“People dread it,” says Surviving Dreaded Conversation author Donna Flagg, who views the quitter’s apprehension as a self-centred sentiment.
“People come and go, companies move on,” she says. “It’s not as devastating as the person resigning makes it in their head.”
Don’t let that guilt lead you to pen an overly personal note when you tender your resignation. Flower your two-week notice with paeans to your corporate overlings and the document could wind up decorating a courtroom counter evidence table — exhibit A — should you ever need to sue the company for unpaid wages or salary discrimination.
“Write a letter with one line,” suggests How Can I Change Careers author Nick Corcodilos. “I hereby resign my position with X-Y-Z. That’s it. Be friendly, respectful, professional, upbeat, but do that stuff orally.”
Yet, don’t allow your post-resignation talks to turn into negotiations. Despite what an overbearing boss may plea, two weeks is a sufficient heads-up — “It’s the bare minimum,” Flagg estimates, “but at the same time, I don’t think there’s any need to do four or six.”
More treacherous is the chief of industry who tries to raise your resignation with a counteroffer — a dicey proposition Corcodilos warns to never entertain “under any circumstances.”
“If your company tries to buy you out like that, the money has got to come from somewhere,” he explains. “Typically, it comes from your next raise review.”
