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document.write('6 Steps to Respectfully Quitting a Job
by Aaron Jubar
With the current jo');
document.write('b market and the state the economy is in, it is important for teens and young adults to grow accustomed to switching job');
document.write('s. Let\'s face it, quitting jobs and searching for new ones has become a rite of passage for many teenagers and it is bec');
document.write('oming a way of life for fresh college graduates.
Recent data show that the average college graduate will change c');
document.write('areers or jobs seven times by age 35. After age 35, however, the average college graduate changes jobs three times. Beca');
document.write('use detailed background checks are becoming standard practice, it is helpful to leave a trail of happy and appreciati');
document.write('ve employers in your wake.
One major thing that employers remember is the way in which an employee quits the ');
document.write('job. Here are some things to do so that you can quit your job while still maintaining the respect of your employer.
');
document.write('Step 1: Give Plenty of Advance Notice
The general standard is to give two weeks notice before your departur');
document.write('e. Some jobs may require less notice or it may be written somewhere in you contract that "employment may be terminated a');
document.write('t any time by the employer or the employee."
This might sound like a free ticket to pack up your things at a mome');
document.write('nt\'s notice, but I advise against it. Employers will appreciate as much notice as you can reasonably provide. And if you');
document.write('r job is highly specialized or requires lengthy training, give more than two weeks notice if at all possible.
St');
document.write('ep 2: Make Clear the Reasons for Your Departure
Your employer will most likely be curious as to why you are lea');
document.write('ving. Be honest and explain the situation in detail. Don\'t just say, "I don\'t like it here", or "It\'s just time for me t');
document.write('o go." Usually, your employer will understand the reason for your departure, even if they don\'t like the fact that you a');
document.write('re leaving.
And keep in mind that, during future interviews, you may be asked why you left your last job. By bein');
document.write('g completely honest, you can save yourself the trouble of having to remember anything other than the truth. Remember tha');
document.write('t your interviewer may very well consult with your former employer!
Step 3: Provide a Specific Date and Time of');
document.write(' Departure
The person you work for will appreciate an exact day and time in which you will be leaving the compan');
document.write('y. Not only does this allow the people in human resources to organize their paperwork on you, but it will also provide y');
document.write('our employer with an idea of when they need to hire new help, if necessary.
Try to avoid saying, "I\'m quitting in');
document.write(' a few weeks", or "I\'ll be leaving soon." Such statements are extremely vague. As soon as you know when you\'ll be leavin');
document.write('g, pass that information along to your employer.
Step 4: Finish Your Job on a Positive Note
It is not u');
document.write('ncommon for the last two weeks of a job to be entirely stressful. I recall one laid-back job in which I put in the stand');
document.write('ard "two week" notice. My employer was not too pleased that he was losing some help, so he piled on the work for the nex');
document.write('t 14 days. Knowing that my next potential employer would call for a background check, I kept the comments to myself and ');
document.write('finished my time there on a positive note. Later on, I came to find out that I received an excellent reference from the ');
document.write('boss who had piled on the work.
The way in which you handle yourself in the last few weeks (and days) is often wh');
document.write('at people will remember about you. Don\'t ruin your chances for jobs tomorrow by displaying a rotten attitude today.
');
document.write('Step 5: Retain Mailing Addresses and Phone Numbers of Your Employer
Try to keep a detailed list of contact ');
document.write('information of all your former employers. Many job applications require you to list more than four of your most recent e');
document.write('mployment assignments. By keeping an employer list handy, you can save yourself a great deal of time and trouble when fi');
document.write('lling out job applications.
In addition, you may want to use particularly good employers as references. Former em');
document.write('ployers can become invaluable when it comes to job searches and can be helpful with your efforts at "networking".
Step 6: Send a "Thank You" Card or Note.Even if you leave a job involuntarily or for other not-so-positive r');
document.write('easons, it is still a meaningful gesture when you show your gratitude and appreciation for the employment opportunity. E');
document.write('xplain in the note the valuable lessons you learned during your time there. Try not to dwell on the negatives of your em');
document.write('ployment, but instead focus on the positives. It will, once again, convey to your employer that you had given serious th');
document.write('ought to the decision.
Although the modern day job market is ruthless, honesty and integrity can still go a long ');
document.write('way. The memory of most people only goes back as far as the last time they saw you. Contrary to popular belief, bosses a');
document.write('nd employers are like most people. By following these simple and relatively painless steps, you can lay the groundwork f');
document.write('or positive references when you seek future employment.
Life Applications:
How many jobs have you ha');
document.write('d? Under what circumstances did you leave?
Do you see yourself working different jobs or settling in one company? E');
document.write('xplain.
What have you done to "build bridges" with past employers?
Copyright 2002-2008 by Aaron Jubar
All rights reserved.
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