Quitting your job can be a tricky thing to navigate – whether you’re moving on from a role you love or a place you can’t wait to leave behind.
Following England’s shattering defeat at the Euro 2024 final against Spain this weekend, manager Gareth Southgate has announced that he will be resigning from his post, making way for a new gaffer.
The 53-year-old’s contract was due to expire in December, but after overseeing 102 matches throughout his eight-year tenure, he has decided not to negotiate its renewal with the Football Association.
Of course, leaving a job is hard at the best of times, but is arguably a little trickier when it’s playing out in the public arena. But how should we navigate our exit? And what happens if, like us average Joes, you don’t have millions to fall back on?
Charlotte Davies, a career expert at LinkedIn, shared her tips with Metro.co.uk.
Don’t burn bridges
Yes, some reasons for leaving a job will be more painful than others. But if you can help it, it pays to keep things as positive as possible – especially if you’re looking to stay in the same industry.
Charlotte recommends making sure you ‘express your appreciation for the opportunities you were given, the experiences you had and/or the relationships you built in the role.
‘Even if you’re completely changing careers, it’s a small world, so you never know when you might come across your current employer or colleagues again.’
It’s (usually) always better to end on a high.
Take advantage of an exit interview
Your exit interview is an important opportunity to make yourself heard – that includes any problems you may have experienced during your time at this job.
As such, it’s worth making use of this interview.
Charlotte adds: ‘The manager holding your exit interview will likely be taking the points you make into consideration, to support potential changes in the workplace and help to make things better for your colleagues in the future.’
Be open about why you’re resigning
Being open about why you’re leaving will likely prove a relief for you, and a decent employer will appreciate your honesty.
Charlotte says: ‘Whether it’s simply an irresistible opportunity for personal growth that’s come along or something they haven’t quite done right to keep you happy – as it could inspire some change to prevent others leaving for the same reason.
‘It’s also important to be clear about how definitive your decision is. Giving a clear indicator that your mind is made up will help avoid any further conversations around counter offers, which only prolongs the process and has the potential to become awkward.’
Work up until the end
It’s hard to keep that motivation up when you have one foot out the door, but try not to phone it in during your notice period.
Remember, there are still people who depend on you to get the job done during the time you have left there, and forcing them to pick up the slack wouldn’t be fair.
It also wouldn’t do well to leave them with a bad final impression of you.
Use your network
When it comes to preparing for greener pastures, there’s plenty you can learn from your connections.
‘People get new jobs and move on to new things every day, so don’t feel like you have to navigate resigning on your own,’ the team say.
‘You’re likely to find that those in your network will have plenty of advice when it comes to resigning the right way, so make sure to reach out to get their guidance and tips if you’re thinking of resigning.’
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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk
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