How to quit your job without burning bridges

Most of us have mastered the fine art of giving a good first impression, but just as important are the final ones – especially when it comes to leaving a job. Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the average worker leaves a job every 4.6 years.
Lotte van Rijswijk
Content Team Lead
Updated August 20th, 2024

So how do quit your job without burning bridges? Firstly, timing is everything. Don’t leave in the middle of a major project. Check your contract to see what your minimum notice period is, but also think about what work will need to be tied up before you leave. Giving enough notice to ease the handover process will do wonders for your reputation.

Telling your boss first is a must—you don’t want them to hear that you’re leaving on the grapevine. Arrange a meeting to tell them in person that you’re planning to leave, discuss which projects you will wrap up before leaving and thank them for your time at the company. Then it’s time to email your resignation letter. Keep it polite and concise, and avoid any lengthy or emotive explanations for why you’re leaving.

Then it’s time to work harder than ever to get all those loose ends tied up. Be sure to meet regularly with your boss through your notice period to brief them on the status of the projects you’ve agreed to wrap up. It may also be a good time to ask for a letter of recommendation.

So, if you’re thinking about moving on from your current job, check out the infographic below which shares tips to make sure you leave on a high note. Keep your professional reputation intact and take on your new role confident that your old co-workers will have nothing but positive thoughts about you. 

In readiness for new opportunities, exploring resources such as free resume templates can be instrumental in presenting your skills and experiences compellingly. For personalized applications, cover letter templates and inspirational cover letter examples can help craft a narrative that resonates with future employers. Additionally, the cover letter builder is a valuable tool for efficiently generating professional cover letters, ensuring you leave a memorable impression even before your first day on the new job.

Now that you've successfully quit your job, you may need to write a new winning resume. Read how to build a winning resume, with our resume builder.

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Resources
  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2016). Employee Tenure Summary. bls.gov
  2. Whitmell, C. (2014). Resigning in style: how to tell your employer. theguardian.com
  3. Westland, J. (2018). How to Quit Your Job Without Burning Bridges. projectmanager.com
  4. Knight, R. (2014). How to Quit Your Job Without Burning Bridges. hbr.org
  5. Goudreau, J. (2011). The Dos and Don’ts Before Leaving Your Job. forbes.com
  6. Indeed. (2018). How to Write a Job Description. indeed.com
  7. Lum, M. (2016) 5 Scrum Meeting Best Practices: Master the Daily Stand-Up. sprint.ly
  8. Smith, J. (2016) 22 things you should never say during an exit interview. independent.co.uk

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