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Update: Sticky resignation situation

lovesclimbinglovesclimbing member
First Anniversary First Comment 5 Love Its First Answer
edited August 2016 in Chit Chat

Anyone like giving advice? I have sort of sticky situation with resigning my job.

So H and I are moving at the end of September. Unfortunately, I'm right in the middle of a large project and it shows no signs of ending before I leave.

Basically, I took on a large project (website redesign and move to a new CMS) at the end of March with the planned completion date of the end of May. Although H and I knew at the time that where we currently live wasn't going to be our long term home, we had no plans to move, and we knew whenever we wound up moving, it certainly wasn't going to be before the end of summer at the earliest, so I felt comfortable taking on the project.

I got it as far as I could, I was ready to go live, but about two weeks before the go live date, some issues were uncovered with the CMS provider. We notified them, and the issue is big enough that we won't go live unless they fix their issue. My boss keeps checking in with them, and they keep saying they're working on a fix for us, but there's no expected completion date.

So it's not my fault I couldn't complete the project. I feel bad leaving in the middle, but I can't really be expected to stay at the company forever waiting on a fix. For what it's worth, we've been talking about updating the site for years, literally. They were talking about it when I interviewed for this position two and half years ago. This has happened before, honestly. Shortly after I started this job, we were super close to going live with the new site (I wasn't on the project), but issues arose. I don't know what they were, but they weren't the same as the ones we have now. We backed off and didn't go live and it kind of went dead until being resurrected in March (the person working on it quit in the meantime).

So I want to write a resignation letter that acknowledges quitting in the middle of the project but mentioning what my boss already knows - that it's not my fault the project isn't done and that I'm giving lots of notice for training someone else. Basically, that I'm being a considerate person.

This is what I have so far for my resignation letter. Any advice?


Dear [boss]

Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as [x] at the [company]. My last day will be [x]

My husband and I are moving to take advantage of new opportunities in [city].

I appreciate the opportunities I have received over the past two years including [stuff], [things], and working on the new website.

On that note, I am disappointed that I am unable to see the website project through to its completion. When I took that project, I had no plans to move, and it was always my intention to stay through the website going live and months beyond.

Unfortunately, the website did not go live by the anticipated deadline due to the [description] issues with [provider].

I hope that since I have given almost two months notice, I will be able to train someone to take my place and answer any questions that may arise, and I sincerely hope that the issues with [provider] will resolve before I leave.

Again, thank you for the opportunities, and feel free to contact me at [x] or [x] with any questions.


Sincerely,

lovesclimbing


Update:


Well, I officially resigned on Thursday. Thanks for the advice, ladies! I sat down with my direct supervisor and told him, and then sat down with both him and the guy above him (the guy above him is the one who was in charge of the website stuff, so it was kind of like one boss for my regular job and a second boss for the website project). 

Anyway, when talking to the big boss, I started talking about the website, and barely got half a sentence in when he was like "oh don't worry about that. I'm sorry that you put all that hard work in and now we have all these issues."  

So do it all worked out pretty well, and I stuck a shorter letter with just the pertinent facts of my last day and such on my boss' desk this afternoon. (They did ask for it in writing as well, although I would have given it to them in writing anyway even if they hadn't).

Thanks again for the advice!

Re: Update: Sticky resignation situation

  • I agree with @LondonLisa in that you should have a face to face conversation with your supervisor about leaving and write a short, straight toward resignation letter. 

    I would also leave the part about your husband out, this is your position, your life and career and while of course he is a factor in your deciding to move I would keep that out of your letter. 
  • I would just say you're resigning effective XX date for a new opportunity in a new city. Heck you dont even need to give a reason of new city.

    No need to apologize or comment on the fact the project didn't make it. That shouldn't factor into this at all, though I understand why it might since you were committed to the job/project but that shouldn't keep you at a job.  You are giving tons of lead time and if they can't find someone to step in that is their issue, not yours. It isn't like you're saying peace out tomorrow. I think it is totally fine to share the other thoughts with your boss or others who ask (if they do) but no need to put it in writing, you dont have anything for which to apologize! 
  • I'm excited for you and your husband --- congratulations on the impending move! :)

    You've been highly professional and done all you can to keep the project on track.  Try not to feel bad about it. I also agree that you should have a conversation about resigning followed by a brief letter.  

    You know your situation best, but are you sure you want to give two months of notice?  I did that at a job before I went back for my master's and it bit me in the butt because they piled a bunch of extra work on me --- I felt so guilty that I didn't push back and it was a stressful time.


  • On the notice time, what is the norm in your field? I gave 7 months notice because of hiring cycles, so I would do whatever is normal in your industry, no more or less. 
  • Totally agree that there is no reason to be so apologetic/defensive.  People change jobs all the time.  It's a normal part of life.  If everyone had to stay in their respective roles until all projects they were working on were 100% complete, the whole system would immediately grind to a halt.  Just be straightforward and matter-of-fact.  You're not doing anything wrong, and to act like you are is going to undermine you.

    Also agree that it is worth thinking about typical notice periods.  Is it normal to give that much lead time?  If not, I'd probably hold off a bit.  What would you do if they terminated you on the spot and escorted you from the building?  Or somewhat less harsh, if they decide they will keep you for two weeks but not beyond?    Once they know you are out the door, they don't have a huge incentive to keep forking over a paycheck for another two months.

    It boils down to this: business is not personal.  You don't have to be a mercenary a-hole, but you do need to take care of your own needs first.  No one else is there to look out for your own best interests; that is your job, and it's a vital one. 
  • lovesclimbinglovesclimbing member
    First Anniversary First Comment 5 Love Its First Answer
    edited August 2016
    Thanks for the feedback, I'll definitely work on being less apologetic. 

    Regarding notice times. So this is a really hard position to fill. I know it was vacant for months before I was hired after the last person quit. About a year and a half ago or a little more, my boss decided to try to hire another person in my position because of the workload. It took months to even get a response. 

    The reasoning is that I live in a place that people don't necessarily want to move to, and this is not a job that anyone would stay in permanently but rather would use it to get experience and as a stepping stone to better things. (I also think they don't pay enough, but again, this is a "put in your time" sort of job.)

    I don't know about whether precedent is for long notices. I do know there have been people who have given standard two weeks, people who have given several months, and people who have said they're leaving and literally left the next day. 

    Because of how hard the position is to fill, I'm not really worried about them letting me go sooner. 

    I have thought about waiting and giving a month and a half or a month notice, but I am wanting to be as courteous as possible because I do know how hard it is to find people and have struggled because of that in my first year here. And of course the whole website transition thing. 

    ETA: For what it's worth, my husband gave his notice on Monday. 
  • Is the job something a person could do remotely?  I don't know if you have another job lined up yet, but maybe that would be a possibility?

    Otherwise, I like @kimmiinthemitten's re-write of your letter.

    From your above post, I don't see an issue with giving a longer notice.  It doesn't sound like there would be any danger to letting you go sooner.  It is very considerate to give them time to hopefully get a replacement fast enough that the new person could train with you.

    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • Is the job something a person could do remotely?  I don't know if you have another job lined up yet, but maybe that would be a possibility?

    Otherwise, I like @kimmiinthemitten's re-write of your letter.

    From your above post, I don't see an issue with giving a longer notice.  It doesn't sound like there would be any danger to letting you go sooner.  It is very considerate to give them time to hopefully get a replacement fast enough that the new person could train with you.

    You know, I have thought about that, but I haven't decided whether to bring it up. I don't know if that's something they would agree to. I also don't know if it's something I want. I don't have a job lined up. We're trying to get pregnant, and I'm going to be a stay at home mom after we have children. So what kind of job I pursue depends on if I get pregnant before we leave. If I do, I'd deliberately seek something temporary. 

    I do like the idea of continuing with the website from afar, however, I basically have nothing to do on the site until the issues are resolved. So I wouldn't have a job, essentially, until the issues are resolved except maybe a couple hours a week if that. 
  • LondonLisaLondonLisa member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    edited August 2016

    Is the job something a person could do remotely?  I don't know if you have another job lined up yet, but maybe that would be a possibility?

    Otherwise, I like @kimmiinthemitten's re-write of your letter.

    From your above post, I don't see an issue with giving a longer notice.  It doesn't sound like there would be any danger to letting you go sooner.  It is very considerate to give them time to hopefully get a replacement fast enough that the new person could train with you.

    You know, I have thought about that, but I haven't decided whether to bring it up. I don't know if that's something they would agree to. I also don't know if it's something I want. I don't have a job lined up. We're trying to get pregnant, and I'm going to be a stay at home mom after we have children. So what kind of job I pursue depends on if I get pregnant before we leave. If I do, I'd deliberately seek something temporary. 

    I do like the idea of continuing with the website from afar, however, I basically have nothing to do on the site until the issues are resolved. So I wouldn't have a job, essentially, until the issues are resolved except maybe a couple hours a week if that. 
    It's fine to want to be a SAHM, but you are realistically not going to have a baby for at least year. Even if you just work remotely and put a good chunk of that in savings, you could start a uni fund for the baby, or just build up your nest egg. 

    I definitely vote for working remotely. 
  • Is the job something a person could do remotely?  I don't know if you have another job lined up yet, but maybe that would be a possibility?

    Otherwise, I like @kimmiinthemitten's re-write of your letter.

    From your above post, I don't see an issue with giving a longer notice.  It doesn't sound like there would be any danger to letting you go sooner.  It is very considerate to give them time to hopefully get a replacement fast enough that the new person could train with you.

    You know, I have thought about that, but I haven't decided whether to bring it up. I don't know if that's something they would agree to. I also don't know if it's something I want. I don't have a job lined up. We're trying to get pregnant, and I'm going to be a stay at home mom after we have children. So what kind of job I pursue depends on if I get pregnant before we leave. If I do, I'd deliberately seek something temporary. 

    I do like the idea of continuing with the website from afar, however, I basically have nothing to do on the site until the issues are resolved. So I wouldn't have a job, essentially, until the issues are resolved except maybe a couple hours a week if that. 
    It's fine to want to be a SAHM, but you are realistically not going to have a baby for at least year. Even if you just work remotely and put a good chunk of that in savings, you could start a uni fund for the baby, or just build up your nest egg. 

    I definitely vote for working remotely. 
    Well, no. Gestation is nine months long. I could get pregnant two months from now and still have a baby in less than a year. My period is already two days late, so there's a chance I could be pregnant right now. 

    It's not a question of working remotely or not working at all. It's a question of working remotely or finding another job for 6-7 months or longer if I'm not pregnant now in our new location. I think I'd be bored out of my mind if was pregnant now and then was doing nothing but keeping a home for six months or so after the move! 

    I'm leaning toward not working remotely and finding a new job because I don't know that I want to stay with the company. Due to the pay and some other stuff (two weeks of PTO a year and no flexibility on unpaid time off when this is a very high stress job), I'd be finding something else and quitting in the near future regardless of the move. 
  • I agree with PP's that you sound apologetic. It's business, not personal. In my opinion, this is all the letter needs to state, if you wish to talk about the rest of the stuff in person that's fine but I wouldn't put it in writing. 

    I also exho what @vikinganna87 said, I wouldn't give that much notice unless it was to a company that had set a positive precedent for it. You risk either getting shit jobs, being terminated early or facing resentment by making this move at the wrong company. 

    And congrats and good luck!  


    ----

    Dear [boss]

    Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as [x] at the [company]. My last day will be [x].

    I appreciate the opportunities I have received over the past two years including [stuff], [things], and working on the new website.

    My goal is to help recruit and train my replacement in my final two months to help make the transition as seamless as possible.  

    Again, thank you for the opportunities, and feel free to contact me at [x] or [x] with any questions.


    Sincerely,

    lovesclimbing

    This is the only acceptable letter. You tell him in person and go over it with him. And then if needs a letter for the file you do this. You know you don't actually tell your boss your leaving for the first time in a letter right? Unless it's on bad terms. You tell him in person and then formalize it. 

    image
  • I agree with PP's that you sound apologetic. It's business, not personal. In my opinion, this is all the letter needs to state, if you wish to talk about the rest of the stuff in person that's fine but I wouldn't put it in writing. 

    I also exho what @vikinganna87 said, I wouldn't give that much notice unless it was to a company that had set a positive precedent for it. You risk either getting shit jobs, being terminated early or facing resentment by making this move at the wrong company. 

    And congrats and good luck!  


    ----

    Dear [boss]

    Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as [x] at the [company]. My last day will be [x].

    I appreciate the opportunities I have received over the past two years including [stuff], [things], and working on the new website.

    My goal is to help recruit and train my replacement in my final two months to help make the transition as seamless as possible.  

    Again, thank you for the opportunities, and feel free to contact me at [x] or [x] with any questions.


    Sincerely,

    lovesclimbing

    This is the only acceptable letter. You tell him in person and go over it with him. And then if needs a letter for the file you do this. You know you don't actually tell your boss your leaving for the first time in a letter right? Unless it's on bad terms. You tell him in person and then formalize it. 
    Actually, no I didn't, although doing more googling of resigning as opposed to just templates on google images, I'm realizing I should. This will be only the second job I've ever resigned from in my life. Before this, I just had temporary summer jobs with the end date known before I ever started. And then one job in high school that I resigned from via a letter, and apparently that was wrong! 

  • It's not a question of working remotely or not working at all. It's a question of working remotely or finding another job for 6-7 months or longer if I'm not pregnant now in our new location. I think I'd be bored out of my mind if was pregnant now and then was doing nothing but keeping a home for six months or so after the move! 

    I'm leaning toward not working remotely and finding a new job because I don't know that I want to stay with the company. Due to the pay and some other stuff (two weeks of PTO a year and no flexibility on unpaid time off when this is a very high stress job), I'd be finding something else and quitting in the near future regardless of the move. 
    Are you planning to return to work if you stay at home for a while? Things may be different in your field, but taking a job that you intend to quit in the near future (6-7 months would definitely qualify as near future) would not lead to good references or reputation. If it takes a month or more to train someone, and then you put on notice a mo th (or more before) you're really only working two to three soldi months for them. If this is part time or temp work that's not really a problem, but in many fields this would not leave a positive reputation behind. 

    I don't want to imply stay at home or quitting to take care of a child isn't a great choice to make, but I do think taking a job knowing you're going to quit a few months later (depending on the type of job) will potentially have negative ramifications if you want to work in the field in the future. Just something to think about. 

  • It's not a question of working remotely or not working at all. It's a question of working remotely or finding another job for 6-7 months or longer if I'm not pregnant now in our new location. I think I'd be bored out of my mind if was pregnant now and then was doing nothing but keeping a home for six months or so after the move! 

    I'm leaning toward not working remotely and finding a new job because I don't know that I want to stay with the company. Due to the pay and some other stuff (two weeks of PTO a year and no flexibility on unpaid time off when this is a very high stress job), I'd be finding something else and quitting in the near future regardless of the move. 
    Are you planning to return to work if you stay at home for a while? Things may be different in your field, but taking a job that you intend to quit in the near future (6-7 months would definitely qualify as near future) would not lead to good references or reputation. If it takes a month or more to train someone, and then you put on notice a mo th (or more before) you're really only working two to three soldi months for them. If this is part time or temp work that's not really a problem, but in many fields this would not leave a positive reputation behind. 

    I don't want to imply stay at home or quitting to take care of a child isn't a great choice to make, but I do think taking a job knowing you're going to quit a few months later (depending on the type of job) will potentially have negative ramifications if you want to work in the field in the future. Just something to think about. 
    Eventually, but not in the near future. We plan to have several children relatively close together (two years or so apart) and we plan to homeschool for the first few years at least. I may freelance on the side. My husband is trying to buy a business (part of the reason for the move) that I would likely help with in the future. So I wouldn't be not working at all, but I wouldn't be working in a traditional job for quite a few years. 

    To the second part of my post that you bolded, that was meant to say I'd be finding something else and quitting my current job in the near future regardless of the move because I'm dissatisfied. 

    And I understand it's not an ideal situation to start a job and quit shortly thereafter. That's why I would be looking specifically for something temporary if I find out I'm pregnant before we move. 

    I'm planning to talk to my boss today!
  • I agree with PP's that you sound apologetic. It's business, not personal. In my opinion, this is all the letter needs to state, if you wish to talk about the rest of the stuff in person that's fine but I wouldn't put it in writing. 

    I also exho what @vikinganna87 said, I wouldn't give that much notice unless it was to a company that had set a positive precedent for it. You risk either getting shit jobs, being terminated early or facing resentment by making this move at the wrong company. 

    And congrats and good luck!  


    ----

    Dear [boss]

    Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as [x] at the [company]. My last day will be [x].

    I appreciate the opportunities I have received over the past two years including [stuff], [things], and working on the new website.

    My goal is to help recruit and train my replacement in my final two months to help make the transition as seamless as possible.  

    Again, thank you for the opportunities, and feel free to contact me at [x] or [x] with any questions.


    Sincerely,

    lovesclimbing

    This is the only acceptable letter. You tell him in person and go over it with him. And then if needs a letter for the file you do this. You know you don't actually tell your boss your leaving for the first time in a letter right? Unless it's on bad terms. You tell him in person and then formalize it. 
    Actually, no I didn't, although doing more googling of resigning as opposed to just templates on google images, I'm realizing I should. This will be only the second job I've ever resigned from in my life. Before this, I just had temporary summer jobs with the end date known before I ever started. And then one job in high school that I resigned from via a letter, and apparently that was wrong! 
    you can do it at the same time, my last one I had a letter typed up that basically said XYZ is my last day and I handed it to my boss and said I'm resigning and elaborated a little more. It is definitely nicer to tell someone in person vs just sending an email or leaving a letter on the desk but you don't have to have a meeting and then days later give a formal letter. 

  • It's not a question of working remotely or not working at all. It's a question of working remotely or finding another job for 6-7 months or longer if I'm not pregnant now in our new location. I think I'd be bored out of my mind if was pregnant now and then was doing nothing but keeping a home for six months or so after the move! 

    I'm leaning toward not working remotely and finding a new job because I don't know that I want to stay with the company. Due to the pay and some other stuff (two weeks of PTO a year and no flexibility on unpaid time off when this is a very high stress job), I'd be finding something else and quitting in the near future regardless of the move. 
    Are you planning to return to work if you stay at home for a while? Things may be different in your field, but taking a job that you intend to quit in the near future (6-7 months would definitely qualify as near future) would not lead to good references or reputation. If it takes a month or more to train someone, and then you put on notice a mo th (or more before) you're really only working two to three soldi months for them. If this is part time or temp work that's not really a problem, but in many fields this would not leave a positive reputation behind. 

    I don't want to imply stay at home or quitting to take care of a child isn't a great choice to make, but I do think taking a job knowing you're going to quit a few months later (depending on the type of job) will potentially have negative ramifications if you want to work in the field in the future. Just something to think about. 
    Eventually, but not in the near future. We plan to have several children relatively close together (two years or so apart) and we plan to homeschool for the first few years at least. I may freelance on the side. My husband is trying to buy a business (part of the reason for the move) that I would likely help with in the future. So I wouldn't be not working at all, but I wouldn't be working in a traditional job for quite a few years. 

    To the second part of my post that you bolded, that was meant to say I'd be finding something else and quitting my current job in the near future regardless of the move because I'm dissatisfied. 

    And I understand it's not an ideal situation to start a job and quit shortly thereafter. That's why I would be looking specifically for something temporary if I find out I'm pregnant before we move. 

    I'm planning to talk to my boss today!
    Best of luck!  It's perfectly normal and standard in the business world, but that doesn't mean it's not stressful!
  • How did the conversation with your boss go? If you haven't already sent in your letter of resignation, be sure to date it.
    "Marriage is so disruptive to one's social circle." - Mr. Woodhouse
  • Well, I didn't talk to him. I realized right before I was going to that I never decided on a last day. We kept saying "end of September" but never sat down and came up with an actual day. So I came home and talked to H. I didn't realize that he gave his boss Sept. 30, but his new job doesn't start until middle to end of October. So I expressed my concern about a large gap in working because moving is always expensive. So he may actually wind up pushing his end date back a bit, and I would as well. If I push it back a couple weeks, I'll wait a couple weeks or more to tell my bosses. So we'll see how it shakes out in the next week or two with H talking to his new boss.  There's really not a big rush. I would be fine with giving them more like a month and a half as opposed to two months. 
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