Leaving a Job (Page 1 of 3)	
Leaving a Job	
TERMINATED (OR FIRED) FROM YOUR JOB 
If your employer is unhappy with your attitude or work performance, he o
r she may give you a termination 
notice.  A termination notice is usually effective immediately (the same day).  A termination notice given to 
you in your paycheck envelope is often called a "pink slip."  Giving you
 a termination notice or pink slip is 
a way of saying that you are fired.  Getting fired is upsetting.  There is not much you can do about getting 
fired except to take steps to find out the reason why.  	Ask	 your employer why you are fired.  	Listen	 to what 	
you are told without blaming other people or getting angry.  	Think about	 what your employer said.  	Plan 	
how you are going to change so another employer will not say the same thing about you in the future.  If 
you do not want to change, realize that most employers think alike, and 
will react to your attitude or work performance in the same way — wit
h a 
termination notice.  
If you have done nothing wrong and receive a termination notice, you may
 
have the misfortune of being hired by an employer with a bad attitude who 
is impossible to please.  When this happens, be glad that you are out of 
an uncomfortable job so that you may find a new interesting job with an 
employer who values you and your work. 
LAYOFF NOTICE
A company may try to save money by downsizing (reducing number of 
workers) when the company is not making money.  When a company 
downsizes, workers get 	layoff notices.	  Layoff notice is a letter from the 	
employer telling a worker that the job has ended — and if the job is expected to reopen in the future when 
the company starts making a profit (more money).  Workers are not laid off because of bad attitudes or 
work performance.  Workers are laid off because the company does not earn enough money to pay 
workers' wages.  Sometimes a company will give laid off workers 	severance pay	.  This means that when 	
workers are severed (cut off) from their jobs, the employer gives extra pay (severance pay) to help pay bills 
while looking for a new job.  Severance pay is a check equal to one, two, or more weeks of pay depending 
on company policy (rules).  Companies are not required by law to give laid of f workers severance pay.
QUIT A  JOB
Quitting a job is a serious decision.  Think about the reasons behind this decision before taking action.  Ask 
yourself a few questions:  Do I like my job?  Can I afford to leave this job?  Am I learning valuable skills?  
Does the new job pay more?  Are the fringe benefits of the new job as good?  Do I want to quit because 
I don’t like someone at work?  If so, am I letting this person make me quit a good job?  Can I solve this 
problem another way?  Can I ask for a transfer?  Is the new job best for my career goals or health?   Will I 
learn valuable skills on the new job?  Will I have an opportunity to get a promotion on the new job?   
If the new job is not better than your present job, find out if there is something you can do to improve your 
present job before you quit.  Is there training you can get to help you change jobs within the company?  
How can you earn a transfer to a different department?  Discuss these questions with your supervisor.

Permission to use allowed with usworkworld.com subscription.	Leaving a Job (Page 2 of 3)	
10. a) If you decide to leave, who should you tell 	
first?  b) Why?	
11. a) How much notice do you give?  b) Why?
12. List the 3 things you need to cover when 
 you meet with the supervisor about leaving.
13. Using sample in bold print, write down what 	
you will say to your supervisor to quit your job 
(or what you will say to Mr. Lopez to quit a 
cashier job at the Home Store).	
14. a) In addition to telling your supervisor you are 
 leaving, what do you need to do?  b) Why?
15. Look at the sample leaving a job letter on the 	
next page.  Word process a sample letter to your 	
 supervisor resigning from your current job.  If 	
you do not have a job, write a letter to Mr. 	
 Lopez to resign from a cashier job at the Home 	
Store. 	 	
LEAVE GRACEFULLY
If you made a decision to resign (quit your job), 	do it properly (follow the correct way) and do it 	
gracefully (show politeness).	  Leave your employer and coworkers feeling good about knowing you.   This 	
can help you in two ways:  1) You will find it easier to return to your old job if the new job does not work 
out for some reason, and  2) You will get a better recommendation from your employer to help you get jobs 
in the future.  Recommendation is a verbal talk or written letter from 
your employer telling another person what type of worker you are. 
It is important that you tell your supervisor that you are leaving before 
you tell any coworkers.  Supervisors do not like to hear about you 
quitting your job from others.  Give the supervisor two weeks notice 
that you are quitting.  This allows time to train a replacement for your 
job.  Do not become a lazy worker because you are leaving the job.  In 
fact, you may have to work a little harder if you are asked to train a r
eplacement.  Make an appointment 
to meet with your supervisor to discuss leaving.  During the meeting, cover three things:  1)  Why you are 
leaving the job, 2) Thanks for the job and the skills you have learned, and 3) Your last day of work.  Say:
Mrs. Webster — I would like to let you know that I am leaving Happy Burger on June 16 because I 
have accepted another job that will train me in different skills.  Thank you for the opportunity to work 
for Happy Burger.  This job taught me teamwork skills.  Do you need me to train a replacement?
In addition to telling your supervisor that you are leaving, you need to
 write a resignation letter (also called 
"leaving a job" letter).  This is because a busy supervisor may forget that you gave notice to quit — then 
become upset when you leave saying, "Why didn't you tell me?"  It is best for you to write a letter so that 
there is no confusion.   You may give the letter to your supervisor during the meeting or the next day.  
A letter is proof that you gave notice.  The letter needs to cover all three things that you told your 
supervisor on the day you said you were leaving the job. 
1. a) What is a termination notice?  b) When is it 	
effective?  c) What is a pink slip?	
2. List the 4 steps to take after being fired.
3. If you do not want to change, what do you need 	
to  realize?	
4. a) If you have done nothing wrong and are 	
fired, what can you be glad about?  b)Why?	
5. What is a layoff notice?  
6. a) What is severance pay?  b) Is it required?
7. Before quitting a job, you need to ask yourself 	
questions.  Write down which questions you 
think are the most important for you.	
8. If you resign, list 2 ways you need to do it.
9. List 2 reasons why it helps you to leave your 	
employer and coworkers feeling good about 
knowing you.	
QUICK CHECK:

3945 My Street
Careerville, MS  99001
November 3, 2021
Mr. Parks
Careerville Pizza Shop
998 East Mall Lane
Careerville, MS  99000
Dear Mr. Parks:
Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation.  My last day will be Friday, June 18.
I have accepted another job offer which will give me an opportunity to learn new skills 
that will help me succeed in a future career.
Thank you for the opportunity to work for Careerville Pizza Shop.  The skills I learned will 
be valuable in the future.  I have enjoyed working for such a fine company.
Sincerely,
Theresa Gonzales	
Leaving a Job (Page 3 of 3)	
Press return (or enter) key 4 times
Press return key 2 times
Press return key 2 times
Press return key 2 times
Press return key 2 times 
Press return key 4 times  — Sign your name in the space after "Sincerely" — Start signing under 
the "S" or "i" and try not to slant up or down as you finish writing your name.
Press return key 2 times 	
Use your home address and the current date	
Note: Here is another example for the middle paragraph if you want to mention your new job:
 	I have been hired as a (job title) for (name of new company) in (ci
ty).  This job will help me    	
 learn new skills for my career goal.
If your letter is too high or too low, add or delete 
lines in the space above your street address.

3945 My Street
Careerville, MS  99001
October 3, 2021
Mr. Parks
Careerville Pizza Shop
998 East Mall Lane
Careerville, MS  99000
Dear Mr. Parks:
Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation.  My last day will be Friday, June 18.
I have accepted another job offer which will give me an opportunity to learn new skills 
that will help me succeed in a future career.
Thank you for the opportunity to work for Careerville Pizza Shop.  The skills I learned will 
be valuable in the future.  I have enjoyed working for such a fine company.
Sincerely,
Theresa Gonzales	
Note: Here is another example for the middle paragraph if you want to mention your new job:
 	I have been hired as a (job title) for (name of new company) in (ci
ty).  This job will help me 	
 learn new skills for my career goal.
If your letter is too high or too low, add or delete 
lines in the space above your street address.	
Leaving a Job (Page 3 of 3)