In today’s rapidly shifting work culture, quitting your job has become an entire genre of online performance. On TikTok, ‘Quit-Toks’ glamorise the dramatic exit, and then there’s the worrying new trend dubbed career catfishing, where jobseekers accept a job and then fail to show up on the first day.
We also have quiet quitting, doing the bare minimum at work in the belief it’s about prioritising ‘self’, and its theatrical cousin, revenge quitting, resigning with the intent of deliberate disruption.
Meanwhile, new right to disconnect legislation is confusing for all when interlaced with conflicting debates around workplace flexibility and the right to work anywhere, anytime, from home and remotely. We are witnessing a broader reframing of the employer-employee dynamic.
However, in this evolving world of work, one thing hasn’t changed: how you leave a job still matters. The way you exit can either elevate or tarnish your professional reputation. And reputations are stubborn things – they tend to stick.
Don’t make a scene
It may feel like payback, but who is really left with the cheque? No matter what you believe, even if there is some minor setback, the business, boss, and your team carry on.
It’s a common misstep, not knowing what to say or how to act after resigning. Going silent isn’t a good strategy.
So, if you are poised to make a scene and advertise your ‘quit’ loudly and broadly, including on social media, reconsider. Sure, you will feel some immediate gratification, but it passes quickly, leaving you instead with the possible stain of regret and embarrassment.
Be smart, control the narrative
Before word spreads, ask your manager how and when your resignation will be announced. They will appreciate the consideration. Align your messaging, publicly and privately.
Don’t update LinkedIn the moment you walk out the door. When you do go public, keep it warm and neutral. Thank your colleagues. Mention what you’ve learned. You’re building a professional narrative, not closing a personal diary.
Be your best self during your notice period.
How you show up now matters. This is not the time to disengage. Whether you’ve been there three months or three years, your final weeks will shape a lasting impression.
Be on time and early every day, provide a great handover, help your team and don’t weaponise sick leave as revenge. You don’t want your legacy to be the mess others had to mop up.
Complete your notice period.
It can be tempting to not show up during your final weeks. Akin to ghosting, but more spectacular and surprising. I mean, what is your boss going to do? Sack you?
Once upon a time, if someone didn’t show up to work, whether on a normal workday, their first day or during a resignation period, there was concern. Were they ok? Work your notice period. It’s your contractual obligation. Besides that, it’s the right thing to do, morally, ethically and for your personal integrity.
Leave with some grace
No matter how justified your reasons for leaving, the exit is not the time to fix a broken culture or list your grievances. If there’s a formal exit interview, treat it like a business conversation, not therapy.
Constructive feedback? Yes. A purge of stored resentment? No. Remember: even companies in crisis evolve, and people move around. In the future, you may find yourself working with or under a former colleague. Give them a reason to speak well of you, not just because you were good, but because you left well.
Close the loop.
It’s a common misstep, not knowing what to say or how to act after resigning. Going silent isn’t a good strategy. Instead, invest in parting conversations with key colleagues and mentors.
These don’t need to be emotional farewells, but a thoughtful note, LinkedIn message, or in-person chat. Make it easy for others to stay in touch. These people may refer you for a job in the years to come or be sitting across from you in a negotiation in the future.
Australia is small. In fact, the world is small. The 1967 six degrees theory is based on the idea that every human is connected through a maximum of six intermediaries.
Today’s real-world applications of the internet and social media show it’s more like four. Consider references and those off the record references. How you quit has never been more important.
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