Want to hand your notice in at work?

If you are handing your notice in, you’ve probably applied for roles online, signed up to agencies or attended interviews. And after a gruelling few weeks or even months you get that dream role; better pay, better commute and better company. What do you then say to your current boss?

Unless you are going to stay in one role for your working life, then this won’t apply. But you never know, you might just think about leaving your job in the near or distant future…

Here a few tips which could help you:

1.) Check your contract

What is your notice period? Typically, most companies have a 28 days’ notice. Obviously, it will differ for everyone; it could be 1 week or even 3 months. You don’t want it to be awkward when you tell your future boss that you can’t start for 3 months, when you told him/her 2 weeks!

Some companies will put you on garden leave, which means they will pay you and don’t have you in the office. Whereas others will ask you go early. And don’t forget, you could also be owed annual leave, work out how much you have taken, do you owe them? Or do they owe you?

2.) When should you have the vital conversation?

Every manager / boss will have their opinion as to when they would want an employee to hand their notice in. Morning? Lunchtime? End of the working day? Evening?

In this case, it’s a time best suited to you. Face-to-face is always best though. Sending a letter or an email just looks like you are hiding behind that piece of paper or your computer. You are still going to have that awkward conversation, why don’t you get it all done in one conversation? If your boss is out the country, then understandably an e-mail is going to be acceptable!

Also – just to cover yourself – wait until your ‰’new’ employer has provided you with your contract. Just imagine if you hand your notice in, then your new role gets pulled…! Then you would panic.

3.) Your reason for leaving? ALWAYS be honest

At this stage, you have either got interviews lined up or had an offer. The best advice is to tell the truth, be honest and authentic. Remember, your current company (we hope) have looked after you; they’ve paid your wages and provided you with employment. Tell them that this ‰’new company’ are offering a better package, it’s nearer to home, scope for progression, the list is endless. Whatever it is, tell them. Why did you start looking for a role in the first place?

When you are having that conversation about why you are leaving, be sure that you don’t make out that you hate your role and make it sound like a bad company to work for. You don’t want to offend anyone…You don’t want to leave on bad terms. And in some circumstances, you could be working for a family member or friend!

4.) Facts over feelings – What do you say?

Leading on from my last point, your boss could be a friend or a family member. Or you might even hate your boss! Forget about your emotions at this point. You need to be factual and tell them why you are leaving. Again you don’t want to leave on bad terms.

When you do go about preparing for your meeting, it can help to actually think about what your manager will say or ask. Here are a few questions/ things that they may ask/say;

• What can we do to make you stay?
• We will offer you more money / pay rise
• We will offer you a better package
• Why did you start looking for a new role?
• What could I do to change your mind?

This list is endless, but if you note all these types of questions down. Then you will be able to answer them honestly when you are having that conversation. It will actually help you to understand if leaving is the right thing to do. You never know, you could change your mind at this point.

To summarise, the golden key to handing your notice in the best way possible, is just about being truthful and having the courage to do it. The conversation will probably be slightly awkward and somewhat hard to pluck up the courage to do. Don’t procrastinate…just do it!

If you have found your role via a Recruitment Consultancy, they should help you throughout this process. That’s what they do, don’t be afraid to ask. I know at Robertson Sumner, we will always be there for every step of the way.