How To Quit Your Job the Right Way (Without a Marching Band)

Joey did not like his job at a hotel, where he said he and others like him were not treated properly.  As a way to retaliate, Joey brought his friends from a marching band with him for a public quitting that he videotaped.  Watch as Joey breaks every cardinal rule associated with quitting one's job. 

Here is what most people should do if they plan to quit a job:

Never Quit Out of Anger: Think before you make a decision to quit. We are still dealing with an unstable economy and you need to know which companies are even hiring before you think about leaving your current job. Without a backup plan, you will regret your decision. Especially when you can’t collect unemployment, have trouble finding a job and realize that you cannot pay your bills. Breathe.

Have a Backup Plan: You may want to have a job to go to before actually taking action. Update your resume and your LinkedIn page, reach out to your contacts and start your job search. When you have an offer and know for sure that you will have money coming in, it’s time to get the ball rolling on leaving your current situation.

Don’t Burn Your Bridges: Write a thoughtful letter of resignation and discuss what you have learned and what you appreciated about your time at the company. Try to glaze over any negative reasons for leaving with words like, “I feel after so many years, it was time to take on a new challenge.” And despite writing a letter, make sure you speak with your supervisors. Kill them with kindness.

Give Ample Notice: The standard is usually two weeks, but if you are a vital person that will be hard to replace, and you’re not going to start at Company B in a month, you should be open to the idea of giving more time if needed. If you are just quitting, because you just want to take a break from working, you should be receptive to the idea of working longer than two weeks until they find a replacement. Set parameters and give deadlines, because some companies might take advantage of your generosity.

Stay in Touch: Even if you are working for a different company, it doesn’t hurt to shoot an email wishing your previous employer well during the holidays or just because you want to show you still care. And if you have friends at the company, social networking allows you to stay in contact and keep up with the latest gossip. If the situation arises, you may want to go back to work for your previous employer and this is your best opportunity to keep your name in their heads and be in the loop should a position open.

As for Joey, maybe he can get a job leading college marching bands during football games.  Good luck Joey.  Good luck. 

--Jon Minners, Vault.com