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Resigning: Need help with resignation letter.
ben0207
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I'm leaving my job. Trouble is, its a pretty serious position, so for the first time ever I'm actually having to write a proper letter to do it rather than swearing at my boss or kicking a computer in.
Is this shit?
I wrote:I regret to inform you that I will be leaving the company as of the date you receive this letter. I will of course be available to work my two weeks notice.
This decision was not an easy one for me to make, however recent events and changes to the structure of the company1 have forced my hand, so to speak. The current atmosphere of fear, uncertainty and doubt felt by all the staff is making my job increasingly difficult, as is handling the increasing divide between management and “regular†staff - a group of people whom I like, respect and once enjoyed working with. As I would personally attribute the cause of these problems to yourself, I do not believe it is something that can be easily remedied, least not by any means at your disposal.
I also feel that this job is strangling me both mentally and creatively, and for my own personal well-being I think leaving the company sooner rather than later would be for the best. As I foresee no further career development within either the catering or fast food industries I believe I am justified in making a decision so selfishly motivated.
I of course hope to maintain good future relations with yourself, the other management staff and the “worker antsâ€. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours, hopefully including some social development on your part to prevent problems like this occurring again.
Is this shit?
ben0207 on
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Leaving those two sections in, you might as well be swearing at your boss and kicking a computer in. Keep it clean if you want him as a reference, or burn your bridge. Don't try to do both.
Just tell them you intend to leave the company in two weeks, and nothing much more. Include a throwaway sentence about vague "personal reasons" or "pursuing other career opportunities" if you want.
It can be something like this:
You may never talk to any of these people again, but if a future employer calls to verify you worked there, you don't want them being told you were extremely negative and left claiming you were being "strangled."
that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
I guess how good this letter is depends upon what you're trying to accomplish.
If you're trying to leave in a blaze of (quiet) glory, and kill any chance whatsoever of a good reference, use the letter. Although I'm sure the people you worked for were assholes, all this letter does is make you come off as petty and, although I'm sure you'd love to vent, does nothing to actually "put them in their place" or make them realize the errors of their ways. It's a bit personal, and unless you absolutely feel the need to air your grievances, is likely to just cause more issues. Even if you wish to burn all your bridges and pretend you never worked there, leaving with a letter like that will just likely make your final two weeks (and potentially further time afterwards) much more difficult.
You're probably much better off just keeping those first two lines, ending the letter in a civil manner, and leaving it at that. There's something to be said for someone who can take a shitty job, and still leave with a sense of nobility and civility.
The man is socially stunted, and I don't care enough about getting a good reference to shy away from telling him. The main reason I'm leaving is because he asked me to start being honest with him and I really really was, and he never returned the favour.
Well, that's kind of at odds with the exiting a serious position strategy. Personally, I'd advise being cool, professional, and brief in the letter. Give your notice, moving on to other opportunities, etc. If they care why you are leaving, they might arrange an exit interview, which is your chance to (professionally) explain why you are upset and leaving. In short, if it's a serious position, be a professional, even when leaving it.
So, a polite letter, and have a chat with him in person to air my grievances? I'm not letting him get away with this.
If you make a mess now you get to deal with it for two weeks.
that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
EDIT: I r maek fale at bbcode
An employer who is being a dick will have to face the consequences in the turnover rate, and in the quality of employees they are able to retain. Let them find out the hard way, meantime, don't give anyone a snippy letter that could be dredged up some day and cause you problems.
In the meantime, just keep it simple. You're leaving, to pursue your career path, but you will certainly be available for two more weeks while someone is found to fill your position. (don't say 'customary' as if it is given grudgingly)
That letter is FAR too flowery and emotional. Those feelings need to be expressed, and are probably quite justified, but in some other venue. They are not proper contents for a resignation letter. Especially the parts about the specific boss being at fault for the negativity. Anyone who reads that letter will see only your bitterness, not what was done to instigate it, giving the impression that the letter-writer is the crazy, or not to be taken seriously.
Unless you are obligated, under penalty of law, to state in specific detail exactly why you are leaving, put as little detail as possible into the resignation letter--anything else gives them "wiggle room" to misinterpret and sabotage you.
With all that baggage, my letter said...
Dear XXX
Please accept this as my formal notice of resignation effective 1/19/07.
I appreciate the opportunities that HappyInsurance has given me during my time with the company, however at this time I have dedicate to pursue a career in a different field.
Sincerly,
XXX
If you get called by HR to do an exit survey/interview and want to let them know it was inept management, fine. However, your formal written notice is not the place to do it. You've decided to move on, so do so.
Oh, he will be told all right. I'll tell him but good.
And if it seems like I've made this my own personal crusade against the poor bloke: It is. A lot of my friends still work for this company and regardless of whatever I have to put up with they are good people and deserve a lot better than this shit.
Mine was pretty much the same. There's no need to say anything else.
Leave on good terms. Give no direct reasons beyond 'wanting to further my career outside the company' or some similar bullshit. Making a protest resignation is only likely to destroy your career in whatever industry you work in. It isn't likely to be effective unless you're a high-profile member of staff who is regularly in the media spot-light working for a blue-chip company or if you manage to stage a coup and get all members of staff to hand in their notice at the same time.
Here's how I resigned from my last job:
After leaving, I got regular freelance work from the company and am currently in negotiations to return in a more senior position. This wasn't my plan at the time, I wanted to sail off into the sunset and become a hotshot designer, but leaving on good terms has been demonstrably beneficial to me in the long term now that my goals have taken a different turn.
Doing this isn't compromising, it's positioning yourself strongly. If nothing else, you should focus on the positive reasons for resigning for your own good mental health. Crashing and burning your way out of a job is going to put you in a very bad mental position for finding a new job, wallowing in negativity. Making a personal and public decision to leave your job to pursue positive goals will make you appear stronger and make you feel better.
But, you really should write anything else other then when you are leaving. Everything else is handled by the exit interview .. which is (supposedly) kept in confidence.
The only thing you can say to your boss if the situation is really bad is to remind him that he is unable to say nothing other then if you worked there or not.
But in that situation, you are better off giving HR as your reference rather then a really shitty boss
Librarians harbor a terrible secret. Find it.
On your last day do not tell your boss how much of a douche-bag he is. Instead, ask to have an exit interview with his boss, if possible, and with HR if not. In professional terms, tell his boss or whomever about why you are leaving and problems you've had with him. Chances are pretty good that his boss already knows (this was the case with my former job. Everybody in the company knew that he was a dick which is why he had been transferred out to the branch office). I talked it over with his boss and as far as I know it came up at his annual review because his bosses were sick of the high turnover in our office.
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