Quitting a Job the Right Way

Before You Give Notice

Once you tell your employer you're leaving, things move fast. Do these before you say a word:

Have something lined up, if at all possible

Quitting without another offer is sometimes the right move: a bad manager, a toxic environment, a health situation. But if you can stay long enough to land the next thing first, do. Finding a job while you're employed is almost always easier than finding one while you're not. Employers view employed candidates more favorably, and you won't be negotiating from financial pressure.

Review your employment agreement

Some jobs come with non-compete clauses, non-solicitation agreements, or IP agreements that restrict what you can do next. If you signed something like this, read it again before you leave, particularly if you're going to a competitor or bringing clients with you. When in doubt, talk to an employment attorney. One hour of legal advice is cheap compared to getting sued.

Understand your benefits situation

Know what happens to your health insurance, your 401(k), any unvested equity, and your accrued PTO when you leave. The details vary by employer, but you should know them before your last day, not after.

• Health insurance typically ends on your last day or the end of the month. COBRA lets you continue coverage, though it's expensive. If you have a new job lined up, find out when their coverage starts and plan accordingly.
• 401(k) stays yours. You can leave it where it is, roll it into your new employer's plan, or move it to an IRA. Don't cash it out early. The taxes and penalties are steep.
• Unvested equity is gone when you leave. If vesting is close, factor that into your timing.
• PTO payout rules vary by state and company. Some employers pay out unused vacation; others don't. Know your employer's policy.

Save personal files and contacts

Before you give notice, back up anything personal that lives on work systems: contacts, documents you created, anything you'd want access to afterward. Once you resign, you may lose access to company systems quickly, sometimes same day. Don't wait until your last day to think about this.

Giving Notice

Two weeks is the standard. For senior roles or specialized positions, more notice is sometimes appropriate. You'd know if that applies to you. For roles where you're being mistreated or the environment is genuinely harmful, less is defensible. Two weeks is the professional baseline.

Tell your manager first

Not a colleague, not HR, not a friend in the office. Tell your direct manager, in person or on a video call. A resignation deserves a direct conversation. Send an email only if that's genuinely not possible. Telling anyone else before your manager is a breach of professional courtesy that will get back to them.

Keep the conversation short and professional

Say you're resigning, give your last day, thank them for the opportunity, and offer to help with the transition. That's all the conversation needs to be. You don't owe them an explanation of where you're going or why you're leaving. The more detail you give, the more complicated it gets.

Follow up in writing

After the conversation, send a brief resignation email to your manager and CC HR. Keep it professional and brief: your name, your role, your last day, a thank-you. This creates a formal record and confirms the details.

What to Say, and What Not to Say

The impulse to finally say everything you've been holding back is strong, especially if you're leaving a frustrating situation. Resist it. A resignation is not the place for that conversation, and what you say on your way out tends to follow you.

If you have real grievances, and you might, there are two appropriate places for them: the exit interview, where they're generally kept confidential, and a private conversation with someone you trust outside the company. Not the resignation conversation.

Your Final Two Weeks

How you spend your notice period matters. The people you're leaving are the ones who'll be writing your references and answering calls about you for years.

• Keep working. Some people mentally check out the moment they resign. Don't. Do your job to the same standard as before. Your reputation includes how you finish.
• Document your work. Write clear handoff notes for anything ongoing: where things stand, what needs to happen next, where files are kept, who the relevant contacts are. It's one of the most useful things you can do for the team you're leaving.
• Train your replacement if asked. If your employer wants you to help onboard someone before you leave, do it genuinely. It's an inconvenience, but it's the right thing to do and leaves a strong final impression.
• Say proper goodbyes. A brief message to colleagues you've worked closely with is appropriate. Not a dramatic all-company announcement. Keep it warm and simple.
• Don't take anything that isn't yours. Company data, client lists, proprietary information. Even if you think it would be harmless, the risk isn't worth it.

The Exit Interview

Many companies conduct an exit interview with HR before your last day. This is optional in most cases, despite how mandatory it may feel,, and what you share is up to you.

If the company has real problems and you want to flag them constructively, an exit interview is the appropriate place. HR is supposed to use this feedback to improve things. Whether they actually do depends on the organization.

If you're leaving on good terms and simply moving on, the exit interview can be brief and positive. You don't need to manufacture grievances to fill it out. "I've had a great experience here and I'm ready for a new challenge" is a complete answer.

One thing to avoid: making specific negative comments about individuals that could cause problems for them or create legal complications. Systemic feedback ("the onboarding process could be clearer") is different from personal attacks ("my manager plays favorites"). The former is useful. The latter can come back to you.

After You Leave

A few things worth handling in the weeks after your last day:

• Update your LinkedIn and resume
• Roll over or transfer your 401(k). Don't leave it sitting in a forgotten account
• Update your health insurance. If there's a gap, look at COBRA or marketplace options
• File for unemployment if you were laid off rather than resigned. You may be eligible even if you're job hunting
• Connect on LinkedIn with colleagues you want to stay in touch with before access to company directories disappears