Publish Date: Posted over 2 years ago
Author:by Dan Stargatt

Advice on handing in your notice

Handing in your notice can be a stressful time, what do you say? How do you say it? However, it is absolutely vital to get it right to ensure you don’t burn bridges, you ensure you leave on good terms and your notice period doesn’t become uncomfortable.Also, it’s important to take into account that you may not be leaving the industry, so you want to be respectful in this situation to ensure you don’t potentially harm your reputation within it and that you leave with a positive reference to take away with you.There are many dos and don’t, so we have listed what we feel are the most important things to do when handing in your notice and during your notice period:Be preparedIf you have accepted a new job, the first thing to do before you hand in your notice is to prepare what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. Going into the meeting with pre-prepared notes is absolutely key, especially if your manager isn’t expecting what you are going to tell them.This will help you stay on track and stick to what you went in to do. If your manager values you don’t be surprised that your news will be met with some resistance, by this we mean your manager asking if they can do anything to change your mind. This can often lead to the conversation being dragged out. So be prepared for the reaction, what you are going to say and commit to seeing it through.Face to faceWhen handing in your notice we strongly suggest that you do this face to face with your manager. Be brave, show respect and tell them to their face. Honestly, it will make the whole process more comfortable.Be constructiveEven if you dislike your job and your manager do not be negative. Stick to the facts of why you are leaving and keep it relevant to your situation. Being honest could actually help their business in the future, for example, if it’s due to lack of training or lower salary, it will give them the opportunity to look at this moving forwards to help them get better at what they do and what they offer.Follow upNow you have told your manager your news in person, it’s important to follow up with an email. We suggest you include the position you’re resigning from and the date of your last day, so there is no confusion. It would also be a good idea to say something positive and thank them for offing you the opportunity in their team.The handoverYou don’t want to leave your team with a bitter taste in their mouth about you. Helping with the handover will make the whole leaving process more enjoyable, as you will leave feeling you have done all you can to ensure the business and team will be able to move forwards after you have left. It will also show your professionalism and help towards securing the all important positive reference.ColleaguesAsk you colleagues to stay in touch and give out your personal email. You never know what will happen in the future and leaving on good terms could lead to future opportunities and a network of people to ask for advice.Counter offerCounter offers are made every week and our advice is and always will be to not accept a counter offer. We recently wrote an article on the reasons why accepting a counter offer is not in your best interest. We suggest you take a couple of minutes to read this, as it’s important to understand before you get put in this position when handing in your notice.What nextWe hope this article has been helpful and has calmed your nerves. It may seem like a big thing to do, but don’t let it stop your career progressing. Follow the steps above and you’ll be absolutely fine.Looking for a new job?We have a huge number of great opportunities with great employers across the construction, civils, rail, power and telecoms sectors. Search our current construction jobs, civils jobs, rail jobs, power jobs and telecoms jobs.Browse all jobsGet in touch with our recruitment specialistsIf you are keen to discuss your current situation and want to find out how we can help you make your next career step then get in touch with our team of recruitment experts. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you and your career progress.Contact us

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Also, it’s important to take into account that you may not be leaving the industry, so you want to be respectful in this situation to ensure you don’t potentially harm your reputation within it and that you leave with a positive reference to take away with you.

There are many dos and don’t, so we have listed what we feel are the most important things to do when handing in your notice and during your notice period:

Be prepared

If you have accepted a new job, the first thing to do before you hand in your notice is to prepare what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. Going into the meeting with pre-prepared notes is absolutely key, especially if your manager isn’t expecting what you are going to tell them.

This will help you stay on track and stick to what you went in to do. If your manager values you don’t be surprised that your news will be met with some resistance, by this we mean your manager asking if they can do anything to change your mind. This can often lead to the conversation being dragged out. So be prepared for the reaction, what you are going to say and commit to seeing it through.

Face to face

When handing in your notice we strongly suggest that you do this face to face with your manager. Be brave, show respect and tell them to their face. Honestly, it will make the whole process more comfortable.

Be constructive

Even if you dislike your job and your manager do not be negative. Stick to the facts of why you are leaving and keep it relevant to your situation. Being honest could actually help their business in the future, for example, if it’s due to lack of training or lower salary, it will give them the opportunity to look at this moving forwards to help them get better at what they do and what they offer.

Follow up

Now you have told your manager your news in person, it’s important to follow up with an email. We suggest you include the position you’re resigning from and the date of your last day, so there is no confusion. It would also be a good idea to say something positive and thank them for offing you the opportunity in their team.

The handover

You don’t want to leave your team with a bitter taste in their mouth about you. Helping with the handover will make the whole leaving process more enjoyable, as you will leave feeling you have done all you can to ensure the business and team will be able to move forwards after you have left. It will also show your professionalism and help towards securing the all important positive reference.

Colleagues

Ask you colleagues to stay in touch and give out your personal email. You never know what will happen in the future and leaving on good terms could lead to future opportunities and a network of people to ask for advice.

Counter offer

Counter offers are made every week and our advice is and always will be to not accept a counter offer. We recently wrote an article on the reasons why accepting a counter offer is not in your best interest. We suggest you take a couple of minutes to read this, as it’s important to understand before you get put in this position when handing in your notice.

What next

We hope this article has been helpful and has calmed your nerves. It may seem like a big thing to do, but don’t let it stop your career progressing. Follow the steps above and you’ll be absolutely fine.

Looking for a new job?

We have a huge number of great opportunities with great employers across the construction, civils, rail, power and telecoms sectors. Search our current construction jobs, civils jobs, rail jobs, power jobs and telecoms jobs.

Browse all jobs

Get in touch with our recruitment specialists

If you are keen to discuss your current situation and want to find out how we can help you make your next career step then get in touch with our team of recruitment experts. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you and your career progress.