How do I hand in my notice?

[abcyz]

Posting here for traffic!

In a nutshell, I've been in my current job for 4.5 months. I absolutely hate it. It's too quiet, I have nothing to do, when I do get things to do, it's marketing/admin type stuff (I have a technical degree) and I'm bored. At the end of August, I've decided to move abroad and have a year out, travelling and taking a break from the 9-5.

As such, I need to hand my notice in but I REALLY need some advice about how to do this. I'm a bit of a worrier and the nervousness about having to do this is keeping me awake at night.

My boss sees me as the happy, helpful person in the office and I think this will come as a shock to him. I'm trying to console myself by thinking that if I've stayed less than 6 months, he won't have to pay the recruitment agent - is this right?

What do I say? "Thank you for the opportunity but I've decided to go travelling. Sorry I hadn't realised that was what I wanted to do 6 months ago when you offered me the job"?

For context, I was on really good terms with my previous bosses so telling them I was leaving wasn't so nervewracking.

Huge thanks in advance.

You are still within probation period? What is your notice period?

I've stayed less than 6 months, he won't have to pay the recruitment agent - is this right? Depends on the agency - he will have already paid but they will have to find him a replacement. Bit of a shit for the recruiter, it does as to thier work load and they get no commission out of it.

@MyOpinionIsValid - my probation period is 3 months so I've passed that already. My notice period says two months in my contract but I suspect it will only be one month. Someone else left recently who had been here a lot longer and he only worked one month.

And you're totally right - I hadn't thought about it from the recruitment agents side.

I would just make a very professional letters along the lines of the below. You do not need to go into great detail/discussion. I think you will be surprised by how little your employer will engage with you on it bar confirming receipt of the letter/email. Employers generally do not get emotionally attached to many employees, particularly fairly new ones. It is a business.

Dear Mr _

Please accept this letter as my resignation. MY last day with [company] will be x/x/x. I have enjoyed my time with [company] however another opportunity has arisen which allows me to travel and I have decided to take this up. I wish [company] evey success in the future.

I wouldn't care about the recruitment company. It's part & parcel of their role and a risk of their business venture. Not your monkeys, not your circus!

• there was paragraphs in the letter when I first typed it. Oh well, you get the jist! Short, sweet and to the point. You don't owed them anything beyond fulfilling your notice period.

please try not to worry too much about resigning. You tried the job and sadly it wasn't for you, this happens to many people at some stage in their life (me included).

Just resign and let them know that sadly the job wasn't fulfilling your expectations and you have decided to do xyz. (you don't even have to tell them your future plans if you don't want to).

We can't all stay in jobs we don't like for fear of how much our employer might have lost to an agency fee.

If you are not happy, you are doing the right thing. Good luck.

Before you do anything have you thought about having a chat with your boss? You can be very honest, if you’re planning on leaving you’ve got nothing to lose.
I’d ask if you can have a meeting, and say how you’ve been feeling. You are quite early in your working life and your boss might have some valuable advice for you. Obviously if you don’t feel comfortable doing that then just draft a letter and hand it in. But any boss worth their salt would value the opportunity to learn about your experience at the company, and give you some feedback.
Best of luck.

You are over thinking this OP, people leave jobs all the time, the world carries on. Try not to worry about it. Good luck.

@Yogagirl123
@Herocomplex
@Shadow1234
@bringthethunder
@MyOpinionIsValid

Just wanted to say thank you to all of you. Plucked up the courage and told my manager to his face today and he was totally fine about it. You were all a great help in calming my nerves. Really excited to start my next chapter!

Great news OP, hope you have a great time travelling x