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How to Resign Professionally

Handing in your notice can be a nerve-racking experience! There are various reasons for someone to resign, and most individuals will need to resign from a role at some point in their career. You may want to move on for career development, be taking a career break or in some cases be unhappy with your working environment. No matter the reason it is always best to make sure the process is amicable and handled professionally.

Below are some points to keep in mind when resigning.

Meet your manager

If you want to leave the company on good terms, a face-to-face talk with your manager is the best way to do this. Ask for a meeting in a private room or their office rather than announcing it to the entire office in an open plan setting! Have a plan together of what you’re going to say and your reasons for resigning. Keep it short and positive rather than pointing out any negative reasons for you moving on. Your manager should also be the first person to be aware of your resignation as a courtesy. You should also make a follow up appointment or let your manager know you will be submitting a resignation letter shortly.


Follow up with a letter

After your meeting, you should submit a formal resignation letter advising your proposed leaving date (in line with what your notice should be). You can also outline briefly your reasons for leaving and express what you have learnt in the role. Finish the letter by thanking your employer for the opportunity you have had to work with them.


Don’t burn your bridges

Make sure your departure is an amicable rather than burning your bridges! Just because you are leaving the company doesn’t mean you will lose all your contacts there, professionally or socially. You may be asking your line manager for a reference in the future or stay in contact with colleagues you have been close to. Future connections, especially in a place like Dubai can be a real advantage when you are on the job market, so make sure you leave on friendly terms. You can also leave a goodbye message to your colleagues letting them know of your departure, and leaving contact details behind to stay in touch.


Give plenty of notice

To help keep everything on good terms, make sure you give plenty of notice of your resignation. Notice periods are generally 4 weeks, however this varies from company to company. Make sure you read through your contract to know exactly what your notice period is. This may also be different if you are still in a probation period. Show you are willing to work on any outstanding projects you have during your notice period and keep work ethic at the same level as when you started. Slacking off when you are about to leave won’t leave a good lasting impression on the company!


Your next role

If you are resigning to start a role at another company, make sure you have an offer letter and a start date confirmed in writing. You will also want to choose when to hand in your resignation depending on how much notice is needed for your new start date. This will also help prevent any employment gaps.


Saying goodbye is never an easy thing to do. Just remember when you leave your company to keep it professional and on good terms!

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