“I had a job insurance at an insurance company once, and the lady said, ‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’ I said, ‘Celebrating the fifth year anniversary of you asking me this question.”

• Mitch Hedberg

When we say ‘a job’, do we only refer to a task that procures income? If you harbour such a myopic perspective, then it would be difficult for you to ace that interview which almost every individual fears. Sitting on that chair, surrounded by one or more interviewers and then confidently framing creative answers to their easy questions which seem difficult due to our nervousness seems so perilous! The thought of not being selected leaves us confused, nervous, and petrified which is why we cock things up and our tongues start shaking! However, what if I tell you that a job is actually an experience to make you smarter, bolder, and strategic with regards to business which should help you have your very own business in the future? What if instead of fearing the loss of one job, you accept the ideology that there are many fish in the sea and there would be other recruiters who would definitely discern your talent, if not the current ones? Don’t shy away. Show your true self to the interviewers. Be honest and confident. Speak what comes to your mind without worrying about vocabulary! Job interviews see ones capability of handling complex situations creatively which is why, they may whack your nerve and create an intimidating atmosphere. But it is you and your hope in the end that everything happens for good! Perhaps you aren’t hired here because some greater opportunity is awaiting you- this method of thinking will automatically create a confident interviewee and your fear or nervousness would die down. Gradually, those interviewers would seem like friends to you and your tone would embrace honesty! However, there can be a negative part to this thought. Just because you know that other good jobs await you doesn’t mean you would completely lose interest in the current interview and recruiters. This thought is only meant to calm an individual down and encourage him to perform his very best without worrying rejection!

So, what exactly is a job? It is the way you handle people. It is an experience of working amazingly under pressure because mostly, people tend to screw themselves under strict deadlines which isn’t the accurate method of having your own business either. You don’t want your customers to wait for a long long time just because working under pressure isn’t your thing! Thus, a job is not a duty that provides income but an experience that helps one become independent. Yes, urgent need for income may be the reason for that former definition of a job but instead of working for money, one must work for work to get efficient results that bear fruit. Money is a sidelined concept that would keep pouring in with the fantabulous consequences of your efforts!

Reason 1

Now that you are working in that company of your choice after practically nailing the interview with the above given thoughts and creative actions, you suddenly receive a new opportunity that sits incredibly with your qualifications and area of interest. It is the spot where you wouldn’t just work for money. However, doing two jobs simultaneously wouldn’t be possible due to clash in timings which means you may have to give up on the current one. You decide to submit the resignation here and wonder why you ever felt nervous for job interviews in the first place. Jobs keep changing and so do your preferences. However there is yet another interview, that final rendezvous with your boss to explain him the reason behind your resignation. You can’t bluntly state that this job doesn’t fulfill your expectations and area of interest anymore which means creating a suitable excuse that seems appealing and digesting to the recruiter.

You approach his cabin, formally greet him, and ask for a seat to discuss something important. Of course, you don’t begin directly with that departing statement because you want the situation to be under control. Firstly, you give a brief speech regarding your experience with the company and its colleagues, how much you enjoyed and how well your boss behaved. You thank your boss for his co-operation all along and also, for trusting and hiring you. Slowly but steadily, you ask for resignation. However, you don’t reveal directly but gradually that a new job is already out there awaiting you. So, all you say is:

“Firstly, I would like to thank you for hiring and trusting me with this job. I don’t know whether I have worked as per your expectations or not, but I surely have gained profound experience under your guidance. Not to mention, I am lucky to have such co-operative colleagues too who helped me grow. However, I feel that multiple experiences with several other types of people helps one blossom professionally which is why I have decided to look for another job offer wherein a new experience with new set of people would lay new standards to the usual ones in my life. I feel that doing one job offers a single experience which ends up creating a comfort zone from where one refuses to move out, later on. Thus, I want to splash my feet and hands to keep swimming in the pool of jobs! I hope you understand. Thank you once again for the amazing asset of experience! I bade my heartiest farewell and a sincere apology for this sudden decision.”

Reason 2

However, what if the new job offer you received, not only fulfills your area of interest but also provides a higher salary than the one you currently are in? The reason to leave should be as follows:

‘Thank you for trusting and hiring me sir. I have worked very hard for this company considering it close to my heart. I have also gained immense experience in this field with your support. However, I feel that with time, the difficulty level of work must increase to check on the capability of an individual and to escalate his adeptness in handling complex situations which is why, I have applied for a harder job in the same sector making me bid adieu to this company. I say this with a heavy heart but I really want to thank you for giving me a platform to showcase my talents. Of course, this isn’t a beginner’s job in the absolute sense but I definitely accrued considerable experience with you to work with my dream sector that demands more services and experiences. Thanking you once again along with a heartfelt apology.” (Handing the resignation letter)

Reason 3

What if there are certain personal reasons like your close one’s terminal illness? Here, you can reveal the reason directly since you aren’t disregarding the company with a genuine misery which anybody would understand. Reason could be as follows:

“Hello sir, I would like to thank you for hiring and trusting me with this job. This has always been my dream job and I definitely am enjoying it here. However, due to my mother’s sudden terminal illness I am forced to leave this job since handling the house chores and other responsibilities isn’t quite easy for my dad and aging grandma. If work from home would be possible, then I am eager to continue with this job. Thank you once again for your respect, admiration, and jaw dropping co-operation which really helped me improve.”

Reason 4

What if the travelling expense is huge due to the working distance? Frame a reason as follows:

“Working here has been a fantastic experience. Everyone’s a family here encouraging the other to bloom. I find myself grateful to have worked with this company. However, I helplessly am forced to take the decision of leaving this precious job though I would love to keep working here forever! Due to the working distance, I had been staying at a rented apartment right opposite to this building. But relations with the landlord have unfortunately deteriorated which meant me, evacuating that house. There are no other rental apartments near the office, neither am I ready to live as a paying guest. Thus, I have to return home and the travelling distance daily wouldn’t be affordable. Thus with a heavy heart and a genuine apology, I bade farewell. I remain thankful to you for showering me with loads of precious experiences and memories.”

Reason 5

You were working efficiently in a company until the pandemic arrived and made work from home a priority. You are happy working at home too but someone from your family is inflicted by the virus which is making it difficult for you to concentrate on your work since your loved one and his life matters the most. Thus, you decide to resign because one can’t possibly ask for a month’s leave! Since the use of online medium becomes mandatory now, you don’t directly message your boss on Whatsapp to seem casual. Instead, prefer emailing to do the same. Compose a formal email even if you are on friendly terms with your boss because one can’t ignore that employer-employee relationship which demands a decorum. You give the reason as follows:

“Greetings,

Thank you for hiring and trusting me with the responsibilities of this company. Working can’t be more exciting here. However, a jolting situation is forcing me to give up. One of our family members has been inflicted by the deadly virus thereby creating a chaotic situation at home. Of course, I am mentally disturbed with trauma and aren’t able to concentrate on the tasks provided. I don’t wish to compromise with the efficiency and quality of my work and have thus, arrived at the conclusion of demanding a resignation. I understand it to be a harsh move but my mind just wouldn’t remain stable and the responsibilities at home are being shared by all with the absence of one important member. Acknowledging the current situation, I thus want to bid farewell not without thanking you and providing a genuine apology! Below, you will find attached the resignation letter.

Regards,

XYZ”

Reason 6

There are certain other cases though where the boss doesn’t seem motivating or berates, demeans, and pressurizes you into working more than usual. Thus one fine day, the pressure cooker bursts and you decide to quit once and for all because as stated earlier, you don’t have to face sheer domination when there are plenty of fish in the sea. Work with dignity and respect because employees are assets without whom no company can touch the acme of success. You, as an employee are special and must therefore have the courage to free yourself from such demonic clutches and choose the ones who value you. If you are highly talented then there is no stepping back. You don’t have to adjust with the current working environments because your creative determination would definitely fetch you a new platform. This was just a brief note for all the employees who feel that they wouldn’t find a new job and keep tolerating the worst working conditions. Please believe and value yourself. Don’t surrender your honour to a cruel boss and then blame yourself to have a cruel fate. You design your fate so make sure, you choose the right people in it!

Getting back to what reason you would cite to get rid of such a menacing and mentally abusing job. Of course, this too can’t be revealed directly. You have to strategically plan your way out. Most of the people in such situations use any possible excuse, be it a lie. Of course, it has to be a professional lie so that your evil boss falls for it. But if you choose honesty, then your answer needs to be creative and persuasive. One may frame it as follows:

“Hello sir. I have been working since quite a long time and have enjoyed the job. However, I feel demotivated and am experiencing mental trauma because of which I wish to resign. I don’t want to compromise with the efficiency of my work and infuriate you later. In short, I need a break to gather myself. I need some family love to overcome mental instability. If need be, I might visit a psychiatrist to maintain sanity. Of course, you wouldn’t want a sick employee tarnishing your reputation because of stupid errors coming up in major projects. Before you fire me because of company losses, I choose to back off. Thank you for this opportunity and I apologize for this sudden breakdown.”

In short, make sure you include the company losses he would incur with your illness to convince him into expelling you because the meanest of bosses would never want their company to shatter.

Reason 7

At times, people end up quitting due to colleague discomfort. Some colleagues are jealous and thus, try creating hurdles in your work and at a point, you have had enough of it. You decide to give up and look for a comfortable spot that shares a friendly environment. Also, some colleagues are dominant and force you to work for them or perhaps, you are lonely and not a single colleague has extended the hand of friendship towards you which has really made work an uphill task for you. Good colleagues, happy environment, understanding boss, a motivating bond between the staff, and punctual paychecks are essential aspects that inspire you to work harder. But if a certain company is making you compromise with either of these aspects then it will be best to look for other options! Though you may not get that perfect environment everywhere, look for happy atmosphere with a successful group of friends who actuate and act as role models to help you flourish.

What reason would you cite to leave? Create it as follows:

“Greetings sir. I have always appreciated your versatile manner of handling important projects effectively. You have inspired me to put in not just massive but quality efforts that guarantee fruit. However, I’m afraid I don’t find the same inspiration from my colleagues. I feel that for employees to succeed, a correct set of co-workers is necessary along with an understanding boss because colleagues have the opportunity to learn from each other’s mistakes which can be considered a step towards excellence. Sadly, the atmosphere here doesn’t seem boosting but gloomy because no employee wants to share their views with the other. Friendships are few and far between and the colleagues are almost always like robots burying their heads in laptops. Though the job is quite interesting and has been my deep rooted preference, I am not receiving that amiable nudge to keep going. I don’t receive a few feedbacks from my colleagues neither do they ask for any. This isn’t accurate and would only limit us to single or absolute perspectives hindering our growth. You may say that co-workers don’t matter but they do, with regards to learning something new since every new individual carries some unique perspective which may trigger an amazing idea in the other. In short, sparse interaction between colleagues is making me arrive at the only available option- resignation! Thank you once again for being an amazing boss. I sincerely apologize for this harsh decision but I really need a happy environment to maintain sanity and fetch better results. Please accept my resignation.”

To summarize, the only way to ask for resignations is to emphasize the philosophical aspects as to why you are uncomfortable with that particular environment. Secondly, you highlight the losses that the company would suffer because of your instability and of course, you end on a happy note stating that you enjoyed the work and due to that particular cause are ‘forced’ to take such a step or that you need a ‘break’ so that your boss doesn’t feel offended. You must remember to formally converse with your boss because somewhere in the core of your heart, you’ve got to respect him for hiring you in the first place, even if he is evil. After all, you have definitely been paid and trusted. Taking such points into consideration, you should frame formal speeches.

Also, using business words is essential to sound professional because you aren’t speaking to a friend! For instance, there is a huge difference between the words ‘Resignation’ and ‘Leave’ in business dictionary. ‘Resignation’ means to leave permanently while ‘a Leave’ means to temporarily cease work due to personal reasons. Thus, business English can be complex and isn’t the same as normal English. Thus, when you speak to interviewers for the first time, ensure that you have completed a course in Business English communication skills to sound impressive. As seen in the responses above, I have made use of professional and mature reasons to seem convincing.

If you choose to speak as, “Hi sir. My mom is sick and I have to tend to her. Thus, I am quitting urgently.” This not only makes you sound unprofessional but also as a liar even though you are genuine. That’s exactly why, the choice of words matters a lot. The way you interact, the serious expression you pull, and the creative philosophical reasons you provide make you look professional and genuine. Thus, one must focus on creating a grand impression on the CEO with words, sounding sweet as honey but camouflaging the harsh reality thereby cooling the situation down.

Thus, I would conclude stating that resignations need to be extremely formal because you don’t want to upset your boss by directly asking for it. That’s exactly why, you begin with a few consoling words to form a brief speech to engage your boss, then cite the problems you have been encountering, and gradually move towards the resignation part. During such a process, there is a possibility of receiving some solutions from your boss who could help eliminate them and if that’s the case, you wouldn’t want to quit. Be professional, be respectful, think about others, frame a formal speech, and reflect deeply over your choice of words!

All The Very Best!