Leaving a position can feel stressful, but it’s a perfectly normal part of everyone’s career path. We understand that this can be a new or challenging step to take, and we are here to help. You can find information below about leaving a position and best practices you can follow to make the process go smoothly.
Tips and resources for when you leave your position
What is an exit survey?
Once you decide to leave a position, your employer may ask you to participate in an exit interview. Many companies will conduct exit interviews as a way to learn about why you left and to better understand your experience with their company. Often this is conducted in person with someone you did not work closely with (usually a representative from human resources). This is meant to be a safe space for employees to share honest feedback. This provides employers with data on how they could improve the employee experience in the future within their company.
While our office does not conduct in-person exit interviews, we do offer an exit survey for student employees where you can share feedback about your experience. We are always looking for ways to make the student employment experience for IU Indianapolis students even better, so we appreciate you taking some time to complete the exit survey whenever you transition out of a job.
Our exit survey takes about 15–20 minutes to complete. You do not need to work on campus to partake in this survey. Since we work closely with many off-campus employers, we are interested in hearing about your experiences in off-campus roles as well!
Please note that full-time IU Indianapolis employees should refer to the Office of Equal Opportunity to complete an exit survey.
Transitioning tips and resources
We know that it can be hard to transition roles, especially if you want to maintain positive relationships with your workplaces. To help you feel more prepared for the resignation process, we have created an FAQ with answers and a tip sheet to walk you through how to do so. In addition, feel free to reach out to our office if you would like further assistance with this process.
It is considered a common courtesy to provide at least a two weeks’ notice when leaving your position. This provides some time for your employer to plan how to move forward when you leave, cover your normal shifts, and hire a replacement. It is also recommended that you wait to resign until you have received and signed a written offer letter from your new employer.
It is best to arrange time to tell your supervisor in person. This is also an appropriate time to provide your resignation letter. During this meeting, you should inform your supervisor of your last day, (if applicable) where you stand with projects, and how you will support the team in wrapping up or re-assigning those projects. You may also choose to thank your supervisor and share some of the highlights of your time there. It is important to make every effort to leave on good terms in the event that you need a recommendation or reference in the future.
There are several factors to consider when deciding when your last day should be. Some examples that can help you determine a final day include:
- When do you expect to complete your projects?
- You may consider leaving once your work is finished if you can’t or don’t want to leave those projects unfinished.
- The date of your last paycheck with current employer.
- When will you start with your new employer?
- Some employers have expectations for when you must start your new position, which may indicate when you need to leave your previous role.
Yes, maintaining a relationship with your former employer can be beneficial. There may be forms needed, questions arise, or new opportunities may open in the future.
Yes, if the relationship is one that is favorable and helpful for future opportunities. Some supervisors may even offer to provide a reference if you ever need it.