There can be many reasons why you leave a job. You may feel like you've stopped learning and feel it's time for something new and challenging. You may feel frustrated by how you're treated. For someone navigating work after a cancer diagnosis, you may feel you are no longer able to do the job you had before your diagnosis or you may have a change of heart and want to chase a passion. Whatever the reason, leaving a job is something most of us will experience in our careers. But how you leave a job is important and requires some careful thinking and planning. When possible, you want to leave on a good note because you never know when you may need a good reference or favor in the future. A recent article in The Muse walks through some steps to help us think through steps on how to leave a job in a professional way.

1. Are you Ready to Leave?
Take some time for a self-assessment. Is this something you are choosing in an emotional moment that you might regret in a few months? Do you have another job lined up? If not, what type of savings do you have and how long will that last you? What will the benefits package look like at your new job and how does that fit into your needs from treatment and/or ongoing medical support? Get a good view of what you want and how that aligns with what you need.

2. Make a Plan for the Timing of Your Exit
Timing is everything when planning your resignation. Typically two weeks is still the minimum amount of notice to give, though more warning is never a bad thing, especially for higher level positions. Allowing enough time where you can wrap things up and help with an easy transition can keep you in their good graces should you need a reference or favor in the future. It's also just the right thing to do.

3. Decide How, When and Whom You're Going to Tell
You don't want important people to hear about you leaving through the grape vine. Typically, start with your manager or immediate supervisor. Depending on the way your organization is structured, you would then write an official resignation letter and send it to HR. Following that, and with the coordination of your manager/HR you can start to tell your colleagues. All of these conversations should be polite and positive, even if you are leaving because of a bad situation. Use language like "I've learned so much here, but it's time to move on" or "I appreciate everything you have done for me and this was a difficult decision, but I couldn't turn down this opportunity" rather than "I hate it here" or "You're a horrible boss". Burning bridges will not help you in the future, so try as best as you can to leave on a positive note.

4. Help To Make the Transition Smooth
In your remaining time with the organization, do what you can to make things easy. Write detailed SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) with steps to complete your specific tasks and projects. When possible, help train someone taking over your work (either a current colleague or an official replacement if they are hired in time) and answer their questions so there is no gap in knowledge. Finish as much as you can before you leave. Anything left hanging, try to include detailed notes of what has been done, what needs to be done and how to do the remaining steps.