Employers are always impacted when an employee leaves. But there are ways to leave a job without ‘burning your bridges’.

Regardless of why you are leaving, remaining fully committed to your job until you leave will benefit you. Prospective employers will discuss your reliability, attitude, attendance and conduct with past or current employers.

Here are some tips on the right way to leave a job:

1. Prepare for the conversation.

• Talking to your boss about leaving can be difficult, especially if you’re not sure how they will react. Plan what you want to say and what you want to get out of the conversation.
• If you are leaving because of an issue at work, don’t just quit, try to resolve the issue first.

2. Never quit in anger.

• Avoid leaving a job suddenly or speaking negatively about previous jobs on social media or during an interview. This can damage your chances of getting future jobs. Potential employers will do their research. They won’t want to hire someone who quits without notice or speaks negatively about past employers.

3. Always tell your boss first.

• Don’t tell your co-workers you are leaving until you have spoken face-to-face with your boss.
• You will also need to provide a formal resignation letter.

4. Give as much notice as you can.

• The minimum notice period you need to give depends on what's in your employment agreement. This usually depends on the length of time you have worked for your employer.
• Even if you are a casual and don’t have to give notice, try to give at least one week’s notice. This gives your boss some time to find a replacement.

5. Don’t slack off at work.

• Continue to act professionally and do your job to the best of your ability during your notice period.

6. Ask for a reference.

• Remember to ask your employer or manager for a written reference. Ask whether you can list them as a verbal referee for future job applications.
• If they say no, ask a senior co-worker or another manager in the business to act as a referee.

7. Leave your contact details.

• There may be paperwork that your employer needs to send you after you leave. For example, they'll need to know where to send your Pay As You Go (PAYG) payment summary at the end of the financial year.

8. Keep track of your superannuation.

• Keep a record of your superannuation account so you don’t lose track of your superannuation.

Regardless of why you are leaving, remaining fully committed to your job will benefit you in the long run.