How to resign 'gracefully' and why it's important for your career

With the year drawing to a close, employees who're considering leaving their jobs would probably see this as the time to hand in that letter of resignation.

Keep in mind that how you resign is important, cautions Advaita Naidoo, MD for Africa at executive search firm Jack Hammer Global.

Prioritise leaving with grace, she says, as resignations today are far more than a mere formality - they’re 'a defining moment' in a professional’s career.

It's actually amazing just how many 'sensible' and 'rational' people can let emotions take over at this critical moment, Naidoo comments.

"But how you leave is as important as how you performed when you were with the company, and as where you're going next."

The way you exit a company will reveal a lot about your emotional intelligence and maturity, she adds.

"It's like a hygiene factor - when you do it well it's normal, and when you do it badly it's noticed."

Naidoo says there are two main reasons why burningbridges today is even more harmful than in the past - the fact that the world is now much more inter-connected and the so-called 'back-channeling' talent search mechanism.

People should be aware that hiring managers are likely to conduct a social media scan during the recruitment process.

During this process they will sometimes find links with former managers and colleagues known to them, and possibly reach out for an informal back-channel check, Naidoo points out.

“It is these conversations with former colleagues, managers, clients, suppliers or service providers – the people who show up on your online footprint and who can share candid insights about your tenure AND how you left - which can carry weight in recruitment decisions.”

You also need to take care to navigate exit interviews carefully, Naidoo says.

For more insight from Naidoo, listen to the interview audio at the top of the article