HBR Guide to Your Job Search

CHAPTER 19

Quitting Without Burning Bridges

by Rebecca Knight

Leaving your job can come with a range of emotions. If you’ve grown tired of your role or the company, you may be feeling more than ready to move on. (Who hasn’t fantasized about walking into the boss’s office, saying, “I quit!,” and then marching straight out the door?) For many people, though, leaving a job is bittersweet. You’re excited for the next opportunity, but you might miss friends, coworkers, and a role that you’ve enjoyed (and maybe you’ll even miss your boss). But no matter why you’re quitting, it’s important to leave a good last impression, since how you quit will stick in people’s minds long after you’re gone.

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