Six Tips to Remember When Resigning

People resign for various reasons, but whatever those reasons, here are six important things to remember:

1.  Always resign with grace and dignity. It's a small world out there, and you don't want to say something you may regret later. 

2.  When you resign be sure to provide at least a two-weeks' notice. Even if your new company wants you to start as soon as possible, they will understand and would expect the same from their employees. Further, in the eyes of your new employer, leaving immediately may reflect poorly on your character.

3.  Ask for a letter of recommendation (or LinkedIn recommendation) from your supervisor or other key employees. Excerpts from recommendation letters can be used in future resumes or cover letters.

4.  Offer to tie up any loose ends before leaving.

5.  If you've received any congratulatory emails over the years, be sure to print copies. Or, better yet, forward these emails to your personal email.

6.  Don't lose contact with the people you've worked with. Send an occasional email. The email could be about anything (an article you read that you want to pass on, congratulating them on a promotion or something you heard about, or just sending an email to say hi). It's important to stay connected, because if something happens or if you ever need a favor, you will have an immediate network to draw upon and will not have to re-establish a relationship.