What to Say When Resigning Verbally (Examples and Advice)

Quitting a job is never easy, I’ve had to do it a few times and I always found it hard to tell my boss.

So, I know what you’re feeling, and I also know what you can say to quit in the right way.

Here are some tips and things to keep in mind when quitting your job, and what to say when resigning verbally:

What to Say When Resigning Verbally

How you tell your boss you’re resigning verbally is going to vary a little based on your individual circumstances, but there are some things that’ll apply to most people.

These are:

• Keeping it professional, no matter how you feel about leaving
• Giving them all the information they need about why and when you’re leaving
• Notifying your boss of your notice period and when it will start
• Telling them you’re willing to help with the hand over etc
• Thanking them for the opportunity and how they’ve helped you

A lot of people think they’ll leave in a blaze if they don’t like their job, or will rub it in their boss’s face if they’re moving on to something much better.

But this rarely happens when emotions have settled, and honestly, it’s just poor form to act unprofessionally.

The best thing you can do is be humble and respectful, even if you are leaving on bad terms, and it’ll make you look better for it!

Related – This is what you should do if you think you’re about to be fired.

Examples of What to Say when Verbally Resigning

Some of the things you might want to say and how to word your resignation are:

• “I’ve landed a new job so I’ll be giving my two weeks’ notice starting from next Monday” – This is fairly short and blunt if that’s what you’re looking for.
• “I’d like to thank you for the opportunity and tell you that I appreciate all you’ve done for me. I’m resigning effective two weeks from today” – This is a little longer and shows your appreciation.
• “I’m a bit sad to say this, but I’ve found another job so this is me handing in my two weeks’ notice. Thanks for all the opportunities you’ve helped put my way during my time here.” – This is one if you’re genuinely sad about leaving but know it’s for the best.
• “I’ve had a great time here, but it’s time for me to move on and experience new challenges. I’m handing in my two weeks’ notice as of today.” – Another short and direct way to tell your boss you’re leaving.
• “This was a tough decision to make, but I’ve found a new job. You’ve been great to me, as has the company. I’ve enjoyed my time here, so I thank you for that, but it’s time for me to move on.” – Another verbal resignation for anyone who liked their job.
• “Just a quick one – I’ve got a new job so I’m handing in my notice today, thanks!” – This is all you need to say if you really don’t want to talk about it or aren’t on good terms!

Of course, you will need to adhere to your company’s policy regarding the notice period, and whether or not you need to email your HR department, etc.

But hopefully, you can say something similar to the lines above.

That’s all there is to it really, you can see what your boss says in return and where the conversation goes from there.

But as long as you’re making it clear that you’re handing in your notice and you have a new job lined up, it’s then on them to sort out the things they need to do.

How Best to Tell Your Boss You’re Resigning

There is a time and a place for resigning, and it’s respectful to at least try and deliver the news to your boss at a good time.

For most people, this means during work hours and not catching them outside of work or after you’ve clocked out.

You should also try to catch them at a time when they’re relatively free, so they can give you their full attention and you’re not interrupting them in the middle of a meeting or something.

All in all, it’s best to catch them during work hours in their office or a place where you can have a private conversation.

It can be difficult having this conversation one-on-one, but it’s necessary.

Your boss may ask you some questions you don’t want to answer, like why you’re leaving, where you’re going etc.

So, either prepare yourself with answers to those questions or simply say that you need some time to think about all of that and you’d be happy to meet with them to discuss it.

Most companies hold exit interviews with employees who are leaving, so that’s usually a good time to prepare for answering any questions they may have.

Related – Here are tips for writing a thank you note to your boss after you’ve left the company.

Worried Your Boss Will Be Mad if You Quit?

You should never be worried your boss will be mad if you quit, even if you think they will be!

It’s your professional life and you have to do what’s best for you, even if that means leaving a job where they depend on you a lot.

Remember, they’ll always be able to find someone to replace you, but you can’t always find another opportunity as good as the one you’ve found.

So, if you’ve found a better opportunity and you’re ready to move on, then don’t worry about what your boss thinks or says.

Don’t worry about letting anyone down, because you’re not, and don’t ever feel guilty about quitting a job.

It’s business at the end of the day and I can guarantee you that your company would let you go without feeling guilty if they had to.

Go forward and progress your career in whatever way you can, you deserve it!

---

Image credits – Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash