How to quit with class and respect?

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Protoform-X

[H]ard|Gawd
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I've decided it's time to move on from my current job. Stress that's crept into my personal life, a fear-driven environment, and lack of personal growth are all big factors in this decision.

I work for a managed service provider that services businesses only. Essentially I'm the project guy, network guy, brain, etc. I take care of anything technical that no one else can, so there's going to be a lot of outstanding support contracts that wont be properly taken care of when I leave. Just to give you an idea we have several clients running vSphere environments, Cisco routers/switches/phones, Exchange, or SonicWALLs that only *I* know how to configure and troubleshoot. I didn't want it to be this way, but we're a small shop and I've been the only person willing to invest the effort into learning these things.

There's not going to be enough time for my successor to learn all of these things before I leave. I've come to terms with that on a personal level. The business side of me is still a bit torn over it. While I am upset with the company, I would prefer to leave on a good note and cause minimal harm. Over the last two months I've written several documents explaining the basics of configuring/troubleshooting a lot of the things that I handle. All equipment, IPs, passwords, etc are stored in a CRM database, so I'm not worried about all of that.

The thing that's really eating me is that the service manager (also my close friend) has told me on several occasions that he'll be out the door the same day if I leave. He doesn't feel like he can go on without me here. He's already started searching for employment elsewhere. He and I are basically the pillars of the company. Without us, I see the whole place closing up. This isn't what I want to happen, but then again, maybe it's deserved- I am leaving for a reason.

Ultimately I'm seeking advice on how to go about this without burning bridges. I'm only 23 and this is the first job I've had that was really a "career" and I will literally cause extensive harm to the company simply by leaving. How should I approach the big boss? Should I explain the contempt I hold towards the company? If not, what should my story be? What other house cleaning should I consider before bringing this up?
 
CYA.

No matter how you leave make sure to cover your ass so you can get a good reference. The first "career" job is the stepping stone to getting the next career job.

Document, document, document. document your job, create trainings for a new person, even if its just a 30+ page word document about your job and what you do, the process you take to solve something, and little shortcuts you might have learned. It doesn't need to be super good looking technical training documentation, but just open word, and start typing about a certain subject, you'd be surprised how much knowledge can be conveyed just by typing a letter to yourself for the next person to read.
 
Use this as leverage to make your job better and pay more. ;)


Oh, and in before lock because this isn't genmay. :p
 
No hope of reconciliation? Have you talked to management about your concerns and offered ideas on how to fix them?
 
Honestly, the new person is probably looking at a 6 month learning curve in that type of environment. How long of a notice do you plan on giving?

My advice, sit your boss down and explain that your leaning new techs has slowed down to a point where you are ready for your next challenge. My issue with tech jobs has always been that i get board and no long have any growth. Don't say a word about being unhappy with the company, and don't give that indication to your replacement either
 
I understand company loyalty, but nothing obligates you to worry about the company after you depart. You've started the process well, fully documenting your environment. That's excellent. The next step is to allow enough time to train your successor. I would take it a step further and ask for a golden parachute. This would serve duel functionality;

It would allow you to focus training the successor without worrying about future job prospects, and it would act as a guarantee for both sides that you will perform your final duties to high standards. Get it in writing, in case you are worried that they'll try to wiggle out of it.

Otherwise, don't worry about what will happen to the company when you leave. Do you think any corporation gives serious consideration to what happens after they lay you off/fire you?
 
If you have another position already lined up, I'd write a simple two or three sentence resignation letter saying that you have opportunities elsewhere and stating that the last business day before your start date is your last day with the company (or a few days before, but at least 2 weeks out). Conclude with a sentence or two about how you appreciate the opportunities and experiences you've had with your current employer.

If you don't have another position already lined up, I'd write a simple two or three sentence resignation letter that you are looking for a different set of self-directed opportunities, and specify a last day of at least 2 weeks out. Conclude with a sentence or two about how you appreciate the opportunities and experiences you've had with your current employer.

In either case, printed and on a physical piece of paper to hand to your boss, and an electronic copy ready to attach and email to whoever needs it if requested.

If they schedule an exit interview, be truthful about why you looked elsewhere, but never be condescending about your answers.

IE, don't "Required too many hours of overtime because of the incompetence of the people around me."

DO "Too many hours of overtime doing specialist work cutting into my ability to perform outside of work activities that are important to me."

NEVER burn a bridge.

I've already had several times in my career where someone I knew working at a different position as much as 10 years previously had significant input in regards to positions I eventually accepted, or vice versa. In at least one case, that person was someone I did not like or particularly respect from a technical standpoint, but because I always treated them with professionalism and personal respect anyway, they were the reason why I won the position.
 
Sometimes no matter how polite you are you will burn a bridge or two in life. Some people will just have a chip on their shoulder and you can't do right by them no matter how hard you try. I say move on, if the company you're talking about didn't have enough foresight to have people cross trained in case the one or two people who knew their shit left... then that's their issue not yours.

I see this a lot with small companies, they depend on one or two people and hang their hopes on the thought they will not leave. I also see many small companies that just stagnate and stay a certain size, whether it's intentional or bad management. Yes some owners like their business to stay small, just as long as they make a comfortable living and can pay their employees. Nothing wrong with that you just can't count on one or two guys to sustain your company forever.

Maybe you should start your own business, if you were the pillar of their business be the pillar of your own.
 
I'm considering the length of my notice right now, but I don't see myself giving more than two weeks. My stress level and attitude have begun to take a turn for the worse and I think people are starting to notice.

I've kept an open line of communication to the president and have voiced my concerns multiple times. We just don't see eye to eye about many issues. Since he owns the company, I have to go, lame as it is.

I'm perfectly aware that I could use this as leverage for better pay, but I don't see myself enjoying this position at any rate of pay that the company could afford. It's destroying my relationship with my future wife, and honestly I can't hold any amount of money over that.

I've stupidly burned bridges in the past and I'd rather not do the same with this one. If I don't act on this soon, I'll be fired before I know it. There's pretty much no motivation left in me to continue my work, so people are going start catching on. I don't have a job lined up yet, but I have several prospects already. Because of how fast everything's happening, I'm fairly willing to leave this job before I find a new one in order to start searching full time.

Sorry if this belongs in Genmay, I really don't venture much from the safety of N&S. :)
 
Nobody is indispensable. Do not quit before you have another offer. When you do get another job, submit as much notice as you can. Personally, I think changing jobs is a great time to take a few days off if possible.

Stop making your current job a personal issue. It is a business. You are a professional. You have already prepared your position for a new employee. Leave it at that, find a new job, give notice, and move on. You cannot burn any bridges if you do your job every day and submit at least two weeks notice. In the end, you may find out, nobody at the work place really cares who comes or goes. If the owner cared or shared your vision, you wouldn't be in this situation.

Good Luck.
 
This isn't the Networking and Job Security forum. If you want to post off-topic, you'll need to do it here.
 
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