Unit # 18 Name:

WORLD OF WORK Date:

To complete this unit, you must:

1.Read the “Before You Resign, Before You Accept” handout.

2.Successfully complete two assignments.

  1. Before You Resign
  2. Your Verbal Resignation

3.Read “Letter of Resignation.”

4.Using Word software, type a rough draft of a resignation letter.

5.Go over your rough draft letter with your Teacher Advisor.

6.Complete a final draft of your letter and get it graded.

Before You Resign From Your Job

Before You Accept a New Job

Congratulations. You have been on the job for a while. You have done good work. Andnow you are thinking about moving on to another job, with another company or agency. Youthink you will quit. But first, be sure you have another job. It is usually unwise to quit a jobbefore you have a new one. If you quit without going to another job right away, your résumé isgoing to show a gap and you are going to have to explain that each time you apply for a job.

When you have applied for and been offered that “new” job, you need to ask yourselfsome serious questions, including “Do I really want this new job?” That may sound like astrange question, but sometimes the job you were applying for may not quite meet yourexpectations. Before you accept the offer, you should check out some or all of the following andthink about your current job, too.

  • What are the new job responsibilities? Can I learn them and do I want to do them?
  • How does the new rate of pay compare with what I currently make?
  • How will my work hours compare with what I now work? Do I like the new hours? Will they fit my lifestyle and my other responsibilities?
  • What is the pay period at the new job—monthly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, weekly? Will I be able to adjust to that schedule?
  • How long will it be before I receive my first paycheck? (Some employers hold back two weeks pay and they give it to you at the end of your work.)
  • Are the fringe benefits—health insurance, sick leave, retirement, etc.—better or worse than what I have now?
  • Will I have to move to take this new job? What are the costs of moving?
  • Do I have the transportation needed to get to work each day at the new job? Will transportation cost me more or less than it does for my current job?
  • Are there new expenses associated with the new job or are there fewer expenses? Expenses might be the cost of a uniform or a license.
  • Will I have friends and support at the new job?
  • Is there “job security”? That is, if layoffs occur, what are the chances I will be able to keep my job?

There are a lot of things to consider before you give up the job that you already have.You need to carefully consider all the information before you resign from your current job. Everyjob has its good and its bad points. Be sure to look at all this so that you know you are makingthe right move.

Name: ______Today’s Date: ______

Before You Resign

Explain two or three reasons why it is important to keep your present job until you are offeredthe right “new” job.

In the reading you just did, there are 11 things to think about before you give up a job to takeanother job. Pick the five that you think are the most important and write the underlined wordsfrom those five here.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Now, from those five, pick what you believe is the single most important thing to consider beforeyou quit one job to take another job. The single most important thing is not the same foreveryone. Pick the one you think is most important. Then, write a paragraph or two explainingwhy you think that is most important.

Use Word software to type your essay on the computer. Use Arial (10 or 12 pt) or Times NewRoman (12 pt) font. Double space. Be sure to type your name and today’s date on the top ofyour paper, aligned right. If you use a list, bullet it correctly.

Give your paragraphs to your Teacher Advisor on a disk. He will be grading it on the screen tosee that you used keyboarding and word processing techniques you have learned.

Name: ______Today’s Date: ______

Your Verbal Resignation

Congratulations on being offered a new job. You have considered the decision carefully and have decided to take the new job. What now?

There are a few very important things you need to do. The first item on your “To Do” list is to resign from your current job. Resigning form a job right away is very important. It can affect your recommendations in the future.

There are many good reasons to leave a job and employers understand that. However, you need to handle your resignation in a professional way. And you need to follow your employer’s policies for resigning.

It is essential that you give your employer at least two-weeks’ notice. Two weeks is standard, so that thecompany has time to find, hire, and train your replacement. Remember, you have been doing a good job and your employer has relied on you. Now your employer has to get someone new.

Do not tell others in the company that you are leaving before you inform your supervisor. Do not let your supervisor hear you are leaving from anyone before s/he hears it from you, personally. No matter how you feel about your supervisor or your job, it is important to leave on a good note. You do not know what the future holds, but you do want to stay on good terms with anyone who can have an effect on your future, for good or bad.

Here are some tips for what to include in your conversation with your supervisor:

•the date you will be leaving (where you are going is optional)

•“thank you” for the experience and skills you have learned

•“thank you” for the people you have worked with

•volunteer to train your replacement

•

Try to keep the conversation short and to the point. Be sure to shake hands after your meeting.

Questions to answer

1. Who should you tell first that you are leaving your present job?

2. How many weeks notice should you give when you resign from a job?

3. Why is it important to resign in the right way? (Use complete sentences for this answer.)

4. Briefly write what you would say to your supervisor when resigning. (Use complete sentences for this answer.)

Letter of Resignation

Writing a letter of resignation is your official document that you are leaving your job. It should

be written in the business letter format you learned and used in World of Work Units Four and

Six. The letter of resignation should be brief and include the following information:

•The fact that you are leaving

•Your final date on the job

•Your willingness to volunteer to train your replacement

•“thank you” for the opportunity to work with the company

•(optional: give a positive reason for leaving)

•

There is a sample letter of resignation on the next page. Check it out before you write your own

letter.

Assignment

Using Word software, create a rough draft and later a final copy of a letter of resignation. (See

the Cover Sheet for Unit 18 for complete instructions.)

The letter of resignation is a business letter, so it has to be set up in a business format. Use the

business format that you learned in World of Work Unit Four and Unit Six:

•Block style

•Easy to read font, like Arial or Times New Roman, 10 or 12 pt.

•Single spaced, with an extra space between paragraphs

•Same font throughout the entire letter

•Good margins, like 1 or 1.25 inches on each side

•Spaced evenly from top to bottom on the page; to do this, you may need to put some

•extra lines

  • above and below the date;
  • between the inside address and the subject line;
  • between the subject line and the body of the letter;
  • between the body of the letter and your signature and name.

Your teacher can help you with the format, but the best thing you can do is look back to World of

Work Units Four and Six, where you will find good suggestions. Those general suggestions are

helpful for all business letters you have to write. Of course, you have to write your own content

for the letter. If you created your own letterhead back in Unit Four (or Six), now is the time to

use it again. Otherwise, you need to create it now.

Be sure to use the “print preview” command to see what your letter looks like before you print it.

Have your Teacher Advisor help you know what looks good. Also, be sure to check spelling,

punctuation, and grammar.

Don’t forget to have your rough draft corrected (on disk) before you do your final draft. When

your Teacher Advisor prints your final draft, put it in your Portfolio.

Sammy Salmon

P.O. Box 0000

Dillingham, Alaska 99576

May 2, 2005

Ms. Molly McGuire, Director

The Espresso Express

123 Sleepytime Lane

Hollow, Alaska 99999

RE: My resignation

It has been my pleasure to work at The Espresso Express for nearly a year. Thank you

for the training and experience you have given me.

At this time, I regret that I must leave my job, effective May 16, 2005. I was offered and

I have accepted another position.

During my remaining two weeks, I would be more than happy to train my replacement, if

that is what you would like.

Again, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to work here.

Sammy Salmon