Resignation Letter After a Week on the Job?

Anonymous writes:

After checking out your website, I didn’t find a sample resignation letter that I can use as a reference. I was wondering if you can help me. I just started a job last Monday, and now I need to quit since I found a job that would pay way more than I’m getting now. I took the job since I needed one badly, and I just moved to the area. After saying that I am dependable, reliable… (per my references, which are all true), now I am quitting. I feel bad and nervous when I hand them the letter.

I will start my new job on next week so I don’t have two weeks’ notice to give them. Can you help me write a good resignation letter?

The Career Doctor responds:

Okay. I’m sorry (well… not really), but I need to start my response with a lecture. Do you understand how unfair it is — on so many levels — to go through the hiring process, accept a job, work there for a week, and then quit? It’s unfair to the employer for the time and costs incurred and unfair to the other job-seekers who did not get the job offer because you did.

And I hate to say it, but you should feel nervous! I usually talk about the value of a positive resignation letter — you never want to burn your bridges by leaving on bad terms — but in this case I cannot imagine what you could say that placate your employer.

But whatever you do, don’t start of the letter saying you are leaving because you kept interviewing once you had this job and now you are leaving because you received an offer for a much more high-paying job. Wow. Salt in the wound.

Simply write a very short and sweet letter thanking them for the opportunity and apologizing for leaving so quickly and suddenly. Volunteer to help in any way you can and state your last day of employment.

Finally, please remember that money is not everything. Money will not bring you happiness if you are not in a career/occupation that you are passionate about. If you are generally unhappy, find the time to conduct some career assessments.

Read this article published on Quintessential Careers: Resigning with Class: How to Diplomatically Resign From Your Job.