Knowing When and How to Quit Your Job
04/05/2019 Quitting is one of my favorite parts of having a job. The jobs that I have worked at up to now did not have formal processes for resigning, and even if they don't, you are still expected to give some type of formal notice that you will be departing the company. There are also a couple different approaches that can be taken when you're getting ready to quit your job. Some people may tell you the contrary, but there is definitely a right and wrong way to do this. Even if you're like me and have an unskilled, nonprofessional job, ie. fast food, etc, you still have to follow the same process. Often, people in these jobs make the mistake of deciding that they no longer want to work for said company, and then they just fail to show up to another day of work. There are a couple problems with this approach though. I personally know people whom I've worked with that have had there paychecks postponed or withheld because quitting without notifying the employer in advance was a violation of the contract that we all sign upon being hired. Even if you avoid the scenario, you will have to face the unavoidable awkward moment that will ensue by you having to go in person to your (former) place of work to pick up you paycheck. The correct way to resign is to give your manager at least two weeks notice before you quit. Two weeks the generally recognized standard for the time required to let your boss know that you will be leaving, and it also shows that you respect your boss enough to let them know ahead of time. The purpose of this period of time is to allow your employer to find someone who can replace you because the process of hiring a new employee can be long and complicated. A lot of people struggle with knowing when to quit their job, but the honest answer is that it will differ for every person. While there are some people who only see a job as a stepping stone to other higher paying job and will quit as soon as they attain that, others use jobs as places to acquire skills and experience, and will leave that job once they believe they have got all the value they could from it. If the job you are thinking about quitting is your main source of income, it would be wise to have another job lined up before you make you resignation final. |
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The way you act on the job says a lot about who you are. If you want to work somewhere for more than just a short time, you need to act in a cordial and professional manner with everyone who you work with no matter their status. Behavior on the job will define how the duration of your time at the job will go. Inappropriate behavior will lead to an unpleasant time at that job, while being cordial and respectful of everyone will lead to a great time. If you leave a good impression, ask plenty of good questions, and listen carefully to what you are taught, you should have a successful time at that job.
The most important time to prove yourself to a new employers is the first day of work. It is imperative that you start on the right foot so your time at that job goes as smoothly as possible. Showing respect to your coworkers no matter their status at the company is one of the most important rules. Whether it is fair or not, oftentimes people remember their first impressions about you and you need to be sure you make a good impression. Being polite and taking notes will show the people at your new job that you are serious about the task at hand. Taking notes also shows that you can take the initiative and are prepared to do the job to the best of your ability.
There is no shame in asking questions. You are going to be in a new environment and will not have total knowledge of how to do all of your duties of the job. Whenever you come upon a problem, you should immediately ask someone who works there (it doesn't matter much who) about what you should do. A real problem could arise if you are a few weeks in on the job and still are unsure about what to do. When I worked at McDonald's, I avoided learning how to make iced coffees, which was a big mistake because A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO MCDONALDS FOR ICED COFFEE. The good thing is that I left before I was exposed for my lack of coffee knowledge, but it was a negative because that was a skill that I should have known anyway.
You need to be sure to listen carefully and closely to what you are being taught. For example, when I worked at McDonalds, I skipped the video about making oatmeal and coffee which was a problem because I primarily worked breakfast shifts. I didn't know at the time what the difference between the decaf and the regular coffee pots were. For some that could be a problem, but it wasn't for me because I worked there for a short enough time to evade certain parts of the job. When you are given directions, it is important to follow them closely and not to deviate from what you are supposed to be doing because sometimes the tasks that are given to you are specific for a certain reason but sometimes you aren't taught needed skills. For example, since I worked front counter I did not watch the video for fries and hash browns, but those certainly were skills that I needed to know.
The most important time to prove yourself to a new employers is the first day of work. It is imperative that you start on the right foot so your time at that job goes as smoothly as possible. Showing respect to your coworkers no matter their status at the company is one of the most important rules. Whether it is fair or not, oftentimes people remember their first impressions about you and you need to be sure you make a good impression. Being polite and taking notes will show the people at your new job that you are serious about the task at hand. Taking notes also shows that you can take the initiative and are prepared to do the job to the best of your ability.
There is no shame in asking questions. You are going to be in a new environment and will not have total knowledge of how to do all of your duties of the job. Whenever you come upon a problem, you should immediately ask someone who works there (it doesn't matter much who) about what you should do. A real problem could arise if you are a few weeks in on the job and still are unsure about what to do. When I worked at McDonald's, I avoided learning how to make iced coffees, which was a big mistake because A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO MCDONALDS FOR ICED COFFEE. The good thing is that I left before I was exposed for my lack of coffee knowledge, but it was a negative because that was a skill that I should have known anyway.
You need to be sure to listen carefully and closely to what you are being taught. For example, when I worked at McDonalds, I skipped the video about making oatmeal and coffee which was a problem because I primarily worked breakfast shifts. I didn't know at the time what the difference between the decaf and the regular coffee pots were. For some that could be a problem, but it wasn't for me because I worked there for a short enough time to evade certain parts of the job. When you are given directions, it is important to follow them closely and not to deviate from what you are supposed to be doing because sometimes the tasks that are given to you are specific for a certain reason but sometimes you aren't taught needed skills. For example, since I worked front counter I did not watch the video for fries and hash browns, but those certainly were skills that I needed to know.