How to Tell Your Boss You’re Quitting (and Stay on Good Terms)

July 2, 2024

Maybe you’ve just been offered an exciting new job, or maybe it’s time to shift careers or locations. Perhaps you simply could use a change. Now, you just need to do the thing that you dread: quitting your current job. Moving on from a job is completely normal, but sharing the news with your boss can be scary nonetheless. It might seem tempting to write up a quick email of resignation, hit send, and call it a day. However, it’s important to take steps to maintain a professional relationship with your current employer when you decide to quit a job. You never know when you’ll cross paths with someone in the future, or when you’ll need that letter of reference. Continue reading for suggestions on how to tell your boss you’re quitting and stay on good terms, as well as how to tell your boss you’re quitting on short notice.

How to Tell Your Boss You’re Quitting – Set up a meeting as soon as possible

Ideally, you would provide two weeks’ notice, or more, before quitting your job. This is standard courtesy in many workplaces, even though the practice is not set in stone and could be changing with time. However, it generally allows time for your boss to redistribute your responsibilities, which sometimes involves finding and training your replacement.

As much as you’d like to leave time, it doesn’t always work out that way, especially if you’ve been offered a new job that needs you to start immediately. If you find that you need to quit on very short notice (less than 2 weeks), do your best to notify your boss as soon as you can. In this situation, you can acknowledge the inconvenience of this quick turnaround. Without being too apologetic or overexplaining, you should offer to help with the transition in any way you can (we’ll get to this further down).

It’s best to set up an in-person meeting, and if this is not possible (due to a remote job or various time constraints), a video call or phone call are also acceptable options. We recommend conversations rather than email exchanges to promote productive discussions and clear communication.

Break the news (and get to the point)

This is the most difficult step. We recommend outlining and rehearsing what you will say ahead of time, in order to ease the conversation. As you prepare to verbally communicate your resignation, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Don’t apologize: even if you do feel apologetic, avoid saying “I’m sorry” when you resign. An apology can make the resignation seem less professional, as well as less certain. It also makes it seem like there’s blame to be placed, which there isn’t (as stated above, it’s perfectly normal to move on from a job).
Don’t use the words “I quit”: While you may have seen people saying this and then storming out of the room in a TV show or film, it’s best to avoid the drama in real life. Rather than saying “I’m quitting” or “I’ve found a better opportunity,” it’s better to frame it as “I’ve decided to accept another opportunity.” Your phrasing should be neutral and fact-based, so it does not put blame on your current job or boss.

How to Tell Your Boss You’re Quitting (Continued)

To avoid a situation in which your boss feels like their time is being wasted, it’s also best to be as direct as possible. In other words, get to the point. More can be said afterwards, but for now, it’s best to go right in and say it. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t be tactful and polite.

Your statement can sound something like this: “My skills have grown so much in this position, and I thank you for providing me with this job opportunity. However, I’ve received another job offer that I plan to accept at the end of my 2-week notice.”

This is a great statement because it’s simultaneously direct (getting quickly to the point) and polite (using kind language and expressing gratitude).

Don’t disclose too much, but remember why you’re quitting

You might be wondering how much to explain to your boss in terms of why you are quitting. The answer is, you don’t really need to disclose anything. Your boss is not entitled to know why you’re leaving, and this is not the best moment to brag about how much more money you’ll be making at your next job, or to complain about the issues of your current workplace. If it feels appropriate, you can present a simple explanation, such as, “I’m ready for a change in my career,” or “I’m moving on for financial reasons,” or “the new offer suits my life circumstances right now.”

How to Tell Your Boss You’re Quitting (Continued)

Whether or not you choose to disclose reasons for leaving, it’s important to remember your own reasons for leaving for yourself. What made you decide to quit? Were you craving more meaningful work that appeals to your passions? A higher salary? More stable work-life balance? Did your old workplace feel too disorganized or stressful? There are a number of valid reasons why you might be quitting (here are some signs it might be time to move on according to Harvard Business Review). While now isn’t necessarily the time to share these reasons, keeping them in mind can help you to remain firm and tactful as you have the conversation.

Offer to help with the transition

If you want to stay on good terms with your boss, a good idea to offer to help with the transition. By doing so, you will communicate that you understand the inconveniences that are inevitable when one quits a job. Offering to help also says, more or less, “I don’t want to leave you in a bad situation,” which demonstrates thoughtfulness and appreciation.

Here are some ways you can offer to help when leaving your job:

Identify strong potential replacements (either someone in your workplace who is deserving, or someone you know who works elsewhere)
Complete as many of your current projects as possible
Organize next steps for the projects you won’t be able to complete in time, and offer to delegate and explain those tasks to someone else
Train your replacement, if this is possible within the time frame

Express Gratitude

Everyone likes being appreciated, including your boss. When you quit, make sure you express your gratitude for the opportunities you’ve been given at this workplace. What have you learned from the projects you’ve been assigned? Have you made valuable connections, or discovered something about yourself on the job? Perhaps this job was even the reason you received your new opportunity.

You might want to consider sending your boss a thank you note after your resignation. Additionally, it wouldn’t hurt to write kind notes to certain coworkers you’ve worked closely with, thanking them for their support during your time at this workplace.

How to Tell Your Boss You’re Quitting – Write a formal resignation letter

In addition to meeting with your boss to inform them of your resignation, it’s standard practice to write and send a formal letter of resignation. This letter, put simply, serves as a record of your departure. Make sure that it formally expresses gratitude and clearly states your official last day of work. If fitting, include why you decided to quit. For more information, here are some resignation letter examples.

How to respond if your boss doesn’t take it well

Hopefully, your boss will respond kindly and want the best for you upon hearing the news of your resignation. Of course, there’s always a chance that their response will be less positive. If your boss expresses betrayal, disappointment, or anger when you communicate that you’re quitting, it’s best to remain calm. If you can, express empathy while also reminding them that you are making the best decision for yourself and your career.

Your response can sound something like this: “I understand and respect that you feel this way. However, I feel that this is the best decision for my career at this moment.”

How to Tell Your Boss You’re Quitting (Continued)

While it’s okay to acknowledge your boss’s feelings and to state how you feel, it’s best to stick to the facts rather than delving too deeply into emotions. Remember that you are not responsible for your boss’s feelings. At this time, it’s most important to express gratefulness to your boss while also honoring your own choices.

How to remain firm in your decision

And what if your boss tries to talk you out of leaving? What if they offer a raise or promotion to try to keep you around? This is another less-than-ideal situation that you could find yourself in, because it puts you in the awkward position of turning them down. In this scenario, you should thank your boss, but remind them that you stand by your decision.

It can sound something like this: “Thank you for that generous offer—I really appreciate that you have thought of me for this. However, I’ve already made my decision to accept another position”

How to Tell Your Boss You’re Quitting (Continued)

Yes, it will be tough. However, the last thing you want is to find yourself in a situation where you accept your boss’s new offer and then realize you still want to leave (and then, of course, you’ll need to do this all over again).

How to Tell Your Boss You’re Quitting – Final Thoughts

We all hope that quitting a job goes smoothly, with a well-planned two weeks’ notice and a kind response from our employers. However, if you need to quit in a hurry or your boss isn’t exactly pleased with your decision to leave, don’t fret. Hopefully, this article has given you the tools to gracefully quit a job under a variety of circumstances.

For more career advice, check out the following articles:

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Career & Life

Sarah Mininsohn

With a BA from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah is a writer, educator, and artist. She served as a graduate instructor at the University of Illinois, a tutor at St Peter’s School in Philadelphia, and an academic writing tutor and thesis mentor at Wesleyan’s Writing Workshop.