It's generally better to wait until after the holidays to quit if you're chasing bonuses or benefits, or if the desire to leave is just post-holiday blues; however, quit before if your job is genuinely toxic, you have a new role lined up, or need a fresh start, but always ensure you have financial stability and a clear plan before resigning, as quitting during the holiday slowdown can hinder job hunting.
Unless there is a compelling need for you to resign when you boss is on vacation, please wait until your boss is back from vacation. No boss wants to lose someone on their team while on vacation. You quitting then can hurt your boss in ways you don't intend and burn bridges with her (or him).
Resigning from your job doesn't mean that you miss out on your accrued annual leave entitlements. And you don't have to take annual leave before you move on, either. In this article, we explore how annual leave is paid out and how to calculate your own payout to ensure you're paid the amount you've earned.
End of day on a weekday (not Monday). Resigning late in the day lets conversations happen with fewer interruptions and gives you space to exit physically soon after. Avoid resigning on a Friday afternoon if you want a substantive conversation rather than a short, dismissed moment.
do what's best for you! to be frank - your manager will enjoy their christmas whether or not you resign. resigning before christmas is better for you - you start the year on a fresh slate.
The biggest signs you should quit are consistent toxic behavior, zero growth opportunities no matter what you try, work that's actively hurting your physical or mental health, situations where you're being asked to compromise your values, and pay that's way below market with no real path to fix it.
The "3-month rule" in a job refers to the common probationary period where employers assess a new hire's performance, skills, and cultural fit, while the employee learns the role and decides if the job is right for them; it's a crucial time for observation, feedback, and proving value, often with potential limitations on benefits until the period ends. It's also advice for new hires to "hang in there" for three months to get acclimated and evaluate the job before making big decisions.
Signs you are ready to leave your job
Most people agree that five years is the max amount of time you want to stay in the same job at your company. Of course, this answer changes depending on your pre-established career arc and the promotions within your company.
When you turn in your notice on a Friday you can let the dust settle over the weekend. This will give your bosses and colleagues time to think through their reactions and when you come in on Monday, you can all be prepared with your ideas for a transition plan without being so emotionally fueled.
In Australia, you don't always have to give two weeks' notice; it depends on your contract, award, or enterprise agreement, but two weeks is standard for many full-time/part-time roles, with longer periods (or shorter, like one week during probation) sometimes required or negotiated, while casuals generally don't need to give notice unless their agreement says so, though it's good practice to provide some. If you don't give the required notice, your employer might deduct pay from your final check, up to one week's wages in some cases.
No. Employers cannot refuse a resignation filed with just cause and proper documentation. What if the resignation has no just cause? The employer may claim damages.
5 steps to resigning without burning bridges
Quiet quitting is defined as a disengaged employee doing the bare minimum, eventually leading to their departure. Despite their dissatisfaction at work, quiet quitters continue to collect a paycheck until they finally leave or are terminated.
Yes, $5,000 can be enough for a great vacation, but it heavily depends on your destination, travel style (budget vs. luxury), length of trip, and whether flights are included; it can cover a luxurious trip for a few days, a longer, more budget-friendly adventure (weeks/months in cheaper regions), or a decent mid-range trip for 1-2 people, but it requires smart planning for flights, accommodation, and activities to stretch your money further.
So, if you're leaving a job, don't make these seven mistakes:
The 996 working hour system (Chinese: 996工作制) is a work schedule that derives its name from its requirement that workers clock in from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week, resulting in employees working 12 hours per day and 72 hours per week. It is practiced illegally by some companies in China.
The biggest red flags at work often center around toxic leadership, poor communication, and a high-turnover culture, signaling deep issues like micromanagement, lack of transparency, burnout, and disrespect, where problems are normalized and employee well-being is ignored in favor of short-term gains. Key indicators include managers who don't support staff, excessive gossip, broken promises, constant negativity, and environments where speaking up feels unsafe or pointless, often leading to high employee churn.
The "7-second resume rule" means recruiters spend only about 7 seconds scanning a resume initially to decide if it's worth a deeper look, making first impressions crucial for grabbing attention with clear formatting, a strong summary, and relevant keywords from the job description. To succeed, focus on clean layouts (ATS-friendly), a concise professional summary, tailored keywords, and bullet points highlighting recent, relevant achievements, ensuring it passes both Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and the quick human scan.
A growing number of employees are quietly disconnecting from their roles without formally leaving, a trend now known as “soft quitting.” Unlike loud resignations, soft quitting is subtle. It's the steady withdrawal of effort and engagement, often unnoticed until productivity dips or a surprise resignation lands.
A negative work environment can make your job more challenging than necessary and have an impact on your wellbeing. If you've already taken steps to improve the dynamic in your workplace, you may decide to leave so you can find a better situation for your personal and professional needs.
Signs your boss wants you to leave
This is where the 70% rule comes in—a powerful job-search strategy that encourages you to apply for roles where you meet at least 70% of the listed criteria. Here's why it works: Your Skills Are More Transferable Than You Think.
Here's our comprehensive guide to help you spot a potential bad employer before you take a job that could turn into an on-going nightmare.
If you were at the job less than 6 months, the answer is likely to be “no.” Does it fill a gap in your resume? In general, gaps shorter than 6 months aren't likely to be a big deal, but if you worked on a few short-term jobs or side gigs during a longer gap, consider bundling that experience under a single heading.