When you are planning on quitting your job, you need to be prepared. Some people leave their jobs, put out some resumes, and get a new job overnight. This is not always the case, and you should not assume that you can float from one job to another without any issues. As you read through these five tips, remember that you should probably cover each step before you walk out the door never to return.
- Do You Have Another Job Lined Up?
You should probably have another job lined up if you are ready to leave. The only exception to this is discrimination because no one should be forced to deal with such a bad situation. At the very least, you need to have some job prospects lined up that you can take after your last paycheck arrives. This simple tip helps to avoid gaps in your pay and/or work history.
- Did You Suffer from Discrimination?
If you have suffered from discrimination of any kind, you should document that discrimination as much as humanly possible. You might even have colleagues who have witnessed or documented the discrimination that caused you to leave. You should also contact an employment lawyer for assistance. You are likely entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering, and the person or company who ran you out of your job should be held accountable for their actions.
- Give Two Weeks Notice
Give two weeks notice no matter how bad the situation is. You might not make it through the notice period, but you can say you took the high road. Plus, big companies just verify employment. No matter how you left, all they see is that you gave notice and left on good terms. You can even ask someone else with the company to give you a good reference if they know about your situation.
- Vacation Days, Sick Time, and Cashing Out the 401k
You can leave your 401k in place until you find a new job or plan that will transfer the money on your behalf. You could cash it out, but you will pay capital gains taxes on that money. The company might not allow you to cash out your sick days, but they may allow you to cash out your vacation days. You can make your last check a little bigger, and you can get ready for a job search if needed.
- Be Prepared to be Terminated When You Give Notice
You might be terminated when you give notice. This is another reason to hire an employment lawyer. First of all, you might be terminated without cause. Your termination might give more credence to your discrimination claims, and you do not want to be surprised. The business is looking out for the business. To be perfectly frank, be prepared to go without a paycheck as soon as you give notice.
You should be prepared to quit your job instead of just storming out the door. Make sure that you give notice, plan to manage all your benefits, and take the high ground no matter what your employer does. When necessary, hire an employment lawyer to help with the aftermath of your job loss.
