How Do I Resign When My Boss Is Out of Town and I Have a New Job Offer?

Hello all!

I am left in a dilemma. I want to resign from my current post as I have another job offer. But the problem is my boss (who is the MD of the company) is out of station for a week. I have to join next week, but till then, he (my ex-boss) will hardly return. What should I do? I don't want to leave him in despair. :-(

Thanks in advance,
Archana

Hi Archana,

Congratulations on your new job offer!

Please send him an email resignation, talk to him, send an SMS about your resignation, and make him aware of the news as soon as possible. Create a document list with hyperlinks to all required documents and pass it on to him so that he can share the same document with your replacement.

I hope you are leaving with a notice period, right? Then, pay the notice pay amount and settle accounts amicably. Alternatively, ask the new company for a few more days of extension immediately.

You must transfer your work as appropriate to other employees or to the MD. This is the least you are expected to do before leaving. Always try to leave on a good note.

Thanks,
Geeta

Hi Archana,

Congratulations on your new assignment!

I suggest that you proceed with your decision and send an email of resignation to the Head of HR department, copying the MD with all the necessary details. Specify when you would like the company to relieve you and assign all your current work to your successor. Create a comprehensive list of completed, pending, and ongoing tasks to hand over to the relevant person.

Thank you.

Dear Archana,

SMS is not the right manner. However, please send an email and wait for the response (wait for a day). And if there is no response, just call him over the phone and talk to him about it.

Is there an HR department in the company where you work? If yes, then it's less of a problem. If not, let us know how the conversation with the MD went. I will guide you from there, but would request you to serve the notice period or pay the notice amount if you can't wait.

Dear Archana,

First, call your MD and discuss with him over the phone about your decision. If he is going to offer you something more lucrative than what you currently have, then consider it. Before making any decision, I would like to remind you that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

If he agrees to your release, make a list of files and activities with their current status and required follow-up and give it to the next person in your department with the MD's permission. If you are the only one in the department, hand over these papers to a person nominated by your MD.

It is always good to leave a job on a good note. If you can get an extension of your joining date from your new employer, I suggest you meet your MD in person and thank him for all the support he has extended to you during your tenure at this job.

Wishing you all the best.

Ratna Sekhar
Hyderabad

I had a talk with my new employer. They are not ready to give me extra time. Actually, I have been trying for this job for a long time. I have decided to mail my resignation today and give my boss a phone call thereafter. Hope everything works well.

One more thing I have to ask... How should I get out from this guilt feeling which is building within me? Actually, it's my first job (so obviously it's my first resignation), and as a secretary, I had gained much confidence from my boss. I know I am thinking very emotionally in my professional life... But what to do? :-(

Asking for an extension from your new employees is a good idea. Alternatively, talk to your boss when he is relaxed; he will definitely consider your request. Simultaneously, make a list of important files you are handling and inform your boss where he can find the details of them. Hand over all the documents to someone higher in your company (or HR) and have it acknowledged in an email with a cc to your boss so that he knows who has taken charge. If possible, come back over a weekend and help your present boss with clarifications, if any. It always pays off to leave your present employment on good terms.

Have no guilty feelings. If you have one, continue in your present employment. This is a dog-eat-dog world, and each man/woman is unto himself. Love your job, not your boss, Archana!

Also, let me tell you from experience, loyalty has few payers in today's world. Keep your contacts green and wish them on their anniversaries, birthdays. That's it.

Well, according to me, if you are in such a good relationship with your boss, sending out an email right away is not a good idea. I suggest calling him, explaining the whole problem and the scenario, and then sending out a formal email. This will retain your personal touch and exhibit your professionalism!! Don't worry, and I do agree there is no place for emotions in professional life. You just need to make sure you leave on a healthy note!!

Please send the HR resume with 1 year of experience in payroll, recruitment, admin, general activities, and office equipment maintenance.

Thank you.

Hi Archana,

Congratulations on your new job.

Sending an SMS is not a good way to address your problem. It would be better to send an email of resignation to another senior person. Additionally, you should request some extra time from your new boss.

Thank you.

Dear Archana,

Life is very hard if you have a good relationship with your boss. I think he will also be happy for your new success, and there should be no question about guilt.

Best of luck!

Hi Archana,

I think by now you must have spoken to your boss. Don't feel guilty. Remember one thing - no one is dependent on others in professional life in the long run. If you have decided to change jobs, it means you have thought this through before making the decision.

In life, we always learn many things from the people around us, and each boss in the future will also teach you many things. I understand how you are feeling about leaving your job, but you are not doing anything wrong. Respect your choice of a new job and go with it.

Congratulations and all the best.

Namrata.

Hi Archana,

You must have by now received your answer from the several very correct suggestions you have received. You may like to use the following route:

1. Send your resignation by email to your boss. Explain to him the circumstances in the correct perspective.
2. Follow this up with a telephone call and speak to him.
3. Do a proper handover to the person he names.
4. Meet your boss in person as soon as you can on his return. This is a very necessary formality.

Carry on from there in your new job. Yes, there is a lot of merit in a very true observation... Love your job, not your boss/organization. I am sure you have seen "Corporate"!!!!

Please make your exit "NEAT".

Cheers!
Vasant Nair

You have several options:

* Find out the location to where the boss is and give him/her the courtesy of a call. Email is a bit unprofessional in this situation. A personal call is much more respectful. They will appreciate it.

* You can contact the new company and inform them that your boss is out of town and that you want to give him/her the common courtesy of a "leaving" notice. A professional company would understand this for they would want you to do the same for them.

* If by chance they "don't," what does this say about how they might treat an employee once they are on board? The best indicator of future performance is past performance.

Just food for thought. Be well and successful.

Dr. Marc

PS 63:7

I had given a call to my boss and told him about the offer. He firstly tried to convince, but being a gentleman, he quickly agreed to my decision. Today he came back, and I handed him my resignation. Though he was a bit upset, he accepted the resignation most gracefully. After this, I am expecting an exit interview today itself. Let's hope things figure out well.

I am thankful to all those members who have provided me with their useful suggestions. Thanks a lot for guiding me and removing that feeling of guilt to a larger extent.

Regards, Archana