To quit a job well, decide for clear reasons, line up your next step if you can, tell your manager in person or on a call before anyone else, follow up with a short written resignation, and work your notice period with the same effort as before. In the US, two weeks of notice is the common expectation, though your contract or handbook may say otherwise.
This is general career guidance, not legal advice. If you have a contract, a non-compete, equity or a dispute with your employer, talk with an employment attorney before you resign.
Step 1: Make sure it is the job, not the week
Hard weeks happen in good jobs. Before you resign, answer these honestly, ideally in writing:
- Has this been true for months, or since one bad project or one bad conversation?
- Have I told my manager what is not working and given them a chance to change it?
- Am I leaving something, or going toward something?
- If I got a raise or a new manager tomorrow, would I still want to leave?
- Can I cover my expenses for a while if the next job takes longer than I expect?
If the problem is exhaustion, it may be worth reading about work-life balance for young professionals first. If burnout is affecting your health or mood, talk with a licensed professional. In a crisis, call or text 988.
Step 2: Line up what you can before you say anything
- A signed offer, if possible. A verbal offer is not a job yet. Wait for it in writing.
- Your own files. Save personal documents, contacts and examples of your work that you are allowed to keep. Do not take company property or confidential material.
- Benefits details. Find out when your health coverage ends, what happens to unused vacation and any retirement account, and when your last paycheck arrives. HR or your handbook can answer this.
- Money. Plan for a gap between paychecks, even with a new job lined up. Our guide on budgeting as a young adult can help.
Step 3: Choose your timing
Give the notice your role and contract call for, and two weeks if nothing is specified. More senior roles sometimes warrant longer. Tell your manager early in the week if you can, so you are not leaving them to stew over a weekend, and avoid the middle of a crisis or a big deadline if waiting a few days is reasonable.
Step 4: Have the conversation
Your manager should hear it from you directly, before coworkers. Ask for a short meeting or call. Keep it brief, kind and final.
A script that works: “Thanks for making the time. I wanted to tell you first that I have decided to leave. My last day will be [date]. I have learned a lot here, and I want to make the handoff as smooth as I can. Can we talk about what you would like me to prioritize?”
You do not have to give a detailed reason. If asked, keep it positive and short: “It is an opportunity I could not pass up” or “I am ready for a different kind of role.” Save frank criticism for an exit interview, if at all, and keep it professional.
If they make a counteroffer
Thank them and ask for a day to think, if you are genuinely unsure. Ask yourself whether the money fixes the reason you wanted to leave. Often it does not.
Step 5: Put it in writing
Send a short letter or email the same day. It should include the date, your last day and a thank-you. Nothing more is needed.
“Dear [Manager], please accept this as notice of my resignation from my role as [title]. My last day will be [date]. Thank you for the opportunities I have had here. I am glad to help with the transition. Sincerely, [Name].”
Step 6: Finish well
- Write a handoff document: open projects, key contacts, where files live, recurring tasks.
- Keep showing up on time and doing real work. People remember the last two weeks.
- Thank the people who helped you, and connect with them on a professional network.
- Return equipment and confirm final pay and benefits details with HR.
Once you start somewhere new, our guide to the first 90 days in a new job picks up from here.
Where a mentor helps
The hardest part of quitting is usually the decision, not the letter. A mentor helps you separate a rough patch from a real mismatch, plan the next role before you leave this one, rehearse the conversation and keep momentum during a search. That is a regular part of career and education mentoring and of young adult mentoring.
Related
- How to change careers
- Your first job after college
- How to ask for a raise
- Help for young adults who feel stuck
Common questions
Do I have to give two weeks of notice?
It is the common professional expectation in the US, but requirements depend on your contract, role and state. Check your offer letter and handbook, and ask an employment attorney if unsure.
Can I quit by email?
You can, but tell your manager in a meeting or call first whenever possible, then follow up in writing. It protects the relationship and your reference.
Should I tell coworkers before my manager?
No. Your manager should hear it from you first. Tell close coworkers after that conversation.
What if I am told to leave immediately?
Some employers end employment on the day you resign. Have your personal files saved and your finances ready for that possibility before you give notice.
Get started
Thinking through a big work decision? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.