How to Tell Your Boss You're Quitting Your Job

It’s time to move on from your job, and you’re ready to quit, but how should you tell your boss? What do you do when you have no idea what to say to your employer? It’s just as important to be professional when you’re giving notice as it is when you’re trying to get hired. If at all possible, you'll want to leave on good terms.

Leave the right way, and you’ll build your network for future job searches. Leave the wrong way and watch that bridge burn behind you. It’s always best to leave as gracefully as possible, even if it’s under difficult circumstances.

What’s the best way to tell your manager that you’re leaving your job and moving on? Regardless of your reasons for leaving a job, here’s the right way to do it. 

Review advice on the best way to tell your boss that you're quitting your job, what to say, and how to handle moving on.

Tips for Telling Your Boss You're Quitting Your Job

It can be challenging to take a calm and reasoned approach to resigning if you’ve been mistreated or underappreciated. However, words spoken or written in haste could come back to haunt you since you never know what a former colleague or supervisor might tell a potential employer about your work or character.

It can be just as hard, or even more difficult, to tell your boss when you’re leaving a workplace where you’ve been happy.

When You Don't Like the Job or Company

There is nothing to gain by being negative, even if you hate your job or your supervisor was a terrible manager. Employers tend to take the side of former supervisors over job candidates when checking references. If your negativity is mentioned, the prospective employer may wonder if you’ll act the same way if they were to hire you. 

Some organizations will conduct formal background checks that will go back further than your current or last job, so even if you have already secured a new position, it is not wise to alienate a former employer.

What you say when you leave could be mentioned to prospective employers, and negativity isn’t going to get you a positive recommendation. Even worse, going on about what you didn’t like at the place could get you a bad reference. Whenever possible, leave your job gracefully and on good terms.

When You Love Your Job

It's not easy to leave a job where you liked the position, your boss, the company, and your coworkers. It can be challenging to tell your boss that you’re leaving when you love your job and the company you work for but need to move on.

Whether it’s for a career move, your dream job, relocation, education, or for any other reason, it can be difficult to tell someone you respect that you’re leaving a job you love.

What to Say When You Quit Your Job

Regardless of the circumstances, it’s always a good idea to keep it positive when you talk to your boss—even if you don’t feel that way about leaving. Your resignation letter and in-person conversations should contain as many of the following elements as possible.

A Thank You for the Opportunity. Express your gratitude for the opportunity to grow in your current job or learn new skills. This might include a brief reference to specific skills or knowledge. Expressing thanks for the chance to work with your boss and colleagues might also fit into this category.

An Explanation of Why You Are Leaving. You do not need to mention the specifics of your new job or pursuit, but you might choose to allude to this in a general way. For example, if you were working in inside sales, you might mention that you have landed an outside sales job.

If you are going back to school, relocating to care for an elderly parent, or moving with a spouse who has found a new job, you might mention this fact. It is hard to imagine a scenario where it would be beneficial to mention (particularly in writing) anything that reflects badly on the employer or fellow employees. 

An Offer to Help With the Transition. If appropriate, you might state that you are willing to help train a replacement or be available to answer questions after you have moved on. However, you're not obligated to offer assistance.

Appropriate Notice. Two weeks’ notice is the traditional amount of notice to give. If you’re working under a contract or labor agreement, you might be required to give a different amount of notice. Or there may be circumstances that make it impossible for you to stay on. Review these tips for how to handle it if you need to leave on short notice or have to resign immediately.

The Date You Are Leaving. State a specific date for your anticipated final day of employment. That date will be used as your official termination date, and accrued compensation and benefits, if any, will be calculated as of that date.

Have a Resignation Letter Ready

Have a copy of your resignation letter ready to provide to your boss during the meeting. This should include your official notice, your last day of work, your contact information, and any other information relevant to your departure. 

If you’re not able to meet with your boss in person and you’re resigning via email, you can either include the details in your email or attach a copy of the letter to your message.

How to Handle Your Resignation

Even if you’ve worked for the company for a long time, you can’t predict what will happen when you resign. Your manager may ask you to leave immediately, stay longer, or reconsider your decision entirely. The best way to deal with this uncertainty is to prepare for every possibility. 

Have a plan for the following outcomes, and you won’t be caught off guard:

Be Prepared to Leave—Now. Before resigning, be sure to back up any documents and projects belonging to you.

• Be sure you don't have any personal files or information on your work computer or phone. Understand that your employer might ask you to pack up your things immediately and cut off electronic access to documents.
• If you have a company car, phone, laptop, or tablet, you may be required to turn those items in immediately.

Think About Whether You Would Stay Longer If Asked. If your employer presses you to stay on longer to ease their transition and it is feasible for you to do so, you might consider asking for a positive written recommendation letter or a letter of introduction in return.

When Your Manager Doesn’t Want You to Quit. What should you do if your manager wants you to stay? If you’re sure you want to leave, say so. If you’re undecided, ask for some time to think it over. Make a list of reasons why you would change your mind and compare them to your reasons for leaving.

If it does make sense to rescind your resignation, be prepared to commit to staying for a certain length of time. Also, keep in mind that your employer may have reservations about someone who quits (even if you end up staying on board), and this might affect your future with the company.