Cambridge Career Corner: Quitting Your Job

Welcome back to Cambridge Career Corner, the advice column by President Jennifer Graham. In today’s edition, we’re going to talk about quitting your job; how to do it right, and without guilt. Let’s get into it!

I was just offered my dream job. I am planning to resign but I love my boss, and my leaving will put a pretty big burden on him. He has often told me the place would fall apart without me, and I actually think it might! I’m feeling really guilty. I don’t think I can do this to him.

This is a pretty common question. Another similar situation occurs after an individual resigns and their boss tells them how disappointed he/she is because they were “just about” to offer the employee a big opportunity.

While loyalty is always a good thing, the question is loyalty to what… and for how long?

Accepting a job is not a promise to stay forever. It is a transaction. Your work and dedication are exchanged or traded for remuneration and opportunity.

If you have been a dedicated employee, working hard, doing your best and looking out for your company throughout your tenure, then rest assured you have been a loyal employee.

You are not doing anything wrong by quitting your job!

Consider this: You were probably a loyal fan of your university, but then you graduated and moved on. You certainly love your family and you are loyal to them, but that doesn’t mean that you agreed to live with them for the rest of your life. If you gave your company your best while you were there, then you have fulfilled your only obligation.

Change and transition is a natural part of a life. In the work world it is also the antidote to career stagnation.

That said, any decent human feels badly about causing hardship for someone, especially if they have been good to you, as it seems your boss has been. So, while leaving for a good opportunity is your right… and the right thing to do for you, your family and your career, you should try to make it as painless as possible for your boss. Here are some tips:

1. Pull off the band-aid.

Let them know as soon as you accept another offer (but wait until you have cleared a background check if there is one!) Procrastination isn’t fair to them and it’s hard on you. Note: vacation is a consideration here, but that is a topic for another advice session.

2. Offer at least two weeks.

But no more than three. Plan to work the whole time. You have been a great employee during your tenure, don’t start shirking now.

3. Offer to assist in the transition and then go out of your way to help as much as possible.

Provide as much information as possible to make it easier for your replacement to get up to speed. Note: Be sure to return ANY items that belong to the company. In addition to being the right thing to do, this is also very important for protecting yourself should questions arise later.

4. If your boss seems to WANT to make you feel guilty, shut it down quickly.

Take away any incentive for him to try to manipulate you or talk you into staying. Let him know emphatically that your “Decision is Final.”

5. Once you accept an offer, it’s important that you see it through.

Don’t waiver or allow yourself to seem wishy-washy about your decision. They may not show it today, but your bosses will respect your decisiveness and professionalism later. Who knows, you may end up working with them again or you may run into them at industry events and you will certainly need them as a reference in the future. Handling your departure in a straightforward way is good for your long term career health as well.

6. If your boss asks questions about why you are leaving, provide honest answers if you believe this will help him or the company.

For example, if you are leaving because your customers are complaining about a decline in service, or if you have not been given the opportunities you were promised. These are issues that your boss can try to correct in the future.

So, to repeat, you are not doing anything wrong by quitting your job. You are rightfully moving on in your career development. If your boss is the decent person you describe here, he will be happy for you. Great opportunities don’t come along often, and if you’re lucky enough to have been presented with one, then grab it and don’t look back!

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