How To Quit A Work From Home Job

Quitting any job — be it remote or a typical brick-and-mortar position — can be a significant source of stress for some people.

However, it’s just part of the natural job cycle of life as a professional.

Still, quitting a job remotely doesn’t mean you can skip out on all the formalities just because you’re not standing face-to-face with your employer.

If you’re looking to quit a work from home job, the first step is to stop stressing.

Here, we’ll cover making a resignation plan and how much notice to give, among other tips on how to quit your remote job.

Craft a Plan.

As obvious as it sounds, having a solid plan before you quit your virtual job is essential.

It will be ideal to already have another job lined up, or at least a backup plan if that fails.

Regardless if you have another job opportunity waiting for you, be prepared for a total loss of income.

If that means making an emergency fund or using that emergency fund, so be it.

It’s also probably an excellent opportunity to check out your financial situation and go from there.

Even if you hate your job, it’s probably not worth quitting if you have no plan in place.

Get It Done.

The next logical step is to go ahead and rip the Band-Aid off, so to speak.

It’s finally time to quit your work from home job.

How you choose to get it done depends, but however you do it, you should also plan to include a professional but formal letter of resignation.

It’s best to have a conversation — be it over Zoom or Skype, or on the phone — as opposed to sending a cold email.

You don’t want to send a casual email and never speak to the employer again — it’s just not professional.

Similarly, let your employer know you want to talk about something important before calling them, so they’re not hit with a complete curveball.

However, even if you do quit via a Zoom video conference, make sure to follow up with an emailed or mailed resignation letter.

This should include an appropriate greeting, body, and closing.

The letter itself doesn’t have to be lengthy so long as it’s not one paragraph.

You’ll need to explain your motive for leaving your position in the company and clearly state when your last day of work will be.

Try to keep the tone both professional and positive.

Even if you despise the job, it’s still a good idea to thank the company for the time you spent with them.

Make Sure You Give Notice.

Before you leave your company, it’s always a good idea to give ample notice.

Two weeks is the typical amount of notice you should give your manager or boss.

This is because they’ll need to hire a replacement once you leave, so for the organization, they’re relying on your notice.

Even though your job is remote, it’s very unprofessional to quit without any sort of notice.

If you do go this route for whatever reason, you can’t expect the company to give you a useful reference, and you likely won’t be able to list this work experience on your resume, either.

Although it’s not always possible, you can always try to help the company find a replacement.

That often goes a long way with an organization, because you’re making your resignation significantly easier on them.

If you can find a replacement, it might be helpful to lay out all of your responsibilities in writing so they can better match a candidate to the specific job you were doing.

Don’t Let Your Emotions Take Over.

Quitting a job can be an emotional ordeal, sure.

However, companies often put resignation letters in a permanent file, so you don’t want your resignation letter to be all over the place with emotions.

If you had a terrible experience, it’s best to convey that to the human resources (HR) department after you’ve turned in your resignation letter.

Part of not letting your emotions get in the way is conveying your resignation clearly.

You don’t want to be so nervous that the company doesn’t understand what’s happening.

Explain to them that you’re quitting, why you’re leaving (in a polite, professional way), and be civil first and foremost.

It might help to memorize the first sentence you’re planning to lead with, so you start strong.

Believe it or not, it might help to imagine the worst-case scenario, as it’s unlikely to happen.

However silly it is, picture the worst thing that could possibly happen when you drop the news.

This can do wonders to relax your nerves before you schedule that one-on-one meeting.

Remember, You’re a Professional.

Even if you despise your current job, you’ll still need to be professional when resigning or quitting.

In your resignation letter, make sure your tone is entirely calm, polite, and professional.

Watch your body language, too, especially if you’re resigning via a Zoom or Skype call.

Nod when appropriate, and make sure you’re looking directly into the webcam to make eye contact virtually.

Don’t Look Back (But Don’t Burn Bridges, Either).

Quitting a job, no matter where you work is like starting a new chapter of your life’s book.

It’s an opportunity to grow your professional career into what you’ve always dreamt of.

For that reason, it’s best not to look back.

Keep moving forward.

That being said, try not to burn any bridges.

That never ends well, especially if you’re hoping this company will provide a good reference when you switch jobs.

Even if you hate your job, burning bridges with your employer could negatively affect your job search in the future.

Remember the above tip and remain professional.

The Bottom Line?

Quitting a remote job is stressful, but it doesn’t have to be.

The most important thing to remember when leaving your work from home job is to have a plan.

So long as you have a plan for yourself, enjoy the relief that comes out of quitting your virtual job.