Have new job, being a girl about handing in notice..

[geeks]

Thats right, I have new job, big step up for me, good company, good role, good money but now comes the bit i hate, handing in my notice! Current place hasn't really done anything wrong and my boss isn't a bad bloke it's just time to move on so i guess thats why feel guilty.. Enjoyed where I am and the company is a big brand so when you tell people you work there they always say how cool etc. New place, no one will have really heard of outside of its sector but is still, as a techie, pretty cool.

I know, i know, MTFU, cool story brah and all that. Am i the only one who feels a pang of guilt in these situations?

[scorcher]

geeks said:

I know, i know, MTFU, cool story brah and all that.

and in the wrong sub forum................

[jonny996]

you are not alone, i felt bad leaving my boss in the lurch. I eased my guilt by helping him as much as possible in finding the correct replacement

[jamescodriver]

I've stayed in jobs too long for the same reason, an over riding sense of loyalty to employers which is a bit silly really..

You know you need to and usually the reaction is not the one you think its going to be..

Do it!!

[andy-xr]

No, but there's no harm in bettering yourself.

I've had one really positive experience and one really negative experience of handing notice in, and a lot of average ones.

The really positive one was from a boss that up until that point I didnt really get along with that well, amicable, but at a distance. He sat me down and said thanks - he liked that he'd been able to give me the ability to do things for his company, I'd made him and me money and made life better for the company's customers. He ended it by saying he hoped that I'd learnt things that would serve me well in my next job, and there's never a job forever

The really negative one took it as a personal insult that I'd somehow scorned him, and that I was abusing the trust and really, I should be grateful that I'd worked there and how I'd never get a job as good as the one I was leaving. I sat there bemused, tbh I think he had bigger issues going on

[Big Pants]

Just be cool and professional. Put it in writing, thanking them for the experience and personal development, but remember that you're making a move for the right reasons - chief amongst which is you.

Don't think for a moment they would hesitate to get rid of you if things were the other way around. I've just been made redundant after 6 years with my employer, during which I've busted my buns way beyond the call of duty to do the best job I possibly could. Finished a 13 month 3 million pound project on the Friday (delivered over and above all my other accountabilities), got my "at risk" letter on the Monday, redundancy confirmed the following week, gone a month later.

Loyalty is a long-dead concept when it comes to being a wage slave. Not for a second should you feel any guilt.

[Engineer1]

Don't hand your notice in till you have a contract for the new role then leave on the best possible terms.

[toon10]

When you hand your notice in I'd use phrases like "I've loved my time here..." "This is a great company and I've made some true friends..." "I'm only moving on as it's time for a new challenge and my new role is a step up in terms of where I want to progress..."

Don't say "haha, screw you guys I'm off." Burnt bridges and all that

[Blackpuddin]

Never sure what people like the second guy in andy-xr's post hope to achieve by that approach. Are they trying to get the person to stay? Clearly not.

[fido]

toon10 said:

When you hand your notice in I'd use phrases like "I've loved my time here..." "This is a great company and I've made some true friends..." "I'm only moving on as it's time for a new challenge and my new role is a step up in terms of where I want to progress..."

Don't say "haha, screw you guys I'm off." Burnt bridges and all that

+1. Be as nice as possible, and if you hated the job, just write the opposite. Even if you come across like an oleaginous toad. I left a job or two in a bad way, and it takes a long time to mend those bad words - you might happen to bump into the same people again.

[bqf]

Two pieces of advice:

1. Always try to leave on good terms - burning bridges is always a last resort, and do it only when it actually benefits you to do so
2. Loyalty to companies often bites you in the arse. When the ste hits the fan, loyalty as a currency totally loses any value.

Don't feel bad about handing your notice in - it's your career, owned by you, and no-one should get in the way of that.

[conkerman]

Its a professional transaction not a personal one.

A letter stating you wish to resign your position, and today will be the first day of your notice period, and you will be leaving on the date your notice ends. kthnxbai.

If you want, you can discuss the reasons why, and its good advice to be a 'good' leaver if possible. Any chance of gardening leave if you are going to a competitor?

[NNH]

toon10 said:

When you hand your notice in I'd use phrases like "I've loved my time here..." "This is a great company and I've made some true friends..." "I'm only moving on as it's time for a new challenge and my new role is a step up in terms of where I want to progress..."

Don't say "haha, screw you guys I'm off." Burnt bridges and all that

If it helps, write the fantasy exit letter first ("You're all idiots! And another thing, why can't you morons get a photocopier that actually %$^*ing works, for &*%^ sake?"). Then do the smarmy one you actually need. When I did this for the sake of my own amusement, I triple-checked I'd printed out the right one...

[FredClogs]

I'm the same way and as a contractor move jobs every 18months or so, it's a continual problem for me telling people I've found a better opportunity. Most understand and keep it on good terms, occasionally I've had bosses who take umbrage but its rare.

[geeks]

It is done. As pointed out, easier than thought, boss took it well, wished me all the best, told me he was gutted but could understand. I also gave more than my contracted notice period of which he was grateful.

[Blackpuddin]

A good result. Being up front with folk is the best way. The ones who respond poorly to that approach aren't worth your trouble anyway.

[anonymous-user]

at the end of the day we are all numbers on a spreadsheet and this is your life. hand notice in and think to the future, i am sure if a redundancy consultation came in the business wouldn't be second thinking.

[Cotty]

toon10 said:

Don't say "haha, screw you guys I'm off." Burnt bridges and all that

I ended up working for the same company three time in a round about fashion. Last time I left I didn't so much burn my bridges as napalmed them.

[Simon Brooks]

make sure you have contract in place and they have taken all the references they need and that your continued employment isnt dependent on satisfactory references !!!

same as others above dont burn bridges, you never know what the future holds and when you might be tempted back if a new opportunity opens up

[shakindog]

I also put my notice in recently after 10 years with the company working for the same bloke.
It was like punching a puppy.

Felt a bit guilty but in the end onwards and upwards hopefully.
As has been said don't burn your bridges
as you never know.

Good luck

Get ready for the long drag that is working your notice. It feels like forever