How to Quit a Job and Leave Them Begging You to Come Back
Quitting a job can be a difficult decision, but there are times when it’s the best thing you can do for yourself.
Before you quit, make sure you’ve exhausted all other options and that you’re doing it for the right reasons. Your goal when you quit is to leave yourself in the best position possible.
I’ve noticed a lot of articles on this subject are clearly written on the behalf of the employer and their advice completely favors the company over you. This article is not like that.
Everything here is designed to put you in the strongest position possible and give you as many options as possible. I’ve quit, been fired, had employees quit and fired people enough times to know how it feels from both sides of the table.
Without further ado, let me answer the surprisingly common search query, “how quit a job.”
How Do You Know It’s Time to Quit
Knowing when to quit your job can be tricky. On the one hand, you don’t want to quit too soon and miss out on opportunities for growth and advancement. On the other hand, you don’t want to stay in a job that is no longer a good fit. So how do you know when it’s time to move on? Here are a few signs that it might be time to quit your job:
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- You’re no longer learning or growing. If you feel like you’re stuck in a rut and not learning anything new, it might be time to quit and find a position that will challenge you.
- You’re not being recognized or rewarded for your hard work. If you feel like you’re putting in a lot of effort but not seeing any results, it might be time to look for a job where your efforts will be better appreciated.
- You’re not happy. This is perhaps the most important sign that it’s time to quit. If you’re unhappy with your job, chances are good that it’s impacting other areas of your life as well. If you’ve tried to make things work but nothing has changed, it might be time to move on.
There are two main reasons that people quit, one decision is logical and the other is emotion. Both are valid.
Financial Decision
I’m not here to give you career advice, only to help you create the best strategy possible.
It’s a big decision to quit your job – one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are a lot of factors to consider, including whether you can afford it.
If you have savings or another source of income, then you may be able to comfortably quit your job. However, if you’re relying on your salary to pay the bills, you’ll need to think carefully about whether you can afford to quit.
Can you afford to live without a steady income? Do you have another source of income lined up? Are you prepared to deal with the possible repercussions, such as lower future earnings or difficulty finding new employment?
It’s important to remember that ultimately, only you can make this decision. Only you know how much financial security you need and how much risk you’re willing to take. So, ask yourself the tough questions and trust your gut – quit your job if that’s what feels right for you.
It’s very possible that you can make more money by moving laterally into the same position at another company than by moving vertically at your current position. Jumping between companies is one of the best ways to get a raise without waiting another year.
When I worked at Dell in the early 2000s every single employee in my department spent all day online applying for jobs at other companies. Everyone wanted to quit and we were all competing for the same jobs at other companies so we could get out of there. I couldn’t tell you how many of my coworkers and bosses I saw at job interviews for other companies.
Emotional Decision
It’s normal to feel disillusioned with your job. A survey by Gallup found that 70% of American workers are “not engaged” or “actively disengaged” in their work.
However, hating your job can be a sign that it’s time to quit. If you find yourself constantly dreading going to work, or if you’re unable to find any enjoyment in your daily tasks, it may be time to move on.
If you hate your job, leaving can give you the free time to start applying for jobs and going to interviews at competitors.
Is it Fixable?
The reason for leaving might be something that your company will repair if they become aware of the issue. If you’re leaving for financial reasons, ask for a raise that matches the offer from your new employer. If they match it, now you have better options available and if they won’t, you know you’ve made the right decision.
If there is a problem at work with your boss or coworkers, you can talk to human resources or an ombudsman. When I was at my previous job, a coworker was physically violent with me. I don’t know why but I had an adult bully. I told my manager and I never saw him again.
Start Building a Side Hustle Today
There’s no time like the present to start a side hustle. If you’re unhappy with your current situation or are simply looking for a way to earn some extra cash, starting a side hustle is a great option. With a side hustle, you can be your own boss and set your own hours. And best of all, you can quit at any time if you’re not happy with it.
This entire website is about building up your own revenue streams so that you have power over your options. You don’t have to stress about job bunting when you have some personal revenue coming in the door.
When I was fired in February of 2010, I didn’t have to look for a new job immediately because I was starting my first online business.
A side hustle is a project or business that you work on in your spare time outside of your regular job. But don’t let the word “hustle” fool you – a side hustle can be anything from starting an online store to freelance writing to dog walking. You wouldn’t believe how much a dog walker n New York can make. The STARTING salary is $50 an hour.
If you live in New York, I need to know why you’re not making six figures hanging out with dogs in the park all day?
The important thing is that it’s something you’re passionate about and that you can see yourself doing long-term. If you’re not sure where to start, please read my article on hobbies that make money.
Whether it’s a financial or emotional decision, there comes a moment where you need to leave your current employer.
Keep Your Mouth Shut
Let me be absolutely clear, if you tell a coworker that you’re thinking of quitting your job you are going to regret it. I don’t care if it’s your best friend at work, keep your mouth closed.
Allow me to give you a brief explanation. If you are work friends, the moment they know you are leaving or even thinking of leaving, the only thing that holds you together dissolves. They will still be there after you’ve gone and that means they now have to do everything they can to give themselves maximum advantage, including telling your other coworkers and boss your plans before you’re ready.
Do You Really Have to Give Two Weeks Notice?
Most articles on this topic tell you to give your job as much notice as possible and that training your replacement is your job and that you have some kind of obligation to the company you’re leaving. Those articles are written by corporate shills. I’m not here to tell you to work one extra day for a company you never want to see again.
Every decision you make should driven by your self interest. If you think your boss cares about you or the company wants the best for you, then I am about to disappoint you. They don’t.
You need to give exactly as much notice as your contract requires and not one second more. Any other advice is garbage and seeing that in so many articles is the reason I’m writing this.
You need to decide if you ever want to be able to work for this company again, if you want to maintain cordial relationships or if you want to burn the bridges and get out as quickly as possible.
If you are in a toxic work environment and you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, get out of there.
I can’t believe how many articles say the ‘standard notice’ is two weeks. Those articles were either written in the 1950s or in a foreign country. There is no law that states the two weeks notice timeframe.
If it’s in your contract you do have to deal with that. They aren’t going to sue you for leaving without notice as its nearly impossible to prove that you not working for two weeks left them financially damaged. However, they may without your last paycheck if you don’t give notice and that can be a whole hassle. But that is the only risk.
It’s not your job to help them find a replacement and anyone who says that it is, is not your friend. Be careful how much you trust that online “career coach.”
Finally, you don’t get to decide about that two weeks notice. I know employees who were walked out by security the moment they handed in that notice. Some companies know that it’s better to get you out the door before you enter that window of time where you no longer need them.
Plan your Transition
I see a lot of career experts and career coaches who make a living telling other people how to leave their current company properly but they’ve never done it themselves. Be careful who you listen to before you follow their advice. I admit freely that my goal is for you to start your own business and that will color all of my advice.
Before you quit, you need to decide if you need to pull the ripcord and get out of there as quickly as possible or if you have time to make a careful exit.
Save up money
One of the most common questions people ask themselves when they are considering quitting their job is whether or not they have enough money to do so. There are a few things to consider when answering this question.
First, consider your current financial situation. Do you have any savings? How much debt do you have?
What are your monthly expenses? If you don’t have much in the way of savings or if you have a lot of debt, it may not be the best idea to quit your job without another source of income lined up.
On the other hand, if you have a good handle on your finances and you feel confident that you can live on your savings for a period of time, then quitting your job may be a viable option.
Ideally you want at least three months of survival income before you hand in your two weeks notice (or one day’s notice).
Insurance Transfer
Before you quit your job, it’s important to understand how your health insurance coverage will be affected. If you have a job-based health plan, quitting your job usually means losing your health coverage. You may be able to temporarily continue your coverage through a program called COBRA, but it can be expensive.
If you’re quitting to start your own business, you may be eligible for a special enrollment period that allows you to buy an individual health plan outside of the normal open enrollment period. You can also consider joining a spouse’s health plan or buying a short-term health plan to tide you over until you find a new job with benefits.
Whatever route you choose, make sure you have some kind of coverage in place before you quit your current job. Otherwise, you could be facing high medical bills if something happens and you’re uninsured.
When you go without health insurance for a certain period of time, all the things that were covered by your previous insurance are now considered “pre-existing conditions” and no longer covered by insurance. So this one can be quite tricky.
When I lost my job in 2010, I had COBRA for a while and during that time I had to go to the emergency room for a heart incident. I’m definitely glad I had that insurance.
Benefits
There are other benefits with your current employer that you may need to look at before you leave. If you have stock options, a 401k, other retirement benefits or discounts, you want to deal with all of those before you jump ship.
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Most of them are pretty easy to handle, you just want to keep your eyes open before you hand in a formal resignation letter.
Get References
You need to dig into your company’s policies to see how they handle ex-employees. For example, Dell will only tell you the dates I started and stopped working there. They won’t say if I was a good or bad employee.
Knowing that can certainly affect your approach to dumping that old employer. If there’s not chance of a reference, then you don’t need to leave on good terms.
If you are leaving on good terms, ask for the letter of recommendation now rather than in the future. If you wait a few years until you need it, they might not work there anymore, they might not remember you, or even worse they might blame you if the person they hired to replace you was terrible.
Quit In Person Or Send a Formal Resignation Letter
This is a really personal question. In my experience quitting in person can be really stressful. Your employer switches into a self-defense mode. They will try and force you into an exit interview and through other processes that are 100% about protecting the company. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar.
Unless you really want to leave that door open to come back, you dont need to do anything special other than let your employer know that you don’t want to work there anymore.
When I quit working at Dell because of a back injury after being hit by a drunk driver, I could tell that the exit interview was by someone who viewed me with nothing less than disdain. Her only goal was to protect the company from me suing them. They want to get you on record saying you’re leaving to pursue other opportunities not that you felt unsafe.
They will then use this against you if you say something different in the future.
Now there may be some members of HR who are trying to take care of you, but you better remember who pays their checks and its not you. If you feel uncomfortable, just say that and quit via email.
I can’t believe how many articles say that you should quit in the most courteous way possible. That’s stupid. Have you ever been fired and thought, “wow, they sure were courteous. I’m not even mad I’m fired.”
If you have to return keys or other company property, then do that in person. When I left Toys r Us, I knew they would charge me for the vest if I didn’t return it on my way out the door.
In general, do what your contract states you have to and not one thing more.
How to Quit Like a Boss
When I end a relationship I like to make sure we’ll never get back together. That needs to be a conscious decision. When I lost my last job that was the end of the road for me. I haven’t had to bend my knee to an employer since February of 2010. Burning the boats forced me to go all in on my business.
Let me be clear about one critical lesson:
Your boss does not care about you.
The moment you decide to quit, they delete you from their lives. They focus on hiring a replacement. They are thinking about what comes after.
You can create a transition plan, prep your coworkers and train your replacement. Your boss still won’t give you a second thought a week after your gone.
When you decide to quit, you need to remove all power from the dynamic. They can’t hurt you anymore. They can’t write you up, give you a demerit, or fire you.
If you have any vacation or personal days, use them all up. Take that two-week vacation and spend it job hunting. The hiring process for a new job usually takes a few weeks, so start it as soon as you can in this cycle.
You can quit your job gracefully if you’d like, but nobody will care.
Ways to Quit Your Job
If I read more more article about how you need to quit like a Southern Gentlemen, I’m going to tear my hair out.
You just have to let them know you don’t want to work there anymore and when you’re going to stop working. Everything beyond that is pure foolishness.
You can quit in person, write a resignation letter, call them, text them or send an email. You juts want to let your boss know.
This company let everyone know they were fired over twitter.
The last employee who quit let me know he’s found a new job in a message. He was gone the next day. I didn’t complain about his lack of calligraphy and hand-written resignation letter. I just worked on assigning new people to his tasks.
Leave them Begging You to Come Back
If you try to trash your company’s servers or destroy all your SOPs, then your employer will seek vengeance. You don’t want to do anything actively against them and be aware that most companies have plans for this. I certainly do. There’s nothing an employee can destroy that we couldn’t repair or replace within a day or two. So there’s no point.
It’s better to leave on neutral terms if you can’t leave on good terms.
The best way to leave them begging you to come back is to keep your critical knowledge to yourself. If you were going above and beyond at your job, then your replacement won’t be able to step into your shoes.
A smart company develops a process and SOP for exactly this reason. If someone wants to quit, I don’t have to ask them to create an instruction manual, it’s already done. This means employees don’t need to give notice.
But if you’re employer is underpaying you, refuses to give you a raise you deserve or treats you poorly you are under no obligation to train your replacement. You don’t need to say goodbye to your coworkers.
Unless they are deranged, they really won’t care.
I once had a coworker upset that I hadn’t told him I was leaving my job and I couldn’t care less. I thought it was weird because we were still neighbors it wasn’t like he would never see me again.
I don’t really want to be friends with people who think I owe them some kind of social obligation just because we once worked in the same building.
There’s nothing worse for an employer than realizing the new employee isn’t nearly as good as you were. When they have that feeling, they will realize they should have given you that raise.
I’m a boss and I’ve had that feeling about a few employees.
That’s when you have all the power.
Ready to leave the job you hate and find the fastest path to online wealth? Learn the best asset you have right now to leverage income and build financial run way in my bestseller "Fire Your Boss." Click here to download the book for free.