Inspired by the group writing project @ MightyBargainHunter.com.

How many times have I quit jobs?  2 times.  Once because I graduated from college, so I had to, and the second time because it was just a (bad) job…Actually, almost 3, but I’ll leave that story for another day.

Here are some tips for before and after quitting:

BEFORE

EDIT: I forgot to mention one more thing. If your employer wants any concessions from you, like waiving your rights to, uhhh, sue or whatever, get something in return!  Don’t let them take something away from you without getting something in return.  They will often give you a concession package.  Remember, in this case HR is your friend.  Tell them you will not sign unless there’s some incentive.

  • Plan!  What are you going to do after you quit?  You actually should plan waaaay in advance.  Do you have enough funds saved up?  Can you find another job?  Are there any financial obligations upcoming?  How about medical?
  • Consider:  401k and Pension.  Are you going to roll over your 401k?  Then find a future home for it. 
  • Consider:  Do you have any stock options?  Can they be exercised after you leave?
  • Get all your materials together.  Gather up your salary history, your reviews, education, pension/401k info, etc.
  • Turn in AT LEAST 2 weeks notice.  This is just considerate.  Just do it.  Even more time is okay, if you know for sure this is what you want to do.  The longer the better, if you’re on good terms with your employer, they’ll have more time to plan and maybe even offer you something else.
  • If your company is large enough, check with HR.  Do they have a checklist before quitting?  You may only want to pursue this after you know for sure you are quitting.
  • Get together the list of all your contacts, phone numbers, email addresses, etc.
  • Figure out your remaining holidays.  It may make sense to wait a week so that you can get an extra paid holiday!
  • Finally, DO NOT SLACK OFF.  This is the time to strut your stuff.  Make them regret you’re leaving.  This is not in spite, but a serious opportunity to get them to think about whether they really can afford to let you go.

AFTER (depends on if you have a job lined up or not)

  • Give your former colleagues your contact info, including your manager.
  • Finish up everything that you need to, including work that was your responsibility, unless you’ve explicitly informed your manager about pending jobs that need to be finished.
  • Followup with your coworkers every so often.
  • Make sure your 401k/Pension has been successfully rolled over, if you elected to have that done.  Otherwise you could face the early withdrawal penalties and see a big bump in your income for the year, that’ll smack a big tax bill in your face come tax time.
  • Relax.  If you planned, you’ll be fine.  If you didn’t then, sorry, but I probably can’t be much assistance…Start a blog?
  • Budget!  Allocate a specific amount of money that you are allowed to spend per week.  This way you can estimate how long you will be able to sustain yourself financially.
  • Become aware of money saving opportunities.  Everytime you’re about to buy something, ask yourself a few fundamental questions: 
    • Do I really need this?
    • Is there a cheaper equivalent?
    • Can I put it off?  Postponing a purchase is saving money.  That’s why I wait to buy things.
  • Learn the 3 R’s!  Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle!  Tons of posts out there on this topic.
  • Transportation…walk!  Carpool.  Take a bus or train.  Using your own car is expensive…don’t only think gas!  There maintenance and other problems that could cost you.
  • Sell stuff!  Garage sales, eBay, whatever.  Just don’t sit at home and watch TV.  Now’s your chance to do stuff on your own time….YOU are the boss.
  • Volunteer…meet people and be exposed to new opportunities.  Not only will you not be spending money, but you’ll be helping make the world a better place.
  • Read or write a blog.  I’m sure the best advice out there is probably the ones from real people.  Check out forums too.
  • Go back to school! 
  • And finally, good luck! Get your resumes out there, check out the classifieds, etc. If you’re not in a rush, enjoy this time like a mini-vacation.

Here’s another post I’ve written, “Plan Z.  What If I Lost My Job?“