I'm a few weeks away from resigning my current position.

21 Comments

1. AnonymousMay 27,2024 at 1:44AM UTC

   For them, and your next interview you can always be truthful and say, "I've always wanted to go out on my own and be able to chart my own destiny." This provides the best of both answers. In your case of circumstances, I would probably decline the exit interview as the other poster mentioned, as you never know when you may need them for a reference and you don't want your exit to include "parting shots."

2. AnonymousMay 27,2024 at 1:46PM UTC

   Since, as you've explained, the nature of her job is that she will never be let go, and never be promoted away, she is there to stay in her role with no reason to become more organized I would not mention her. What you offer that you are building your own business. If you really think it would do any good you can say it's a very chaotic environment and leave it like that. Say you're Looking for more structure and consistency.

3. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMay 27,2024 at 6:59PM UTC

   If your boss is there for the next ten years, I don't really see what you have to gain by revealing what a disorganized manager you feel she is. Especially if you may want to consult to the organization in the future. Chances are very good that she's not going anywhere nor is she going to change.

   You're under no obligation to provide a reason for why you're resigning. You can say you want to start your own consulting business (not the same thing as why you're resigining).

   You say you want to leave on a good note, so do just that. You don't owe anyone any more details than you're comfortable than revealing. Keep it positive.

4. Jonna Ferguson, ACCMay 28,2024 at 12:43PM UTC

   It's respectful that you want to leave on good terms while keeping the door open for consulting work. I'm a believer in exit interview communication, so stay true to remaining positive and based on what you've said your goals are, instead of saying anything critical about the organization or why you've made the decision to leave, talk about the facts. Think about what you want your future to include, why that's important to you and how you'll be serving your customers, then package that in a statement (or even include this in your resignation letter) that lets your executive team understand your strengths, skills and how you understand the needs of your future customer base.

   Who knows, they may turn around and offer you a more lucrative role in another department or put you at the top of their list of consultants to work with. Best of luck in this exciting chapter as the captain of your own ship!

5. AnonymousMay 28,2024 at 1:01PM UTC

   The higher ups probably already know this about her and they can't or won't do anything about it. A lot of people can tolerate a disorganized supervisor, so your issue is poor fit for your work style. Don't leave a bad taste in their mouth by being judgy and superior in tone. Since you're leaving to be your own boss, your feedback would be taken with a grain of salt anyway.

6. AnonymousMay 29,2024 at 3:18PM UTC

   There's a way to express dissatisfaction with a work situation without being judgy and superior in tone, i.e. citing specific examples where disorganization resulted in a poor outcome that caused setbacks for everyone not just you. It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

7. GirlBossanova934974May 28,2024 at 1:22PM UTC

   I would stick to what others are saying here. Say you are leaving for more money and STOP there. AND one MORE VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL. Managers like what you are describing are kept around because of folks like you cleaning up their messes. The organization tolerates and keeps around this manager because you are probably doing the manager's job without getting paid for doing her job. I have worked in the Federal Government for several years. TRUE! Hard to get fired working for the FEDS but senior managers have a way of transferring poorly performing managers to other organizations where they won't cause problems aka a cushy job. PLEASE be on your way and keep the door open with your former employer. It may be sooner than you think when this manager gets the TRANSFER docs.......Best of Luck!

8. AnonymousMay 28,2024 at 1:23PM UTC

   Drop it and move on, disorganization is not a sin, be critical on yourself do not be critical on other people nobody is perfect. Everybody has things they’re good at they’re not good at what does God teach us? Do not judge people do not be critical on other people as long as she is not there to harm you. Why are you being critical to other people ask yourself are you perfect? Are there things personalities that you possess? They can be disappearing to other people? if you have not bothered them, do you think it is right for other people to be critical and judge you like you do to your manager? She did not do anything wrong to you and stop being critical and harsh on other people the mirror to yourself ask yourself how can I be a better person myself. and be appreciative be nice be a good and kind and nice human being. That is advice I can give you.

9. AnonymousMay 29,2024 at 8:51PM UTC

   So striking how your response is dripping with judgement of the OP.

10. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 12:55PM UTC

    (A) You're assuming the OP holds the same religious beliefs that you do when you say, "what does God teach us?" Please be mindful of the beliefs of others.

    (B) You are, intentionally or not, harshly judging the OP in the same breath in which you tell them not to judge. Please attempt to be more supportive to other members of the FGB community.

    (C) A person in a leadership position needs to lead. Lacking organization skills is not evil, but it makes a leader and their team ineffective. The problem is less about the director and more about the fact that they are a director - it is not a position that fits them, and it's impacting the performance and wellbeing of the department.

11. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 1:23PM UTC

    God doesn't teach us not to judge. Experience and empathy teach that. Everyone has faults, and every organization is a tapestry of neuordiversity, personalities, aptitudes and experiences that work together well when people don't make themselves the yardstick for measuring others' value.

12. Carol SuggsMay 28,2024 at 1:31PM UTC

    Wow sounds very similar to my situation, which I wrote about awhile back, and I’m still trying to hang in there.

    I think that a well thought out conversation (should you decide to do an exit interview) could be helpful for higher ups to understand and perhaps seek out ways to remedy these issues. Or at the least have a frank sit down with your director. Keeping in mind that you don’t want to burn a bridge. If you feel like you can’t do that, then leave it behind and move on. Chalk it up as a learning experience that has shown you how not to lead a team.

    Good luck and congrats on your new adventure!

13. AnonymousMay 28,2024 at 5:38PM UTC

    I think you can give them some subtle feedback and should. It will help her, the organization and also you. Best would be to say - I want to leave to have more freedom time wise to consult, and will be available to consult back to you if you need me to at a rate of XYZ per hour or ABC per project. Another reason for considering a move is that the culture for full time work on the team is set by Ms. A and her leadership style creates confusion for me (don't say and others-keep it about you) and doesn't inspire me to do my best work- (cite example)- and so I decided that while I love the work continuing in this full-time no longer works for me.

    See, you explain the why, you challenge them to fix it and let them know they are losing a good resource because it is not working. Then you can move on and you can also let them know that if leadership does change in the dept you might consider a return. Leave the door open.

14. AnonymousMay 29,2024 at 3:12PM UTC

    You do have to be prepared for the defensive "We've been doing business for years and nobody has ever complained about Ms. A (unlikely and possibly a bluff); you just don't want to work hard, take responsibility." That response is not uncommon and is used by clueless and/or toxic management. That is why several ex-employees keep their mouths shut and heads down and try to get through their last two weeks- in their minds "Nobody wants to hear it" and will kill the messenger.

15. AnonymousMay 29,2024 at 3:08PM UTC

    I used "taking classes" and "going to further education" because I did not believe if I told the truth it would've made any difference, i.e. a discussion on what it would take to keep me from leaving. The firm I was with didn't do exit interviews, they did not want to set a precedent of counteroffering, saw it as "negotiating with terrorists". They rather just let a good or great employee walk. So if you think your reasons will be heard and open an honest discussion tell them the truth; if not, just give them a "It's not you, it's me" and move on.

16. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 1:02PM UTC

    I have worked for quite a few different companies for several years a piece. I would just leave without bringing anything up. Chances are they know exactly what is happening, but aren't willing to address it. I've seen many inadequate people get promoted and they treat other like crap. If you want to maintain a working relationship let them deal with the issue and move on. Be grateful that you have another opportunity to move on to! That's exciting!

17. Marizol GomezMay 30,2024 at 1:12PM UTC

    If your Manager is as nice as you say and is so very knowledgeable and dependable why have you not taken the time to have an honest sit down with her and hinted how her Leadership style(disorganized) is affecting your productivity , morale and that of others. Have you offered to help her be more organized? Sometimes there are hidden causes behind this behavior and it can be easily fixed with the right approach. Now, if you have already decided that you want to go Freelance and are absolutely ready to reach such new heights then focus on a positive exit. Specially when you say you want to leave an open door to possibly provide consulting services to this same organization as a Freelancer. Personally I have always strived to make things better for both me and the organization I work with. No one is perfect and there’s room for improvement in all of us.

    You may want to consider improving your communication skills. Not being able to address such concerns in your work place does not aide in improving your working environment with your Leadership and coworkers.

18. WandaMay 30,2024 at 1:16PM UTC

    Leave with the sugar-coated version. No need to get into the weeds about the specifics. Chances are they're already aware of the dysfunction.

19. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 1:23PM UTC

    I have been there, but with a different reason for leaving. My supervisor was also a director of her department who wasn’t retiring anytime soon, and she seemed to think her job was best focused on finding fault with my work and making a big deal out of every perceived mistake. I got fed up with it and started looking for a new job. When I left, it was for a remote position with a 35% raise, but it was BECAUSE of her.

    If you have an opportunity for a true exit interview, one on one, with HR, be as candid as you like. If your exit interview is with your supervisor, don’t give the real reason for your departure. If your exit interview is with people or a person higher up, I would say it depends. What kind of relationship does your supervisor have with her higher ups? Are they prudent enough to keep your name out of any coaching the supervisor may receive as a result of your feedback? If so, I would share your honest observations, but still don’t present them as the reason you are leaving—just something they should be aware of.

    My exit interview was an online form that went straight to HR, and it didn’t ask me why I was leaving, so I never got the opportunity to offer my insights to anyone but my colleagues, who all knew the real reason I was leaving.

20. Marcia SmithMay 30,2024 at 1:51PM UTC

    In my experience, if you say what you really want to say - even if it is to HR and is supposed to be confidential - it will come back to haunt you. I generally avoid exit interviews like the plague.

    Just move on and leave this behind you. If your boss's superiors don't know what kind of worker she is, then they aren't effective either.

    Move on and look forward to your new future. Just leave this one far behind...

21. Susie SylviaJune 3,2024 at 8:35PM UTC

    I'd go with the "Honestly I'm going freelance after I leave, so I can easily say I'm going to make more money that way, which isn't a lie, but not the true reason." That way, you have a clean exit without causing hurt or bad feelings, or giving the manager or HR a reason to look badly at you for future freelance gigs.