Don’t Quit Until You Read This

If you want to quit your job then make it an Adidas moment and just do it. But unless you want it to be remembered for all the wrong reasons then think twice before you decide to make it a YouTube event.  Here are a few don’t that you might want to consider before you quit your job.

Don’t be Dramatic

We all remember the flight attendant who got all the attention a few years ago by telling off rude passengers over the intercom and then sliding down the emergency chute. And there’s a new You Tube hero who quit his job at a hotel along with a full brass brand to protest poor working conditions. Both events were funny and probably well-intentioned, if not well thought out. Unless you never want to work in any of those industries again or think you can get a job in the entertainment business then don’t be too dramatic when you resign your position.

Don’t Phone it in

You can do a lot of things with your smart phone these days but quitting your job is not one of them. Step up, be the man or woman you want to be, and tell your boss in person that you are going to quit. Unless you are seriously worried about violence then this is not a matter to be dealt with by e-mail or left in their voice mail box after they have gone home for the day. The process is that you give the appropriate notice period and yes you tell them why you are leaving. If it’s personal then tell them it’s personal. You may be able to break up on Facebook, but don’t quit your job there.

Don’t Burn Bridges

When you finally get to the point that you just have to quit your job you may think that you would never, ever want to work for this company or in this business again. You may be right. Then again you may be wrong. Lots of us have thought that once only to realize months or years later that it really wasn’t that bad after all. Especially if a few key people change and you find that where you are now sucks more than where you were before. That’s why you try and not burn too many bridges on the way out. You may need to cross back over them to get back in. Or to get a reference from them for that dream job in the future.

Don’t Leave Before You Leave

As hard as it is to not daydream about your new job, try and stay on your old job after you give your notice to quit. Now is a time when you can give a little back by helping to organize your files, clean up old projects, and if possible to train your replacement. These small acts of goodwill help leave a positive and lasting impression at your old workplace and cement your good reputation. And that’s worth a lot more than giving your friends a few laughs on YouTube.

This article first appeared on my blog at www.jobs.ca

Mike Martin is a freelance writer and workplace wellness consultant. He is the author of Change the Things You Can: Dealing with Difficult People.