Notice Periods, References and Leaving Well
Resigning is straightforward and frequently handled badly, usually through haste or awkwardness. The sequence matters and the consequences persist.
Secure the new role first
Do not resign on a verbal offer. Wait for the written offer, and for any conditions — references, background checks, right to work — to be satisfied or explicitly waived.
Offers are withdrawn occasionally, and the position of having resigned with nothing to go to is entirely avoidable.
Check what you signed
Notice period, which is often longer for senior roles and may differ from the statutory minimum.
Restrictive covenants: non-compete, non-solicitation of clients or colleagues, and confidentiality. Enforceability varies considerably by jurisdiction and some are unenforceable, but assuming that without advice is risky.
Repayment clauses for training, relocation or signing bonuses, which frequently require repayment if you leave within a defined period.
Holiday entitlement accrued and untaken, and whether it is paid or must be taken during notice.
The conversation
Tell your direct manager first, in person or by call, before anyone else knows. Hearing it secondhand damages a relationship unnecessarily.
Keep it brief and positive. You are leaving for an opportunity, not away from problems, whatever the truth is. Criticism at this point achieves nothing and is remembered.
Follow immediately with a short written resignation stating your last working day, calculated from the notice period.
Counter-offers
Common, and worth thinking about before they arrive rather than in the moment.
If money was the only issue and the counter-offer resolves it, it can work. If the reasons were broader — the work, the management, the trajectory — a raise rarely changes them, and the underlying dissatisfaction usually returns.
Be aware that having signalled willingness to leave changes how you are viewed in some organisations, fairly or not.
Working the notice properly
This is what people remember. Document what you do, write handover notes, brief whoever is taking over, and finish what can be finished.
Return equipment, transfer accounts and access, and make sure nothing critical exists only in your head or your personal accounts.
Do not take company data, client lists or documents. This is both a contractual and frequently a legal matter, and it is the fastest way to turn a clean exit into a dispute.
References
Ask your manager directly whether they would provide a positive reference, before you leave.
Many organisations now provide only factual confirmation of dates and role. Personal references from individuals who will speak for you matter more as a result, so keep contact details for people who valued your work.
Connect with colleagues professionally before you go. Networks are considerably easier to maintain than to rebuild.
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