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Politely and professionally quit your job (even if you’ve only been there a few weeks)
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Starting a new job and getting used to your new boss and coworkers should be an exciting time in your life. But it’s always possible that even after a few weeks (or just a few days), you realize that this job just isn’t for you. While quitting a job you just started is technically frowned upon in the professional world, it’s actually not that uncommon. In this article, we’ll walk you through when it’s okay to quit so early and how to say goodbye to your job so you can move onto a better opportunity.
Things You Should Know
- Schedule a meeting with your boss and let them know face-to-face that you’re quitting.
- Tell them that you just don’t feel like this was a good fit, or even that you’re moving on to a new opportunity.
- Give your 2 weeks notice, but don’t be surprised if your boss asks you to leave the same day or after just a few days.
Steps
Section 1 of 3:
Leaving Your Job
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Talk to your boss in person. If you’re in a remote role, call your boss on the phone or video chat with them. While it may be uncomfortable, your boss will appreciate getting to talk to you face to face and learn more about why you’re quitting so soon. [1] X Research source
- First, ask your boss for a meeting. You might say something like: “Hey, do you have time today for a quick chat? It won’t take more than 10 minutes.”
- Plan to talk to your boss for 10 - 15 minutes, or longer if they have questions.
- If your boss asks what you want to talk about, don't stress. You can always just say something like: “I just wanted to talk about my future here at the company.”
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Thank your boss and explain why you’re leaving. Keep your tone positive, and don’t harp on the negative aspects of the role or why it wasn’t a good fit. Instead, explain to your boss that you will be leaving, and thank them for hiring you in the first place. [2] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source
- “Unfortunately, I’ve come to turn in my resignation today. I know I haven’t been here long, but I don’t feel like I’m a good fit.”
- “I want to thank you for hiring me on and introducing me to the team. I wanted to let you know that unfortunately, I’ve decided to move on to a new opportunity.”
- Your boss may ask you to elaborate on why you’re leaving. In that case, say something like, “I’m not sure that I’m a great fit for the team,” or, “I’ve accepted a new opportunity that I just couldn’t pass up.” [3] X Research source
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Submit a formal letter of resignation. Before heading into the meeting with your boss, type out a resignation letter to hand them during the meeting. In the letter, detail when your end date will be and how much you’ve appreciated the experience you’ve gotten at their company. A formal letter provides proof of your resignation, and it also lets your boss know exactly when you’ll be leaving. [4] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source
- Just like your in-person meeting, keep your tone positive. Even if you dislike the job, the culture, or your coworkers, there’s no need to include that information here. Plus, the more positive of an impression you leave, the better; it's never a bad idea to have your past employer think well of you!
- If you’re quitting a remote role, email your letter to your boss after your meeting.
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Give your job 2 weeks notice. It’s always polite to offer to stay for about 2 weeks after you quit. Let your employer know that you’re willing to stay in the position for 2 weeks if they’d like you to. [5] X Research source
- Since you’re new, it’s likely that your boss will tell you they don’t need you to stay for the full 2 weeks (they may even ask you to pack up your things that same day). However, it’s professional and polite to offer. [6] X Research source
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Keep working hard until your official end date. After you submit a resignation letter, it can be tempting to phone it in and not do any hard work for the remainder of your time. To stay professional and leave on a positive note, try your best and do your job to the best of your abilities up until the day you leave. [7] X Research source
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Tips
- Adjusting to a new job can be difficult, especially if you left your previous position after a long time there. Give your new job a chance before you decide to call it quits. [14] X Research sourceThanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about transitioning jobs, check out our in-depth interview with Adina Zinn, MPA .
References
- ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/how-to-quit-a-new-job
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2014/06/what-to-do-if-you-already-hate-your-new-job
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/alison-green/how-to-quit-a-job-you-just-started.html
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2014/06/what-to-do-if-you-already-hate-your-new-job
- ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/how-to-quit-a-new-job
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/alison-green/how-to-quit-a-job-you-just-started.html
- ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/how-to-quit-a-new-job
- ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/how-to-quit-a-new-job
- ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/06/how-soon-is-too-soon-to-quit-a-new-job-you-hate.html
- ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/how-to-quit-a-new-job
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2014/06/what-to-do-if-you-already-hate-your-new-job
- ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/how-to-quit-a-new-job
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2014/06/what-to-do-if-you-already-hate-your-new-job
- ↑ https://www.inc.com/alison-green/how-to-quit-a-job-you-just-started.html
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