Industries are smaller than they look. The colleague you leave behind today interviews you in four years, or becomes your client. Resigning well costs you nothing and protects both.
Here is the order to do it in.
Before you say anything
- Get the new offer in writing, including start date, salary and any conditions such as background checks.
- Read your contract: notice period, handover obligations, non-compete or non-solicit clauses, and what happens to unused vacation or bonuses.
- Check the timing of anything you would lose, such as a bonus payment or vesting date, and decide whether it changes your start date.
- Save your own records: performance reviews, metrics and contact details of people who will be references. Nothing confidential.
Decide in advance how you will handle a counteroffer, because you may get one. Our guide on whether to accept a counteroffer covers that decision.
Tell your manager first, in person
Not a colleague, not a group chat. A short conversation, ideally live:
I wanted to tell you first that I’ve accepted a role at another company. My last day would be the 15th, which gives us the full notice period. I want to leave things in good shape, so I’ve started on a handover plan.
Keep it brief and warm. You do not owe a detailed explanation of where you are going or why, and the less you say about frustrations, the better this conversation goes.
Follow it with a short written resignation that states your role and last day. Three sentences is plenty.
Give proper notice, and offer a handover
Two weeks is standard in many countries and industries, but follow your contract and what is normal for your level. Then make the handover real:
- A written list of what you own, with status and next steps.
- Documentation for anything only you know how to do.
- Introductions for your key contacts.
- Time booked to train whoever picks up your work.
A good handover document is the single thing colleagues remember most kindly.
The exit interview
Be constructive, not cathartic. Offer themes rather than personal complaints: “Clearer priorities would have helped me a lot” rather than a list of grievances about one colleague. Assume anything you say may be repeated.
If you experienced something serious, such as harassment or unlawful treatment, report it through the proper channel rather than in a casual exit chat, and keep your own written record.
The last two weeks
- Keep working properly. People remember the final fortnight.
- Resist complaining to those staying; it changes nothing and costs you goodwill.
- Say thank you to the people who helped you, individually.
- Ask for a LinkedIn recommendation from your manager while you are fresh in their mind, and connect with colleagues before your account closes.
- Leave contact details so people can reach you.
What to avoid
- Announcing on social media before your manager knows.
- Taking files, data or customer lists.
- Trash-talking the company in interviews or online. It reads as a risk signal.
- Ghosting: leaving without notice ends references permanently.
- Promising to stay available for months. Offer a defined window instead, such as “email me for the first two weeks”.
Keep the door open
Many people return to former employers at a higher level, and boomerang hires are common. Stay in touch with two or three colleagues, update them occasionally, and treat your former workplace as part of your network, as described in our guide to networking.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to say where I am going?
No. A simple “I’ve accepted a role at another company” is enough, though in many relationships it is natural to share.
What if my employer walks me out immediately?
Some companies do this for security reasons in certain roles; it is usually policy, not personal. Hand over cleanly by email, confirm your final pay, and move on.
Should I quit before I have another job?
Usually not, unless your health is suffering or you have savings and a clear plan. Our guide on what to do when you hate your job and our career change roadmap cover the safer sequencing.
