How do I tell my boss I am leaving?

Question

I work in the kitchen design industry. I have been in this job for about 3 years. I get phoned, out of the blue, by another kitchen company to ask if I would be interested in a job. This new job would nearly double my wages. The only thing is the job I am in just now is a small family run business with a very close nit staff. I work directly beside my bosses and have built up a great relationship with them, they have treated me like family. What is the best way to approach this? Do i just tell them that i have been offered a new job that pays more or do i tell them it is with another kitchen firm? The money is just too good to turn down. Do I have to put what they think about me out of my mind and just do it? or do I play this another way?

Answer 1

it is very nice of you to be considerate of the boss who has been so good to you. you sound like a very nice person. but if you have a family to support you have to go where the money is. you might consider writing a letter of resignation and explain that while you appreciate the opportunity he gave you that you have been offered an advancement with another company at a much better salary. you don't have to tell him it is another kitchen design firm. i am sure he will be supportive if, as you say it is close knit company almost like family he will be willing to give you a good recommendation. be sure to give him a reasonable notice before leaving.

Answer 2

This happened to me a few years ago, I am in the financial service industry. I was offered a great increase in salary for an identical job elsewhere. Basically, I went into my then boss sat down and said, I had been offered a job by another company. I had not been actively looking and am very happy with my current job however, the salary is substantially higher - whilst I didn't want to leave, clearly, the salary was attractive. Within a couple of hours I had been offered a 10% payrise and whilst this still didn't match what I had been offered, with the other company benefits I received and wouldn't have got at the new place it was essentially matched. I stayed where I was!.

Ironically, a few years on I now actually work for the company who "headhunted" me!

When you have been with the same company you sometimes don't get the payrises as you kind of get overlooked - it does an employer good sometimes to know that you are popular!

Answer 3

There are many things to consider here.
You said you are going to be hired by the competition.... have you signed any papers with your current employer stating that if you quit, you cannot work for the competition for x amount of time?
First you should approach your boss and tell them you have been approached by another company and you are considerng the offer. Ask your boss if he can meet the salary the other is offering.
This way, he can accept or decline and your decision will be made.... and your current boss will know where this conversation is going.
Do it the right way if you are to accept the other job. Give 2 weeks notice in writing thanking your current employer for all the opportunities you have been afforded there...etc.

This way, if it doesn't work out, for whatever reason, at the new place, the old job just may take you back.

Be professional. It will not be overlooked.

Answer 4

Be honest and upbeat and tell them exactly what you just wrote here. Acknowledge that they have treated you like family and that you have appreciated it and thank them. Mention the offer and the raise and that it's an offer you can't refuse. You can like and respect and care deeply for the company you work for, but when it comes down to it, we're all doing it for the money. If the money is better and it's a good job and company, you would be foolish not to take it. They have to understand this. They may even be upset, but they should respect your decision. They can either offer you more money to match the offer and get you to stay, or they can let you move on and get over it. In the end, business is business.

Answer 5

Tell him you have been offered another position that pays more and you are tempted to take it tell him you appreciate the time you have spent with his company and the way you have been treated ,he may ask you to name the new job but you are not obliged to tell him what your new wage might be ,he may offer you more money or just wish you luck if you want the new job go for it and usually if you are a good worker you can sometimes get your old job back if things don't work out , go for it and good luck in whatever decision you make .

Answer 6

Be honest and tell them how hard a decision this was to make - hard because you are grateful to have worked with them and embarrassed that money won over loyalty in the end.
When you do write your notice, put a few lines in there to say that you wish all of 'company's' staff the best in the future, and how much you enjoyed working there etc etc. If you decide that your new job isn't what it seemed, this means that they could consider taking you back. Or, if your employer is keen not to lose you - they could match your wage at the proposed job.
Its worth a gamble.

Answer 7

Just be ohnest with your boss, if you are not upfront and ohnest, they may find out later on anyway and that wont be nice for either you or your boss.

Best just tell your boss, the other company have approached you and made an offer your finding difficult to turn down.

At the end of the day, maybe you are being underpaid for what you are currently doing and your current boss may be able to meet the offer of the rival company,

You never know,, Just be truthful and you cant go wrong no matter what happens.

Good luck.

Answer 8

Put it in writing - in private at first and read it aloud to yourself. You don't have to state reasons normally but it sounds as though you have become a real tight team, so it would be more polite to offer some and offer the truth. With the pay rise such as you have been offered I doubt anyone reasonable or close would stand in your way. Thank your boss and his staff for all the help and support they have provided and tell them you will remember them with fondness.

Moving on is part of business life as much as family life and they will surely understand your need to move on.

Answer 9

tell your boss about it - as some of the other answers have said - he may match the offer especially as he knows you're valuable enough to be head hunted, i mean when was the last time you had a pay rise?
if the other company is willing to double your money it sounds like you're being under paid - this is the problem with getting too close with the company.
either way you have to think of your future but make sure the new offer is genuine.

Answer 10

You need to be up-front with them. Tell them it is not a question of not loving your work with them and appreciating how well they have treated you over the years...but that the money was just too good to turn down...and that the money will help you achieve your life goals (whatever they might be...name a few ways the money will help, if you can). Who knows...they might offer you a raise comparable to your new job in order to get you to stay (It's possible anyway).

But the bottom line is...They are business people...so hopefully they'll understand...they may be a bit upset...at least at first...but they will understand...and they'll appreciate your honesty.