The most important thing to remember when resigning is to treat the resignation like any other business transaction. A transaction that will benefit your career and ultimately your personal and financial goals. Make sure to leave any emotions out of the resignation discussion with your manager. This can lead to statements you may regret at a later time and potentially close the door on receiving a professional reference from this employer.

The resignation conversation should be direct and to the point. Your formal conversation should be scheduled as soon as you have made a decision and have received all of your offer documentation and materials from your new employer. Make sure to schedule a meeting with your manager in addition to completing and signing a formal resignation letter.

Although you are not required to tell your present employer the name of your new company, it is important to confirm that you do not have any non-compete or contractual obligations. It is common for organizations to enforce contracts that can prevent you from working for a competitor or similar industry. Consult an attorney or legal counsel if you have any reservations about your current contract. This will eliminate any rebuttal from your manager during your resignation and reduce any counter measures.

The overall meeting should be quick and to the point. Most resignation conversations can be completed in 10-15 minutes. This will minimize any opportunity for discussion with your employer during the meeting. It is encouraged not to leave any room for discussion or debate during the resignation process. Simply state you have accepted a new opportunity and have committed to transitioning into the new role immediately. Be sure to discuss a reasonable transition period of your current responsibilities. A professional transition period is usually 2-3 weeks.

Although your manager may not be happy, be sure to take the initiative and express your main points to end the meeting quickly and move forward with the transition process. The more opportunity you permit an employer to ask questions, the more difficult it will be to end the meeting. Remember to submit your signed resignation letter to your immediate manager or appropriate company representative. If necessary, make arrangements for an exit interview with Human Resources.