You’ve decided to resign. Now what?
 

Let’s not dress it up. Resigning from your job is a big fucking deal.

This won’t have come out of nowhere. Chances are you’ve sat with it for weeks, maybe months. You’ve had that voice in the back of your head going over it again and again. Is it the right time? Am I doing the right thing?

What if I regret it? You’ve thought about your future, your family, your career, your sanity. Once you’ve made the decision, once you’ve signed the offer and told yourself “Right, I’m doing this,” the real fun begins.

Expect emotion

Not just from you. From the people around you. Some might act like nothing’s happened. Some might go quiet. Others might get awkward or start being a bit weird with you. A few will be genuinely supportive.

You’ll notice a change, though. The moment you resign, something shifts.

You’ve taken control of your situation and not everyone knows how to deal with that.

Expect a counter-offer

It might come the same day you resign. Or a few days later once the dust settles and someone’s had a bit of a panic. You might hear promises of more money, more responsibility, or a better role. It’s flattering, of course it is.

Take a moment and ask yourself something. Why now? Why did it take your resignation for them to suddenly value you more? If they were serious about keeping you, wouldn't they have shown it before you got to this point?

Expect things to feel a bit off

If you don’t take the counter and you stick to your decision, things might shift. You might get left out of things. You might get less eye contact. You might feel like you’re not part of the team anymore.

It’s horrible, and no one really prepares you for it. It happens more than you think.

Try to remember this isn’t about you. You’ve made a brave call to move on. Some people just find that hard to handle.

As the new employer, this is your moment to show up

If you’re joining a new team, how they treat you between offer and start date matters more than most people realise.

That in-between stage can feel strange. You’re in one place, thinking about the next.

The good ones stay in touch. They check in. They make sure you feel looked after. If you're stepping into something new and it already feels like you're being included before day one, you're in the right hands.

If you’re the one they’re leaving, here’s what we’d say

Don’t take it personally.

It stings when someone you value decides to leave. Especially when they’ve been a big part of your team or someone you’ve helped shape. People move on for all kinds of reasons, most of which aren’t about you.

Reacting emotionally won’t help. Avoid the guilt trips. Don’t turn cold. Don’t try and make them feel bad for doing what’s right for them.

You don’t have to go over the top with the farewell, but keep it professional. Say thank you. Support them if you can. Leave the door open.

They might come back one day. They’ll remember how you made them feel when they walked away.

It’s a massive moment. So please treat it with the respect it deserves

Changing jobs is a big decision. It’s emotional. It’s scary. It’s a bit of a leap into the unknown.

So if someone chooses to put themselves first and make a move, the least we can do is show a bit of respect for that. Even if it’s hard. Even if it stings.

Support them. Back them. Let them go well.

That’s how you do it right.