How to Protect Yourself Before Resigning From a Job

How to Protect Yourself Before Resigning From a JobHow to Protect Yourself Before Resigning From a JobYou have been with a company for several years.At one point, you were viewed as indispensable to the company.Co-workers feared the idea of you leaving. You were key to the companys success. If you were gone, everything would fall apartBut lately, going to work seems more like getting the red carpet treatment. You show up, make a few calls, write a few emails, and all else runs like a well-oiled machine.There are no challenges left and no room for growth. You know in your heart it is time to resign and let someone new take over.And now, you have an incredible offer from another company that is too good to pass up.Here is how to protect yourself before resigning in order to preserve your reputation and positive relationships.1. Start to talk like a person who is interested in exploring new opportunitiesThe brde thing you want to do is quit without a warning. Showing up, quitting, and l eaving the same day is an unprofessional move that leaves a company scrambling to avoid issues.If you know you are going to leave the company or thinking strongly about it, let your boss know about your problem with not being given new challenges, salary increases, or growth opportunities.The boss can respond in two waysStart making plans to replace youMake a solid effort to provide you with growth opportunitiesBe careful how you word this. If you break trust with your company by announcing, I am leaving soon, they will help you exit the company before you are prepared.Ultimately, by being transparent, when it comes time to leave, your decision will earn you respect.2. Proactively plan ahead to help the company when you are goneAll bosses are concerned with experiencing backfill after an employee resigns. They fear the possible workload and chaos that may follow with your departure.Create an exit strategy that helps the staff and boss deal with your workload after you leave.Try and finish up as much work as possible, too.Sitting around doing nothing for the last two weeks of your job ends your time with the company on a sour note.You want to be seen as a respected professional from day one, all the way up to the week after you are gone. Leave the company wanting more of you after you are gone.Your positive reputation may even get you re-hired down the road if thats what you want.3. Get active on LinkedIn againTime to start inviting those 2nd-degree connections to chat. Time to start messaging your 1st-degree connections.And start reaching out to those 3rd-degree connections, too.Let them know what you have been up to and that you are going to be job searching soon.Never say anything negative about your current job. Only have good things to say, if connections start to ask about your current company.Show yourself as the model employee any company would find valuable.Be helpful. Pay it forward and see if you can help others in your job search situation.4. Avoid keeping it real or getting emotional about quittingThere can be a temptation to keep it real when leaving a company, especially when you are not happy at work.Avoid revealing that true, dark side behind your decision to leave. Never get emotional and start pointing fingers at the company for doing wrong by you.You are on your way out of the company, but that does not mean your former company has lost its importance to your career growth. You will need references one day for future job interviews.The easy way out is to just quit and leave, but isnt that just being lazy and avoiding confrontation?Go out like a professional, which is the same way you came in.