Quitting a job can be an emotionally charged experience; some may feel devastated while others might welcome the chance to move on with their lives.

No matter your emotions, make every attempt to depart in an orderly and pleasant manner so you can receive positive references and maintain professional contact with former employers. This will increase the odds that positive references will follow you into another job and maintain professional contact between companies.

1. Be Honest

Quitting can often carry with it an uncomfortable social stigma, but that doesn't have to mean burning bridges. If you are leaving for better opportunities or because the work environment is toxic, be honest with co-workers and management regarding why you are leaving - also it would be wiser if you notified your manager first before informing others on staff; ideally it would be ideal to inform him directly via face-to-face conversation or over the phone, otherwise an email should suffice.

If your boss or other managers ask why you're leaving, be polite and provide constructive feedback that can benefit the company moving forward. Feel free to mention personal factors, like starting a family or having difficulty working with one particular manager; just make sure not to trash-talk anyone or anything!

As part of your last week or two in your current job, take care to tie up loose ends and limit discussion of future career moves or potential new employers. Doing this professionally will leave a favorable impression of you with your current employer while maintaining potential network opportunities for later.

2. Be Professional

Resignation can be an emotional process. Don't allow that emotion to cloud your judgement; simply make an educated decision based on facts.

Managers may become upset if you announce your resignation unexpectedly, so it is wise to remain professional and polite when communicating your decision to leave. Expressing any grievances at this stage would only cause offense; any such complaints should instead be saved until your exit interview.

If you have formed close ties with coworkers, it can be nice to exchange contact information in person and say your goodbyes in a personal manner. Otherwise, reaching out via email or LinkedIn and telling former coworkers you wish to remain in contact is also an effective way of making the separation more graceful while providing references for future careers.

3. Be Flexible

No matter your motivations for leaving your job - whether pursuing another career path, starting your own business, or simply taking some time off - quitting gracefully without burning bridges should always be top of mind. Making an impressionful goodbye could lead to future recommendations based on this smooth departure experience.

Once your decision to leave has been made, give notice and allow for all open work projects to be completed before leaving your company. Depending on its structure and your length of service with them, this could take between two weeks and three months; also make sure you're accommodating any special requests made by your supervisors or managers.

At first, it may be wise to limit discussion of your new job while you're still employed. Discussing it could cause stress for coworkers and upset if your manager hears about it from someone other than yourself (ie through department grapevine gossip or office politics). This is especially important if you require references from this employer in the future.

4. Be Concise

There can be various reasons for leaving a job behind - perhaps your career ambitions or an unexpected family crisis has inspired this decision, yet making such a drastic move can be stressful and emotional.

As you announce your intentions to resign from a job, it's essential to remain discreet and not cause unnecessary friction with management. Resign in person whenever possible so they have an opportunity to discuss any feedback with you and make future requests easier - be that references or recommendations down the road.

Yapping and throwing things may seem like an effective way to vent frustration in movies, but in real life this doesn't do any good - in fact it may do more harm than good if done incorrectly. Anger might cause other employees to feel uncomfortable or even lead to the creation of gaps in workflow; moreover a negative response may harm future job prospects or professional opportunities for yourself or even be detrimental for future employment opportunities - it's best to remain professional when venting and keep civility. If planning on coming back again for another job after this one concludes then staying civility should remain key!

5. Be Kind

After leaving an employment role, it can be an emotional experience - so be sure to treat all parties involved with dignity and professionalism. Never criticise or lambaste anyone on social media before leaving and make sure to let them know how much their time and efforts were appreciated before departing.

Make a document outlining passwords, deadlines and any other pertinent details to aid someone taking over from you seamlessly. Consider offering to train them.

As you transition away from your job, be sure to set aside some time just for you and recharge your batteries. Quitting can be emotionally draining; take time now to plan and prepare for what comes next with these tips on how to gracefully exit and start fresh with your career journey! Good luck!