Recent questions and our responses to the topic of resignations from the great people who visit My Writing Resources.

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Q: I gave plenty of advance notice that I am resigning to join another firm. After I turned in my notice, my manager has become unpleasant to me. We had a good working relationship before now. What happened? Did I do something wrong?

A: You may have done nothing wrong. Managers are human. Sometimes they get caught up in the "loyalty" conundrum. It dictates: Leaving the company to go to another firm - possibly a competitor - is being disloyal. Don't buy into it. In today's job market and "at will" employment regulations, there is very little in the way of loyalty. You have to take care of your career first.

Another possibility is that he is simply not happy to lose you and your skills. It means he will have to recruit for the next person to fill your shoes. Try not to take it personally. Be a professional and do your job during the last days on your old job. When you leave, consider writing a short note thanking him and the company for the experience.

Q: What if my manager asks me to stay longer after submitting my resignation?

A: It depends on your situation. If you have already accepted a new job with another employer, then it would not be advisable to delay the date. Please refer to the section on How to Resign from Your Job for more tips and advice.

If on the other hand, you do not have a job pending and you are on good terms with your boss, you could delay your final day to accomodate your manager's needs. It would, however, be a good idea to set a revised last day so that you and your manager have an agreed upon timeframe for your departure.

Q:  is it ethical to take business from a company when you resign?

A: No it is not ethical to woo customers away from a firm you left. Nor is it ethical to take and use insider information that is proprietary to your former company. However, in some fields (such as sales where perhaps you are responsible for large corporate accounts), it is possible that your customer contacts will follow you when you move on to another firm. In some highly competitive industry sectors, you may have signed a contractual agreement (non- compete) that prohibits even talking to your former customers for a fixed period of time. Be careful not to violate it, as your new firm could be sued and you could end up out of a job.

Q: I have been stuck working for a terrible boss in a small company. There is no hope for a transfer and I have decided that the right course of action is to resign. Is it possible for my resignation letter to make the company management rethink what happened?

A: It sounds like you are comfortable with your decision to move on. Good! Even if your supervisor is a total jerk and loser, it is not likely that your resignation letter will change minds at the company. Changes in a company - based on a resignation letter - only happen in low-budget TV dramas. Move on: Don't waste your time or energy trying to rescue your firm. Instead, keep your resignation letter as simple, brief, and focused as possible. Do not include details of problems or suggested remedies. Example Negative Resignation Letter

Q: Will my employer accept my resignation if I send it via e-mail?

A: It is becoming a more popular form of communication. However (unless your relationship is strained or you are too angry to be civil), it is better to call a meeting with your immediate supervisor and let him or her know of your decision to resign. If the situation is really unpleasant, you might want to inform someone in the Human Resources department.  

Q: I just received an offer from a new company. I will give notice to my old firm. Should I take my offer letter into a resignation meeting? 

A: No. Absolutely not! Politely (but firmly) refuse to share details with your old firm about the new job includng your salary, benefits, location or anything else. To be very blunt, it is none of their business. If you are asked, reply, "I am not at liberty to disclose that information." For more information on your exit meeting click and skip down to Tip #10 What to say (and avoid saying) in your resignation meeting

Q: I just learned that I did not get a promotion I interviewed for. I'm upset and want to resign. Should I?

A: It is understandable to be upset and dissapointed. But it would be unwise to resign based primarily on the emotions you are feeling right now. No, you should not resign just yet. Ask yourself, do I still feel good doing my current job? Is this generally a good company/department? Are there training courses that I could take to make my skills more valuable? Should I go back to school to position myself for more career advancement? When the emotions have subsided, go back to the assessment of how well you did on the promotional interview and see if you did anything wrong during that process. Keep in mind that the person who was selected might simply be better qualified for the position than you are today. Rethink how you did

Q: I'd like to write a letter to customer informing them that I am leaving the company. What should I say?

A: The letter should be short and positive. It should refer the customer to someone who will be taking your place. You may want to cc the person who can follow up with your customer. You can state that you will be moving to a new area of the country and a new firm. However, if the firm is a direct competitor to the company you are leaving, it would not be ethical to mention the name. Be sure to thank your customer for his/her loyalty to your company and products. Close with best wishes.

Q: What will happen if I simply resign without informing my employer?

A: It is considered unprofessional and you will burn a bridge by doing so. As an ethical employee, you should always give your employer written notice of your resignation and (unless your contract calls for more notice) provide at least two-weeks advance notice of your last day. More

Q: Can I resign if I have made a huge career mistake?

A: There are instances when an otherwise great employee makes an error on the job or fails to get a promotion. Guilt or dissapointment can result in submitting a resignation during an emotional moment. A good supervisor, realizing that this is not normal for someone who is an asset to the company should ask the employee to take some time to rethink such a decision before submitting his/her resignation.

Q: Does an employer have to accept my resignation?

A: Unless you are under a contract, it is illegal (in the U.S.) to keep employees as indentured servants. If you submit your resignation, you are free to leave the company. More

Q: If I give my notice of resignation, do I lose my right to handle any matter about the company?

A: If the company doesn't do it, you should. The moment you submit your resignation, you let go of any responsibilities where your actions could be interpreted as representing the company. It is part of letting go so that you can move on to your next job. As matters come up,you should hand them back to your supervisor or the person designated to replace you.

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