How to resign?

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shaggy1812 - 2011

#1
I was just offered a position with a company doing similar work in an allied industry for a little more money, a lot less time on the road. I've been in my present position (R&D/Quality) for 6+ years after a 6 month layoff.

A definite start date has been giving (verbally so far but by day's end in writing) in roughly 2 weeks. My supervisor is off at a tradeshow this week and his boss (company president) is located at one of our other plants. The company president is the one who hired me. My function within the company has bounced around over the years as I'm fairly autonomous ( someone has to sign my vacation form, lol).

Anyway, I have a decent relationship with to my super and the president but the president is, um, passionate and somewhat unpredictable. If I give 2 wks notice, it can go 1 of 2 ways, stay until the end or get the blank out of here. The new employer understands that and will adjust.

My question is how do you resign? I had a long distance manager once in the past and did not handle the situation very well and burnt the bridge. I don't want to do that again. Call + letter? Letter only? Call only? What do I say? How do I say it?
 
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ScottK

Not out of the crisis
Staff member
Super Moderator
#2
I would call my direct supervisor and say "I'm sorry about the timing with you being away and all, but I've been offered another position elswhere and I've decided to accept. I'm offering to stay until XXX day to tie up loose ends and transfer my projects to someone else."

Then hand a short resignation letter to whoever serves as the HR function.

Let the super break to the president.
 
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sudwel

#4
I would call my direct supervisor and say "I'm sorry about the timing with you being away and all, but I've been offered another position elswhere and I've decided to accept. I'm offering to stay until XXX day to tie up loose ends and transfer my projects to someone else."

Then hand a short resignation letter to whoever serves as the HR function.

Let the super break to the president.
That's essentially how I did it when I left my prior company last year - worked well - president was a little ticked 'cause he took it personally that I didn't tell him myself... but I didn't want to wait!

Good luck - I know how stressful it can be!
 

Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#5
I was just offered a position with a company doing similar work in an allied industry for a little more money, a lot less time on the road. I've been in my present position (R&D/Quality) for 6+ years after a 6 month layoff.

A definite start date has been giving (verbally so far but by day's end in writing) in roughly 2 weeks. My supervisor is off at a tradeshow this week and his boss (company president) is located at one of our other plants. The company president is the one who hired me. My function within the company has bounced around over the years as I'm fairly autonomous ( someone has to sign my vacation form, lol).

Anyway, I have a decent relationship with to my super and the president but the president is, um, passionate and somewhat unpredictable. If I give 2 wks notice, it can go 1 of 2 ways, stay until the end or get the blank out of here. The new employer understands that and will adjust.

My question is how do you resign? I had a long distance manager once in the past and did not handle the situation very well and burnt the bridge. I don't want to do that again. Call + letter? Letter only? Call only? What do I say? How do I say it?
Moderator note: I have moved this thread into the current forum from the coffee break forum.

To the topic:
Congratulations!

Let me ask two questions as part of my comment

  1. How long were you looking for a job before you got this "offer?" (I presume a complete stranger did not come up and offer you the job out of a clear blue sky.)
  2. WHY were you looking?
My guess is there was something about your current job which triggered your activity in finding and accepting a new job. Regardless of your reasons for seeking new employment (I suspect more money and less travel were big factors), the fact it is
similar work in an allied industry
will trigger some resentment and sense of betrayal if you have NOT previously tried to negotiate those items with your current employer, but simply suffered in silence.

If you have tried to negotiate those items and failed, then the truth is inarguable and would make a boss feel like an ass if he resented you for leaving. If such is the case, say AND write simply, "As you know, I tried to negotiate for higher pay and less road time, but you informed me the company was unable to make those concessions for me. I have taken a position in another industry where there was more flexibility to provide those benefits. I will be leaving at the end of ___________. Who shall I deal with for my final pay, turn over my company-provided materials,and all other details of the transition?"

IMPORTANT NOTE:
You have made a decision. My experience is you usually will not do better in the long run if you succumb to an enticement to ignore the new job and stay at the old one. You do not have to identify the company or industry where you are headed - less chance for a vindictive person to call in favors to make your life miserable. Make sure you provide an anonymous email address for any future communication, NOT your new company email!


If the whole thing will be a complete surprise for the company and bosses where you now work (i.e. you have never asked for a raise or less road time), you have two choices:

  1. White lie - "A friend/relative told me about a wonderful opportunity for a company that truly needs someone with my experience and skills and I owe it to myself and family to pursue it after I talked with them. They need me right away so my final day here at this company will be ________________. Who shall I deal with to make the transition (final pay, return company material, etc.?)"
  2. Cold truth - "It's been clear for a long time there were no advancement opportunities for me here at this company. I found a job with a company that values my skill and experience and offers advancement opportunity.They need me right away so my final day here at this company will be ________________. Who shall I deal with to make the transition (final pay, return company material, etc.?)"
Good luck!
 
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silentrunning

#6
I think you have excellent advice as to the how - now I would like to add something. If they ask for a more detailed explanation than what you have put in your resiganation letter of why you are leaving, be sure to tell them. Some bosses & HR people seem to be clueless as to employee relations. They don't realize that security is a large factor to a family man. They don't know how far a pat on the back will go. They don't seem to know the meaning of the word recognition. A couple of years ago we had a high ranking employee leave and when he did he sat down with the owners and explained why. It seemed to be a wake up call for them and they corrected many of the errors that were pointed out. Our company is better for it.

Doug
 
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shaggy1812 - 2011

#7
Thank you all, especially Wes, for your insight.

The reason for looking: this was supposed to be the transition job after being laid off. 2 maybe 3 years turned into 6. It went from heavy on R&D and light on quality to almost exclusively quality. This company is about 2 hrs from my home and the family did not want to move. My wife has small business that continues to grow inspite of the economy. My family is important to my and having them grow up around the extended family is important too. I've had a couple opportunities fizzle (one went to an unemployed friend, another lowballed me).
 

Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#8
I think you have excellent advice as to the how - now I would like to add something. If they ask for a more detailed explanation than what you have put in your resiganation letter of why you are leaving, be sure to tell them. Some bosses & HR people seem to be clueless as to employee relations. They don't realize that security is a large factor to a family man. They don't know how far a pat on the back will go. They don't seem to know the meaning of the word recognition. A couple of years ago we had a high ranking employee leave and when he did he sat down with the owners and explained why. It seemed to be a wake up call for them and they corrected many of the errors that were pointed out. Our company is better for it.

Doug
There are definitely two schools of thought on this. The prevailing thinking is to burn no bridges, blame no one.

  1. If you suffered in silence - Why?
  2. If you made complaints and suggestions in the past and got nowhere, why try to cure things as you leave? - No benefit to you and possible detriment if "attitude" comes up as a future comment from someone at the present company to bite you in the butt in the future. You just never know what kind of spin someone may put on your comments if you aren't around to defend them.
 
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Bill Pflanz

#9
I am in more agreement with Scott on the approach. The problem with getting into too many details it will just prolong the discussion. Be polite and helpful on the transition and thank them for your opportunities at the company. If the company is a fair minded company they will understand, if not, then nothing you say will help.

I am not sure what they could counter offer that would be of much help. It does not sound like pay is an overwhelming issue and you did not go for an advancement in position. The hard facts are that you want a shorter commute and this new job gives you that plus everything you already had.

Bill Pflanz
 
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Martin IT

#10
A couple of years ago we had a high ranking employee leave and when he did he sat down with the owners and explained why. It seemed to be a wake up call for them and they corrected many of the errors that were pointed out. Our company is better for it.

Doug
I've recently changed my job position, and I told to my ex boss why I decided to change my job. It was very useful for my ex collegues because my boss has decided to deal with this topics with his staff.

However yuo should think about what is the best thing for you, and not what is the best for your ex collegues, so be very diplomatic!

And congratulation of course :applause:
 
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