How to Hand in Your Notice
You’ve now got through the gruelling process of a job search and the resulting interviews, and have accepted an offer. Making the emotional leap to search for a new job and embracing the unknown isn’t easy. Even if your next job is an internal move, the worry about expectations of your new boss and team can be excruciating. Remember this, people want you to succeed. That’s why you got the job and you’re in this situation!
Many of the people I place feel like handing their notice in is a betrayal and are reluctant to disappoint someone they have been working with and for. The truth is that people should move on. People should absolutely master the assignment they have been given, fix it and then pass it to the next person to polish and adapt to the new, current context.
Practically, it’s very easy. You need to start by scrutinising your new job offer and ironing out any wrinkles. Confirm your anticipated start date with your new employer and schedule fortnightly calls with them to stay in touch. If appropriate and convenient, perhaps meet for a lunch or coffee. Staying in touch in the lead up to starting your new role keeps things exciting and it will be a far smoother start for you if you have already started to form good working relationships.
Next you need to book some time in your current boss’s diary to hand your notice in. If this is an unusual thing for you to do, suggest that it is something personal you wish to discuss with them.
Then write the letter. Call me old-fashioned, having a piece of paper documenting what you want to say in a polite but direct way is a little like having a shield in battle, or an umbrella against the rain.
The letter should be short, spellchecked, complimentary and very clear. Avoid negativity or anything confrontational.
Specify your last day of work, be clear about unused holiday entitlement and make reference to your contractual obligations (i.e. restrictive covenants or non-compete clauses).
Hand the letter over with a smile and explain that you have secured a new opportunity within a business that you are very excited to be joining.
Thank your boss for the opportunity you are leaving, while wishing them every success for the future and letting them know that you have enjoyed working with them. In an ideal world you will have engineered a successor to you who is ready to pick up your responsibilities.
Do not feel the need to overly explain or defend your decision to leave and make it clear that you have spent time thinking through your decision and that now is the right time. Firm but polite.
Buyback – this is a dirty word in recruitment, however it needs some thought.
If the motivation for your job search is to provoke a response from your current employer, (either promotion or salary rise), you need to think carefully about whether this really is the place you should invest your career in. You ought to be able to have this conversation with your boss or HR contact without holding them to ransom. Many businesses will have talent mapping strategies and will schedule career routes for employees based on company direction and performance. Buyback has a very limited runway and before you know it you are back considering your options and looking to move on.
Breathe! People don’t tend to change jobs regularly so it can be quite an ordeal to go through. Remember that the world will continue to turn on it’s axis and businesses will continue to operate. You aren’t letting people down by leaving, you are giving someone else an opportunity to grow.
If your boss has been on a similar career journey, they should remain a trusted ally. If you are leaving for a promotion, it’s useful to have someone you know and trust to bounce ideas off.
Plan your landing: Starting a new role in a new business or sector is exciting, and a lot to take in. Think about your first day, week, month, and quarter. Set some goals so you feel as though you are progressing and integrating well. You will find the whole onboarding process a lot smoother.
Earlier in my career I made a point of getting to know individuals in different service areas who shared my client base. This gave me insight, introductions and narrative for my sales calls but also helped me galvanise a support network that championed me and raised my profile within the wider business. We met once a month and remain friends to this day.
Going through the job search process and experiencing these feelings will ultimately make you a better boss. We should encourage, nurture and when the timing is right nudge people towards their own personal success. Being a mentor as well as a boss is an important part of your career progression.
If you would like any specific advice, please get in touch.
