10 Tips on How to Resign Online From Your Remote Job

Is the global ‘great resignation’ trend over? Apparently not! A 2022 global survey by PwC found that one in five workers are planning to quit this year. So, if you are ready to change jobs and wonder how to resign online from your remote job, below are some practical tips and strategies to help.

1. Consult Your Employment Contract

Before you plan how to resign from a work from home job, make sure to consult your contract or terms of employment. Many times, this document will spell out how much notice you agreed to provide, as well as any tasks that need to be completed such as the turnover of equipment and work products. This document will also spell out any limitations you have regarding using your current company’s proprietary information or client lists. Not consulting your employment agreement can have costly consequences.

2. Be Professional

Once you know where you stand legally, it’s important to resign online in a professional manner. Throughout the process, refrain from discussing the situation with your colleagues, and do not complain about the company, your boss, or the position. You will maintain the goodwill of your employer when you resign online if you are calm, polite, and quiet about your departure. If you are leaving a tricky situation, remember that it’s possible to stand up for your rights while still being professional.

3. Resign Face-to-Face

Just as you wouldn’t break up with the person you’re dating by email, you shouldn’t quit a remote job by email either. If you can’t meet in person, set up a video chat to talk directly with your manager. Before the meeting, take some time to plan what you are going to say. Even by video chat, to resign online from a job is nerve-wracking and can be fraught with emotion. Rehearsing what you are going to say will limit the possibility of saying something you might regret later, as well as draining a little of the emotion out of the presentation.

During your conversation, make sure to list the positive experiences and skills that your position offered (there’s always a few) so you can leave on a high note. When talking about your reasons for leaving, there’s no need to go into details unless you are open to a counteroffer. If you have specific requirements that would entice you to say, then be detailed about why you’re leaving. This will leave the door open for management to meet some or all your requirements.

4. Write a Formal Resignation Letter 

To resign online, follow up your initial conversation with a formal resignation letter. If you’re writing an email, treat it the same as you would a professional business letter with an appropriate greeting, body, and closing. However, to be strictly professional, write a formal letter, save it in a PDF format, and send as an email attachment with a brief note.

Keep your resignation letter short and to the point. Include the fact that you are resigning from the position and state the last day you plan to work. You can include reasons surrounding your resignation as long as you keep them positive. Things like moving, going to school, or retiring, are fine to include in your letter. It’s also a nice gesture to thank the company for the opportunity and tell them what you will take away from the experience.

5. Give Enough Notice 

When planning how to resign online, you should include providing adequate notice to your manager. This will ensure there is sufficient time to hire and train your replacement. Two weeks is the standard amount of notice, however, be sure to confirm this by consulting your employment contract or human resources department. Senior-level positions may require notice up to six months, while some positions with access to sensitive information may require you to leave the organization immediately.

Regardless of the length of notice, it is considered extremely unprofessional to resign from any job without giving any notice – remote or not. If you want future employers to receive positive feedback about you during future job searches, this is an important courtesy to extend. You can sweeten the pot by offering to assist with succession planning or training your replacement.  

If you can’t give your employer a lot of notice due to an emergency, be prepared to share why you are unable to give adequate notice.

6. Don’t Get Too Emotional

If you are leaving a difficult and toxic work environment, your resignation meeting and follow-up letter are not the places to vent those frustrations. In your meeting, being overly emotional will tank your credibility and your ability to make your point, regardless of its validity. Also, your resignation letter is placed in a permanent employee file, and you don’t want an unfiltered rant to be on your record in case it is referred to in future reference checks. If you are upset and need to share your feedback, talk to the Human Resources department during your exit interview.

7. Don’t Burn Your Bridges 

While you may feel giddy at the prospect of leaving your job and want to go out in a blaze of glory, or just a blaze, be careful before you light that match. Most of us count on previous employers for references, and if you burn that bridge, it could hurt you when you look for other jobs. In addition, if you include despised coworkers in your rants, you can also poison what your entire network thinks about you. Lastly, if you think it’s a clever idea to do something silly like sending out letters to clients outlining the gory details of your departure, ask someone to tie up your hands until you change your mind. The best way to resign online is to keep the bad stuff to yourself and stay professional no matter what.

8. Do Not Post (or Vent) About Your Resignation on Social Media

While it is perfectly acceptable to let your social networks know that you are in the market for a new job, there are a few rules to follow. First, don’t let everyone know you’re looking before you tell your current employer you’re leaving. You could find yourself without a job before you’re ready to leave. Next, always refer to your previous employer in a positive light. No one wants to hire someone that badmouths their other employers because they know they could be next. Third, refrain from calling out difficult coworkers or dishing dirt on your former workplace. This can quickly turn your online network against you.

9. Be Strategic During the Exit Interview

When resigning from a work from home job, exit information is typically gathered via a video interview or survey by the human resources department. Regardless of how the information is gathered, it’s important to be strategic about the responses you provide. Be as positive as possible and describe the benefits of your previous position and the organization. Only provide negative information if you truly wish to help.

10. Maintain Any Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreements

After leaving your position, make sure to follow the terms of previous employment or your employment contract. Trying to poach clients, join a competitor, or use proprietary information will put yourself and your new employer in legal jeopardy.  

Overall, resigning from a work from home job isn’t all that different from leaving a traditional brick-and-mortar position. By keeping your cool and implementing a thoughtful and well-planned process to move on from your current job, you will maintain the goodwill of your employer and colleagues. These continuing relationships are important for building a positive reputation and are an invaluable resource that you can call upon to assist you in the future.

Have you ever resigned online? What are the right and wrong ways you’ve found to handle a resignation? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your thoughts and tips. We’d love to hear from you!