Changing Jobs

Rahul receives a better job offer from another company and has to decide whether to switch jobs and how to resign gracefully.

Meanings in Rahul, Current manager, New employer

Key words and phrases

job offeran offer of employment from a companyHe received a job offer from a bigger company.

resignto formally leave a jobHe decided to resign from his current job.

notice periodthe time an employee must work before leavingHis notice period is thirty days.

resignation lettera formal letter announcing you are leaving a jobHe submitted his resignation letter on Monday.

handoverthe process of passing work to someone elseHe completed a smooth handover before leaving.

counteroffera better offer given to keep an employee from leavingHis company gave him a counteroffer to stay.

growth prospectsthe chances of advancing in a careerThe new company offered better growth prospects.

colleaguespeople you work withHe will miss his old colleagues.

farewell partya party held to say goodbye to someone leavingHis team organized a small farewell party.

transitionthe process of moving from one situation to anotherThe transition to the new job went smoothly.

exit interviewa formal discussion with an employee before they leave a companyHR scheduled his exit interview for Friday.

relieving letteran official letter confirming an employee has been released from a companyHe received his relieving letter on his last working day.

background checka verification of a person's employment and personal historyThe new company ran a background check before finalizing his offer.

appraisala formal review of an employee's performance and payHis appraisal is due next month, but he's already leaving.

work culturethe values, attitudes and environment shared within a workplaceHe was drawn to the new company's flexible work culture.

joining datethe date an employee is expected to start a new jobHis joining date at the new company is the first of next month.

buyout packagea payment offered to release an employee early from their notice periodThe new company offered a buyout package to reduce his notice period.

reference checka call to a candidate's previous employer to verify their work historyThe HR team completed his reference check within a week.

career breaka planned pause in a person's working lifeShe took a short career break between the two jobs.

onboardingthe process of introducing a new employee to a companyHis onboarding at the new company starts with a week of training.

Useful sentences

Ask I wanted to inform you that I've accepted another job offer.
Answer I'm sorry to hear that. What's your notice period?
Ask Is there anything we can offer to make you stay?
Answer I appreciate that, but I've already made my decision.
Ask Can you complete the handover before your last day?
Answer Yes, I'll prepare detailed notes for the team.
Ask What made you decide to switch jobs?
Answer The new role offers better growth prospects.
Ask When is your last working day here?
Answer It's the end of this month.
Ask Have they scheduled your exit interview yet?
Answer Yes, it's next Friday afternoon with HR.
Ask Did you get your relieving letter before joining the new company?
Answer Yes, I got it on my last working day.
Ask What's your joining date at the new company?
Answer I start on the fifteenth of next month.
Ask How was the new company's work culture during your interviews?
Answer It felt much more relaxed and collaborative than here.
Ask Did they run a background check before finalizing your offer?
Answer Yes, it took about a week to complete.

Dialogue

RahulI wanted to let you know I've decided to accept another offer.

Current managerI'm sad to hear that, Rahul. You've done great work here.

RahulThank you. This role offers better growth prospects for me.

Current managerI understand. Can you help with a smooth handover?

RahulOf course, I'll document everything for my replacement.

Current managerThank you, Rahul. We wish you all the best in your new role.

RahulThank you. HR mentioned there will be an exit interview before I leave.

Current managerYes, that's standard. Please also make sure your relieving letter is ready in time.

RahulI'll follow up with HR myself, since my joining date at the new company is fixed.

Current managerGood. Let's make sure the handover and paperwork are both done smoothly before then.

Common mistakes

Saying "I am leaving my job today" for a formal resignation instead of "I am resigning from my job" (use "resign," the formal term).
Saying "My notice period is of thirty days" instead of "My notice period is thirty days" (no "of" is needed).
Saying "I got new job" instead of "I got a new job" (don't drop the article "a").
Saying "I am relieved from my duty" instead of "I have been relieved from my duty" (use the present perfect passive, not the simple present).
Saying "They took my interview for exit" instead of "They conducted my exit interview" (use "conduct an interview," not "take interview for").
Saying "My joining date is on 15th" instead of "My joining date is the 15th" (don't use "on" after "is" with a date).

Quick quiz

1. What word means to formally leave a job?

2. Complete: "His company gave him a ___ to stay."

3. What do you call the time an employee must work before leaving?

4. What is the formal discussion held with an employee before they leave a company called?

5. What document confirms an employee has officially been released from a company?

6. Complete: "His ___ at the new company is the first of next month."

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