don’t back down! Just think about all the hours you spend at work. It’s a large part of your life. You need to be happy.

John Smith
10 Smith Street
London
SE12 2GO

29th February 2006

Ian Manager
Managing Director
ABC Engineering Ltd
100 Main Street
Durban
4000

Dear Ian

Having given much thought to the matter of my future career, it is with regret that I must now ask you to accept this letter as formal notice of my intention to leave my current post at ABC Engineering on the 31st March 2003.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your valuable support over the past three years. I have made many valued friends and will remember my time here with affection.

Yours sincerely

John Smith

Cc
Dave Jones – Finance Director

Bill Herbert – Personnel Manager