You’ve received an offer, now what?
Giving notice to your current manager can be extremely stressful, but it’s vitally important to resign gracefully and professionally. The goal is to maintain good relationships with your manager and other colleagues for future opportunities, you never know when your paths might cross again. This can either be a smooth transition or a tricky one and it all comes down to how you manage the situation. Most importantly, don’t do anything until you have the written offer in hand and have successfully completed all of the background checks and all other contingencies have been satisfied.
Begin by thinking through how your manager might respond when you give your notice.
- Will they be surprised or have you already discussed some of your dissatisfaction in hopes to resolve the issue(s) without leaving their organization?
- Will they be angry because they perceive your actions as disloyal?
- Will they try to keep you on the team with a counteroffer?
It is important that you resign in person and give ample notice. If you are remote or do not have the opportunity to meet your manager in person to deliver the news, schedule some time to connect over the phone. You definitely want to avoid email and text for this conversation. Two weeks is the standard practice, but it is important that you take into account and consider timelines of large projects and accounts that you are part of. If your timeline allows, offer to help close those out for a smoother transition.
Remember to keep the conversation unemotional and direct, while still being gracious. Make sure to express your appreciation for that manager and the knowledge and experience you have gained throughout your time there. During your conversation, focus on the positives of your new position and company as opposed to fixating on the negatives of your current (soon to be previous) position, company, manager, coworkers, etc.
Often times, employers will request a written resignation as well. The same rules apply here – keep it short and sweet, unemotional, factual and gracious. You never know when your paths might cross again so it’s best to not burn any bridges.
Prepare for a Counteroffer
One potential outcome of a resignation that many people aren’t prepared for is a counteroffer. A counteroffer may sound appealing, but beware! Your manager at that moment may be feeling angry, shocked, and concerned – concerned about backfilling your position, and concerned about the opportunity cost of having your position vacant. For these reasons, your current manager may try to convince you to stay. Counteroffers are often considered the “kiss of death” for a variety of reasons.
A few points to consider when faced with this tricky situation:
#1 Counteroffers are oftentimes not made in good faith.
- Are they working behind the scenes to begin the process of replacing you on their timeline?
- Why are you suddenly more valuable than you were a few weeks ago?
#2 You’ve shown your hand and will now be viewed as a “flight risk”.
- Will this limit your growth potential within your current organization?
#3 Your original motivation for wanting to leave the organization and beginning the job search will not likely be resolved.
- Many people who accept the counteroffer find themselves back on the market, job hunting within 6 months.
Knowing how to handle a job transition professionally is a valuable career skill.
It’s best to address concerns with your current company before beginning the job search. If they address them, great! If not, they will not be shocked by a resignation later on.
By not burning any bridges, maintaining your productivity and motivation during your last few weeks, and being appreciative and respectful to your manager and colleagues, you will be able to maintain your reputation as well as preserving any professional references for the future.
