Great Resignation: how to quit your job without burning bridges

A quarter of Aussie workers are looking to swap jobs as the Great Resignation continues – but experts say there’s a right way to move on.

One in four Aussie workers are still looking to swap jobs, causing continued disruption to workplaces.

New insights from software company ELMO reveal the Great Resignation is far from over, with 25 per cent of workers considering a new role, unchanged since the start of the year.

But experts warn those taking up opportunities elsewhere should be careful not to burn bridges with their old employer, citing a growing number of workers who return to their previous workplace down the track.

In addition to so-called “boomerang workers”, more employees are unwittingly returning to their former company through mergers and acquisitions, whereby their old employer takes over their new one, Gartner HR vice president Aaron McEwan says.

“I don’t think it was ever good to burn your bridges,” McEwan says.

“But it’s certainly become more important to leave (your employer) on good terms because it’s a far more likely outcome that you will go back to them at some point.”

Don’t leave work unfinished

Leaving a job on good terms is important. Picture: iStock

Ensuring all your major projects are finished before leaving the company, as well as tidying any loose ends, is essential to remaining on favourable terms with your former boss, McEwan advises.

“The worst thing you can do is leave a landmine or a hand grenade that blows up after you leave,” he says.

“If anything goes wrong (after you leave), it’s very easy to blame it on the person that just walked out.”

McEwan says while it’s not necessary to provide reasons for your departure, doing so can “help the parting process” and most bosses will understand if you receive an offer that is too good to refuse.

It is also important to give adequate notice of your resignation so the company has time to find a replacement and transition them into your old role, he says.

“The reputation that you leave (your previous company) with is the reputation that will follow you (to the next job) so make sure your actions in the last days or weeks or months are appropriate,” McEwan says.

Remain confident

Conversations about resigning can be awkward but, wherever possible, it’s important to portray confidence, body language expert Louise Mahler says.

“Try not to give away your emotions … and remember to smile,” says Mahler, a member of the SmileDirectClub Confidence Council.

“Stand up straight to project your voice properly and give the impression that you are speaking with confidence … (and) be sure to keep your arms by your side or even open them as a sign of understanding of the difficult conversation.”

Mahler says it is never professional to “storm off in a huff”, even if your decision to quit is based on poor treatment or other circumstances outside of your control.

“It will come back to bite you at the most inopportune moment and potentially impact future work opportunities,” she says.

Leaving on good terms

Tom Flannery has run into his former boss and work mates several times.

Career changer Tom Flannery is grateful he parted ways with his former employer on good terms.

Since moving from a restructuring company to a finance role last year, Flannery has bumped into his former boss and work mates on several occasions – even being seated next to his old business partner at a networking breakfast.

“There are some instances where it can be slightly awkward,” he says.

“But I think if you take it head on, make an effort to say hello and go about it in the right way, then it can be just like any catch up and they’re genuinely interested in what you are up to.

“These experiences (of seeing old colleagues) have definitely highlighted the importance of not burning bridges, especially as you never know where the next opportunity can come from.”

Flannery says while he enjoyed his old job, he was ready for a new challenge following the “ups and downs” of the pandemic.

He says his former boss understood his decision to move on. And he made sure he notified all his co-workers in person to avoid them hearing the news elsewhere.

“I was fortunate to have gained a lot of mentors and friends during my last job,” he says.

“One of my priorities was to make sure I provided sufficient notice to my managers of my impending departure and show the level of respect that I had for my colleagues.”

Originally published as Great Resignation: how to quit your job without burning bridges