Child is super stressed about this. Any advice on how to make it easier?
Why is your child stressed about it?
Quitting a job is similar to breaking up with someone. It is never easy, but it can be done with dignity and respect. This is someone who has been fired and resigned from many jobs.
I usually make it short and sweet. I tell my boss very briefly about the new job (I do not usually disclose the company name). I thank the boss for the opportunity.
The tough part is when the boss and HR try to talk you into staying by throwing you with more money, higher position, etc.
One thing I always tell myself is, “If I was so valuable to them then they should have done all of that before I started looking for another job.” I never leave any room for them to come back with a counter offer. I never bad mouth the company, even if it’s the reason I am leaving.
Good luck.
First professional job? Or like a job while going to school? What are (some) of the details re: quitting? Is there another job lined up - is that the stress or the actual quitting of the first job??
All s/he needs to do is give standard notice and be professional and pleasant. Avoid leaving bad feelings behind. Someday s/he may need a reference from this job.
First professional job. Has another job lined up. He is a sensitive and shy soul and has never been in a relationship so this is his first experience of this sort. He loves his coworkers and bosses and is finding this challenging even though it is the right move. I told him to expect that they will try to keep him. I hope he doesn’t cave.
I have been on the other side (the boss). As a mature professional, if I think it is a better opportunity then I just wish him well.
He is going to have to give his reason(s) for leaving. He should rehearse that.
I used to be like your son until DH and I were let go from the same company the same day! After that, I didn’t care so much. Loyalty to employees doesn’t exist anymore, so it’s hard to worry about the company much. Oh, and this happened shortly after we had been reassured our jobs were safe.
My nephew was offered an internship fall of junior year. It wasn’t his dream job, but it was a job. He was then offered another internship in spring, which was the job he wanted. My brother told him to turn the first internship down and take the one he wanted. My nephew wouldn’t do it because he didn’t think it was ethical.
Few weeks before the summer, he was told due to the budget cut they couldn’t afford him, so he was without a job that summer. He had to quickly contact the second company to see if they would take him. It ended well. The point is your son needs to look after himself. No one is going to think less of him for moving on to a better job.
He needs to figure out in advance what he will say if the company decides to make him a counter offer. If he is leaving for opportunity reasons, he can simply state that he appreciated the skills that he gained in this job and that he feels he is ready for the next step. If he’s leaving for purely financial reasons, he needs to figure out whether a counter offer would be sufficient to make him stay. And if so, how much? Usually though, it’s a combination of the reasons and it’s best to just say that you plan to move on and thank them.
Quitting is easy. The hard part is what to do if the old company gives you a counter offer.
For the initial conversation, simply say something like, “Working here has been a fantastic experience and I’ve learned a lot and love the environment. However I’ve decided to make a move for the sake of my career. I’d like to make my last day xxx.”
If they make a counter: “Thank you and I really appreciate it. But it’s really not about money, this is a move that I need to do for my overall career. I’d love to come back some day, but for now this is a move I need to make.”
On the other hand, if it really is about the money then he needs to approach the initial conversation very differently.
Best of luck to your son.
A good boss will be excited for your child to have an opportunity to further his career. Just be professional and don’t burn bridges.
I think sometimes that giving notice is the scariest thing to do…not much scares me, but when I tell a boss I’m leaving for another job my palms sweat and my heart beats fast! All I can say is to tell your son that you feel so much better after actually doing the deed. All the secrecy of interviewing and making the decision and actually telling someone is the worst part. In almost every case co-workers are “happy and excited” for a person who gets a new and better job.
Thanks @momofthreeboys, that is exactly how he is feeling. I told him to do it on Friday.
Tell him to put it in writing. He can call his supervisor to tell them first if he wants to, though having a paper trail indicting the date notice was given and the date leaving employment is a good thing. HR then has something to refer to in the future when either giving a recommendation or telling a new employer what his dates of employment were.
Some companies like to pump employees for “dirt” during exit interviews. Tell him to refrain from saying anything at all that could be construed as negative about the company or other staff.