Fashion Mode

A time may well come in your career when your resignation is required for you to move forward. But before it comes to this definitive action, there are several things to consider.

Firstly, you must be absolutely sure about resigning.

If you are considering resigning, you will (in most cases) need another job to move into. Unless you taking a glorious year-long sabbatical and enjoying life to the full - it would be prudent to secure another position of employment before casting your current job aside.

Once you are out of work, it can be difficult and testing trying to find a new job.

Hunting for a new job takes patience and perseverance. You will need to surreptitiously answer telephone calls and fill in application forms, and you will almost certainly need to escape during working hours to attend interviews.

So - be utterly certain and resolved that resigning (and finding a new job) is right for you.

Weighing it up your mind, you must ask yourself:

How determined are you to leave? What are your reasons - lack of opportunity for progression; dislike of working conditions/colleagues/boss; not enough money?

There are of course many more reasons. Just be rational and collected about summarising why you want to leave, speak to your friends and family about it. People you trust will give you some perspective and clarity on your thought-process.

And when you have justified your reasons to leave and made up your mind, ask yourself: would you stay put if you were offered more money or a promotion?

So, you are decided. Here are the two choices ahead of you:

You can either resign verbally or in writing.

The Written Resignation is standard procedure in most workplaces. It gives you ample time to prepare what you going to say and craft your reasons in a more linear fashion than perhaps when speaking. Writing is concise, professional and devoid of any ambiguity.

You can keep it very simple. Include your name, date of resignation and the person it's addressed to. By all means include your appreciation for your time there and any warmth you still hold for the company; but under no circumstance should you use it as a vehicle to voice any opinions you may have or slander the company. It is not a parting shot or final salvo against the tyranny of the workplace. You need a new job, right? Then you may very well require a reference, so do not leave on a bad note.

If you choose the Verbal Resignation, deciding to deal with your boss in person and talk over your reasons at a scheduled meeting, here are some guidelines that might help you through this thorny subject. (It is possible that your boss may schedule a meeting with you anyway to discuss your letter, should you send one first).

Have your reasons prepared, structured and defined. Waffling away about a muddle of problems will not indicate your intentions, and you will hear yourself putting forward an unconvincing reason for your departure.

You don't want to be belligerent or overly forceful, but be resolute and truthful about your feelings and your boss will listen.

Your boss will probably be somewhat disappointed in your decision. But if the exchange is amicable, try to highlight the positives you have experienced and benefited from during your tenure.

Perhaps if you are leaving because you loathe the job then there won't be a raft of positivity - but at least show appropriate gratitude and grace in the meeting. This will demonstrate you have made a considered decision as opposed to a rash and impulsive one.

And at all costs - retain your composure. If your boss becomes annoyed, agitated or even angry, do not change your tone or deviate from your initial strategy.

Your placid reasoning will give you all the leverage you need in the event of things turning sour. One would hope that if you act in good grace (as mentioned above) then your superiors would respect this and act in accordance.

If not, at the very least you can leave the office with your dignity and composure intact.

And that concludes your action of resignation. But the process may not end there - your boss may yet have an ace up his sleeve...

Expect to be "bought back"!