Moving for a new job can be a scary prospect. But a recent survey shows that workers who take the plunge and change zip codes for a better position don’t really regret the decision.

In fact, there is a bevy of benefits to relocating for work—and at least three reasons you should consider making a move. According to The People Perspective on Relocation, the survey conducted by IMPACT Group, 3,078 employees report these relocation rewards:

New experiences. A whopping 71 percent of survey respondents said that moving to take a new job allowed them to enjoy new experiences, whether at work or outside the office.

Better career prospects. By relocating for a prime position, 55 percent of employees say they feel their career is on a better track, both today, in their current job, and in the future.

Better community. If you don’t love your community in the office or in your neighborhood, chances are you’ll find better ones when you move: 40 percent of respondents say they did.

And yet, we hear you: even these obvious benefits don’t make picking up and leaving your current ‘hood any easier. But with these tips, you might just find the chutzpah to pack up for a better position—and consequently, perhaps even a better life outside of the office, too.

1. Embrace change, and grieve the loss of your former home.
Maybe you’ve never moved for a job. Maybe you’ve never moved, period. No matter what, change is tough, and leaving a home can be sad. But Cynthia Bucy, career and transition coach at IMPACT Group, says allowing yourself to grieve will make the move much easier.

As she sympathizes, “You’re stepping away from what is familiar—perhaps a city you loved and a house you built. There will be challenges.” But, Bucy adds, it is recognizing challenges that will help you overcome them. You can face these challenges full-force by being open and honest about your feelings related to the move—the good and the bad—Bucy insists.

2. Make new friends.
New experiences will make relocating for work worth it—and we all like to experience new things with people we care about. So, when you move, try to “find ways to get to know your neighbors on a personal level,” Bucy recommends, adding you can get to know new people at work or in your apartment complex by asking simple questions, such as what dry cleaner to use. Once the conversation is started, “you’ll develop a meaningful relationship if you are intentional about going deeper than surface-level” with additional questions, Bucy says.

What’s more, you might want to try to invite coworkers, neighbors, and new friends over to your home. Hosting a BYOB-style dinner can be a low-pressure way to get to know people.

3. Enjoy a new beginning.
Whenever you feel alone or sad, remember that relocating for a job represents a new start, something fresh to be celebrated, Bucy instructs. “Many of the individuals I coach treat the relocation as a new beginning,” Bucy says. “They take the opportunity to do things they’ve always wanted to do but never made time for,” such as trying new foods or making friends.

As Bucy points out, when you try to view the experience of moving for work as a bold new adventure, you’ll feel excited for what lies ahead and willing to push through any negatives.

The post 3 Reasons Why You Should Consider Relocating for Work appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

You’ve finally decided to quit your job — congratulations!

Maybe you landed a great new gig and you’re moving on to greener pastures. Or, maybe you hate your boss and — let’s be honest — can’t wait to stick it to him with your two weeks’ notice.

But whatever the situation, quitting your job can be awkward and uncomfortable — and if you don’t have a clear plan of action, you might end up burning bridges and sacrificing valuable references down the road.

So whatever’s pushing you out the door, exit the right way: with grace, class, and preparedness.

If you’re not sure how to make the big announcement or navigate your last two weeks, don’t worry — I’ve created an easy three-step plan to guide you through it.

Step #1: The Set-Up

First, set a firm date for your last day of work. Make sure to give yourself enough time to tie up any loose ends and train your replacement, if necessary. In most states, you’re not required to give two full weeks’ notice — but as a professional courtesy to your co-workers and boss, it’s a good rule of thumb.

Once you’ve decided on your last day, compose your official resignation letter. In my experience, I’ve found that less information is better — and no matter how casual your company is, err on the side of formality. (Even the most laid-back company won’t appreciate a “BTW, August 1 is going to be my last day” email.)

Here’s a sample template I’ve used:

Dear Sam,

This letter is to inform you of my resignation from my position as account executive for The Evans Company, effective May 29, 2013.

I truly appreciate the opportunities you’ve provided during my time here. Thank you for your continued support and guidance. I am happy to assist in the transition process to make it as smooth as possible.

Best,
Allison Smith

Finally, schedule a time and date for the face-to-face meeting with your boss to break the news. If you’re pressed to reveal why you’re calling a meeting, you can say it’s just a general check-in — feel free to keep it vague.

Then, make sure you have a printed, signed copy of your letter to hand over to make it official.

Step #2: The “I Quit” Meeting

Up until this point, the quitting process has been pretty easy: You settle on a date, whip out a formal notice, and mentally picture yourself crossing that finish line.

But when it comes to actually telling your boss that you’re out of there, it gets a little more intimidating.

When I decided to quit my first job, I was unbelievably nervous, so naturally, I took my quandary to Google. But when I searched for “what to say when you quit your job,” nothing brilliant came up — because the truth is, there is no script. Until you’re actually in that conversation, you’ll have no idea what direction the conversation will take, how much your boss will beg you to stay, and whether he’ll grill you on what you’re doing next.

But no matter how the conversation goes, it’s important that you don’t feel guilty about moving on or feel like you need to over-explain. In fact, my mantra for my “I quit” meeting was simple: It’s not personal; it’s business. No matter how close you are to your boss or how irreplaceable you think you are — your boss will find a new “you” to fill your role. Keeping this in mind will help create some distance between you and your job, making the conversation just a little easier.

But to take it a step further, write down (and practice!) a few talking points to start the conversation. Begin with a reason that you feel comfortable sharing, like, “I’ve been offered an opportunity I want to pursue,” or, “I’m finally making the switch to full-time freelance work.” And as you did in your resignation letter, pepper the conversation with gratitude (e.g., “Thank you so much for all the opportunities you’ve given me here” or “I’ve learned so much about the ins and outs of technical recruiting”).

After you say your piece, wait for your boss to respond. Of course, every situation will be different: Your boss may press you about your new job, ask if there’s anything he or she can do to keep you there, or ask you why you didn’t mention anything about this before. Unfortunately, there’s no script for these situations, either (believe me, I checked!) — but if you feel pressured to respond, you can’t go wrong with a genuine “Thank you so much for this opportunity.” Your employer isn’t entitled to know where or why you’re moving on — simply when.

The more professional and respectful you keep the conversation, the easier it will be to leave your boss with a great impression — so he or she will remember the great work you did; not just how you left. And down the road, if a potential employer calls your boss or you want to request a reference, you’ll be in the clear.

Your employer isn’t entitled to know where or why you’re moving on — simply when.

Step #3: The Last Words

After this meeting, as easy as it would be to check out, it’s important to be as helpful as possible as you finish your last few weeks.

Distribute your unfinished projects to colleagues, along with sufficient descriptions of your progress so they can pick up right where you left off. If they’ll need background information on certain clients or projects, forward important emails and e-introduce folks who haven’t worked together before. And, if you have specialized knowledge or a unique responsibility (e.g., running reports in SalesForce), create a how-to guide for whoever’s taking over for you.

Then, and as you prepare to leave the office for the last time (after your resignation has been officially announced), send an email to your colleagues. A short, sincere note (e.g., “It’s been great working with all of you! I’d love to stay in touch — feel free to contact me on LinkedIn or via my personal email address”) will help you avoid any bridge-burning — and will keep your network strong.

When it comes to leaving a job (especially a terrible one), you may be tempted to go out with a bang. But quitting with grace and professionalism — and a well-thought out plan — will help you infinitely more in the long run.

The post Moving On: How To Quit Your Job With Grace appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

Updated May 17, 2016.

Turning in your resignation isn’t always easy, even if you hate your job or boss and can’t wait to start that new job. Even if you are about to be fired, it can be difficult to resign tactfully. If you are considering resigning from a job, here are some important points to think through before you turn in your resignation.

First of all, be sure that you really do want to quit. Here are the top 10 warning signs that it’s time to look for a new job. Also, here’s a list of good (and bad) reasons for leaving your job. Make sure that you’re leaving for the right reasons, rather than quitting because you’re having a bad week and it seems like it won’t get better any time soon.

Tips for the Best Way to Quit Your Job

If you are certain that you want to quit, handle your resignation as carefully as you would handle any other business endeavor. It’s always wise to not burn bridges. You never know when you will need your past employers for a reference.

Review Resignation Pros and Cons

Before you make the decision to quit, be absolutely sure that this is the right decision. An employee once called me the day after she started her new job. She hated it, regretted resigning, and wanted to come back. But by the time we heard from her, we had already filled the position and she was out of luck.

If you’re not sure about the position you are considering taking, ask if you can spend a day in the office “shadowing” the staff. It may reinforce your decision to take the position or help you decide you don’t want the new job after all.

“Weigh the Options”

Do you have another job offer? If so, weigh the pros and cons of the new position versus your current position. Consider the work environment, flexibility, salary, and benefits in addition to the job responsibilities. How about opportunities to advance? If the new job comes up ahead on all counts and you feel sure that this is the right change to make, don’t hesitate.

No new job on the horizon? Before you quit, consider the basics. It will take about three to six months, sometimes longer, to find a new job. Unless you quit for a good cause, you may not be eligible for unemployment benefits.

Do you have enough savings or other income to manage financially? Even if your employment situation isn’t the best, you might want to consider hanging on to the job you have, as well as your paycheck, and starting your job search before you resign. That old saying that “it’s easier to find a job, when you have a job” does hold true.

Give Adequate Notice

If you have an employment contract that states how much notice you should give, abide by it. Otherwise, it’s appropriate to offer two weeks notice. However, in some cases, you may feel that you are unable to stay for another couple of weeks. Here are some of the reasons to quit without notice.

You Have No Obligation to Stay Longer

If your employer asks you to stay longer than two weeks (or the time period in your contract) you have no obligation to stay. Your new employer will be expecting you to start as scheduled, and in a timely manner. What you could do is offer to help your previous employer, if necessary, after hours, via email or on the phone.

How to Quit Gracefully

The formal way to resign is to write a resignation letter and to tell your supervisor in-person that you’re leaving. However, depending on circumstances, you may need to quit over the phone or to quit via email.

Write a Resignation Letter

Regardless of how your resign, write a resignation letter. A resignation letter can help you maintain a positive relationship with your old employer, while paving the way for you to move on. You never know when you might need that old employer to give you a reference, so it makes sense to take the time to write a polished and professional resignation letter.

What to Say to Your Boss

Don’t say much more than than you are leaving. Emphasize the positive and talk about how the company has benefited you, but also mention that it’s time to move on. Offer to help during the transition and afterwards.

Don’t be negative. There’s no point – you’re leaving and you want to leave on good terms. Here are tips on what to say when you quit your job and here’s a list of reasons for leaving a job to review. Also check out what not to say when you quit a job.

Use our sample resignation letters for suggestions on what to write.

Ask for a Reference

Before you leave, ask for a letter of recommendation from your manager. As time passes and people move on, it’s easy to lose track of previous employers. With a letter in hand or a LinkedIn recommendation online, you’ll have documentation of your credentials to share with prospective employers.

Don’t Forget the Details

Find out about the employee benefits and salary you are entitled to receive upon leaving. Inquire about collecting unused vacation and sick pay, and keeping, cashing in, or rolling over your 401(k) or other pension plan.

You may be asked to participate in an exit interview prior to your departure. Review sample exit interview questions to get an idea of what you’ll be asked during an exit interview.

Return Company Property

Return any company property you have – including keys, documents, computers, phones, and anything else that doesn’t belong to you. The company doesn’t want to chase you to get it back, and you don’t want to be held responsible if it’s not returned in a timely manner.

Review Resignation Do’s and Don’ts

Before you turn in your resignation, review these resignation do’s and don’ts and resign as gracefully as possible.

The post I Quit! How to Resign from Your Job appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.