Are you fed up with your job?

If you've been watching the news lately, then you know who Steven Slater is. The Jet Blue flight attendant who quit his job in a very unorthodox manner and is now facing felony charges. Below is a video of CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence.

Apparently Slater had an altercation with a passenger on the plane which lead to verbal and physical actions on the passenger's part. Slater then proceeded to seal his "resignation letter" by getting on the plane's intercom, telling off the said passenger, grabbing beers out of the hospitality cart, and releasing the emergency chute to exit the plane. He has since been released from his job and is being held on 2 felonious charges.

So we all know this is the WRONG way to quit a job. But, how do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor was bad to you?

Quitting the Job Properly

1. Give at least 2 weeks notice, a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss. They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for a small gap between you and the new recruit.
2. Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.
3. Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quiting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member, or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

Don't Burn Bridges

1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague.
3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back.