well, we've entered into a new year and for some, that means movement. many of us are celebrating engagements while others are welcoming new bundles of joys into our lives. yes, this year sure seems to be all about growth and development, which is why many of us are inspired to relocate and even change career paths. in the spirit of "keepin' it classy", here are some things to keep in mind to ensure your transition outta your current job goes smoothly. 

7). write a resignation letter. 

resignation letters are the best way to officially announce to your employer that you're leaving. depending on your work environment, you may be able to print this letter off and place it in a mailbox. if not, you can also opt to send your letter to your supervisor via email. verbally letting your supervisor know that you're leaving doesn't always work because it leaves them with nothing to put in your file (for the record). 

6). let your employer know well in advance. 

calling off on a day that you were supposed to work and then calling back and letting them know that you quit... isn't cool. coming in to work on a wednesday and letting them know that your last day will be that coming friday is also....not cool. deciding in your own mind that you quit and then deciding to block their number and not go in anymore is unacceptable, to say the least. moral of the story, keep it classy...let your employer know at least two weeks in advance. 

5). make sure that you've considered all of the variables associated with quitting your job. 

do you have a job lined up? do the benefits of said job surpass that of the job you're currently at? does the new job get your closer to your ultimate goal in life? have you prayed about this shift in your professional career? these are all questions you need to consider before you decide to quit your job. it would be a shame for you to leave a job only to find out that the grass wasn't greener on the other side. 

4). give back all of the things that belong to the company.

your last day isn't the time for you to rack up on free office supplies. don't focus on trying to "get over" on your employer just because you're leaving. have some class. return your keys, key cards, gas cards, and whatever else you may have been given in relation to your job. 

3). keep doing your best work. 

you don't have the right to slack in your work just because you're moving on. your productivity is just as important now as it was when you first got the job. in fact, it's even more that you leave your work environment better than it was when you initially came, which brings me to my next point...

2). be as helpful as you can with positioning the company to work well in your absence. 

don't be that person that has ill intent and wants to see a company fail. that's so self absorbing. if you know of someone who'd be a good fit for the position you're leaving, encourage them to apply. if you were working on any special projects or have some work related tasks that will be left undone, leave detailed instructions so that someone can carry those things out in your absence. 

1). remain professional.

work environments may not always be the best. your supervisors and co workers may be rude to you. they may take your contributions for granted and even conspire against you so much so that you have to get out of there because of how toxic the environment is for you. but through it all, you've got to remain professional. your ability to keep it professional is a direct correlation with your level of integrity and your character, so don't let people bring you outta character. forreal.