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  |  Finding a Job  |  Changing Jobs  |  How to resign with grace
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How to resign with grace

by Irene Krechowiecka

question
I'm about to resign from a job and I have no idea how to do it. Working there was pretty rough. But that's not the sort of thing I can put in my resignation letter. Please help. I want to leave on good (ish terms), but don't want to have to lie. Part of me is even considering telling my manager how and why it was so awful working for her. Any advice?

answer
Write what you really think, no holds barred. Say everything you want about how dreadful it was, then put your letter aside for a couple of days. Having got all that anger and resentment out of your system should make you feel better. Then it should be easier to take an objective look at your original letter of resignation and do another version. You don't have to lie, but there's little point in antagonising. You can do this by taking the stance that you're sorry to feel there's no alternative other than leaving because the situation has become demoralising and unproductive.

Start with the positive, say what attracted you to the company in the first place and mention any aspects of the work that you enjoyed. Then go on to explain why you are going in straightforward and unemotional terms. It is difficult to write about the one person who made your life unbearable, but you can hint at it by mentioning personality clashes. Areas such as lack of career development or training are easier to highlight.

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