Source
r/careerguidance•
Bashface

Working retail - how do I resign on good terms just before christmas?

Hello,

I have been a store manager for a few years and as I feel like I’ve gotten what I can from this job I’ve been looking around for other job opportunities.

I’ve now received an offer that would be very bad for my wallet to turn down. I should mention that the store I work at is very likely closing next year (february-mars) for reasons outside my control - mainly bad location as half the stores in my mall have already closed. This, of course, factor in with my decision to leave.

I have a pretty good relationship with my boss who has been very real about the risk of closing. Besides that he has been happy with my performance and have expressed interest in keeping me in the company by offering me another store. So there’s no ”bad blood” there.

The looming closing will of course affect his ability to hire a new manager before christmas and have a negative effect on the store performance over all.

Now I like the place I work at, I like the people and many of them have become friends outside of work (colleagues at same positions in my district -not my own employees). Obviously I don’t want to end on bad terms but I feel leaving will sort of cement the closing of the store as a fact which or course affect the staff as well.

Do you have any advice on how to formulate a resignation letter?

Posted Sep 21, 2017, 9:03 AM UTC · edited

25
meghabucks•

I'd tell him in person and let him know you really appreciated your time there but you received an offer you can't refuse. Most people will understand you have to do what's best for you. Usually the resignation letter is a formality for HR.

2
CripzyChiken•

for the letter - "I am resigning 'position' effective 'date' " Then sign it. Nothing else. No explaining why, no saying you got a better job, nothing else.

However - what you are really asking about is telling your boss, and there it's letting them know ASAP so they can work on getting a new manager in and settled before the holidays fully kick in. Or recommend your top guy to be promoted since it is only a short term role anyways, this can also be a good way to give a huge career boost to your #2 guy.

but at the end of the day - the company is likely going to close this store without any care for you or the other employees - why should you hurt yourself to help them? Look out for yourself first, then just look to ease the transition for the old store - mainly b/c you are friends with them and don't want to ruin your name.

2
BashfaceOP•

Thanks really good input!

Could you expand a little bit on why keeping the letter so short?

1
CripzyChiken•

why make it long? It provides all the required info, nothing more nothing less.

edit: anything else can be said in person, and not have a written record of it. What is the benefit to anyone of you writing down that you are leaving b/c you fear that the store is closing in Feb? nothing is going to change b/c it's written down over expressed verbally. The letter is simply a required HR form.

Oh yeah, the one thing I forgot to add was the date you submitted it. You need that too.

2
readitour•

You take care of you first. Take the other job and apologize for the situation you're putting your former boss in.

But once you do that, stop caring about it and focus on the new job.

1