Business and life

How not to quit your job

From the POV of someone who hired, fired and quit, I offer 3 tips on how not to quit your job, even if you experience a “last straw” event.

Earlier this year, after an arduous search and multiple in-depth interviews, the not-for-profit I work for hired a facilities manager.

Mr. M checked all the boxes: skilled, hard-working, well-organized, engaging and motivated. Soon it felt like he had always been part of the team.

Unfortunately the honeymoon didn’t last. On a recent, unusually frenetic day, Mr. M quit and walked off the job.

We were shocked and confused. None of us had any inkling that anything was amiss. The night before he sent the team a cheerful progress report on all the many projects taking place. Earlier on the morning he quit he stopped by my office with a smile and a wave and asked if there were any projects I needed taken care of that week. By midafternoon he was gone.

A week or so later, after an exit interview with management, Mr. M stopped by to say hello, and intimated that the door was not fully shut. He made some comments that suggested that his beef was with a specific individual, but vague enough that there was no way to confirm my suspicions. Also, I didn’t pry. It didn’t seem appropriate, and it would be unprofessional.

I admit I got a little excited when I saw him, we really needed “him” (well, the person we thought he was for the role we so badly needed him for) but as a former hiring manager, I thought: “but was the bridge burned?”

#1 Do not walk off the job

Unless your life is in danger, when you leave your post, you are not just “sticking it” to your supervisor, you are leaving your colleagues in a lurch. This is unprofessional. Be an adult. Take a time out if you must. Then once calm, give your two weeks’ notice.

#2 Do not play games

Quitting, then later insinuating that you may be “wooed” back feels manipulative. Instead, address the issue head on, through official channels. Talk to HR, your supervisor or your supervisor’s supervisor. If you still cannot agree, give your two weeks’ notice.

#3 Do not burn bridges

Sorry for the cliché, but it is a small world. Why risk your reputation? You never know when you might need a reference from a former supervisor. I was often a reference for former reports who left for greener pastures. So unless your employer is Facebook and you are whistleblowing, leave without wreaking havoc, it may serve you well in the future.

Originally published at https://typeshare.co.