Learning to quit your job with grace is important. According to a recent Gallup poll in 2016, nearly six in 10 Millennials are open to getting a new job at any given time. It makes sense; after all, Millennials take pride in working for an organization with purpose. If they aren’t happy where they are, they are willing to try something new if it means finding purpose in their work.
On top of that, sources claim that Millennials want more freedom and autonomy in their job. According to business development associate, Ross Quinn, guidance in the workplace is necessary, but micromanagement is a recipe for disaster.
“It does help having some sort of guidance or training to mesh with that,” Quinn noted. “We’re maybe like house cats. We’re like, ‘Pet me. Pet me. Pet me. Don’t pet me anymore!’ We’re complicated, but we can also survive on our own.”
This has branded this generation as the “Job Hopping Generation,” but Millennials aren’t afraid of commitment. Rather, Millennials care about their work now more than ever.
Millennials typically want to work in a job with three crucial components: that the job has a meaningful impact, heralds transparency, and guarantees a decent work-life balance.
Many companies have picked up on this trend, showcasing their values to new hires. But when the rose-colored glasses come off and the company doesn’t stick to their values, Millennials won’t hesitate to look for a new job that better aligns with their goals and interests.
Gone are the days where hardworking professionals will put a company’s interests before their own. Back in the day, an employee would only leave if their CEO was caught in a crime, like fraud or embezzlement. In fact, a recent study found that women are behind 51% of embezzlement crimes.
But today, employees care about what they do and who they work for. If you’re one of the many job hoppers hoping to land a new career, try these tips to help quit your current job with grace and dignity.
- Quit with as little pain as possible: When you’re ready to move on to bigger and better things, try to make your transition out of the company as painless as possible. Whether you enjoyed your time at your current company or not, be sure to give your employer plenty of time to replace you. Many claim that you should give upwards of two weeks’ notice, but a good rule of thumb is to quit your job about a month out, typically ranging between 30 and 45 days. This way, you can tie up any loose ends within your company, give your job ample time to find a new hire, and even train the next person properly to take your place.
- Consider leaving a gift: One way to ease the tension during an exit interview is by padding bad news with a gift. Not only can this work to lessen the blow of your departure, but it can also be a great opportunity to express that you valued your working relationship. Try to find a great gift that your boss or coworkers will appreciate to let them know you enjoyed your time there. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to break the bank; while elegant glass mosaics have been around 300 years before the birth of Christ, a simple picture of your team in a pretty frame or beautiful potted plant will more than suffice.
- Quit in person: While we all wish that we could leave our job with a simple email or text message saying, “C U l8r,” this isn’t the most professional way to leave your job. In fact, you should always leave your job in person. This shows that you have respect for your job and boss, but more so, it shows you have respect for yourself. Deliver a letter outlining your intent to quit and talk over your departure with your boss at the end of the workday.
Quitting a job can be hard, but the new trend among employees demands only the best from their work environment, meaning it is more important than ever to quit your job with grace. In your mission to find a job you love, know that it’s okay to quit a job here and there. When you do it with dignity and grace, you will look at your old job with gratitude instead of malice.