When You Know Your Quitting
I was thinking today and had a really good question. I am getting ready to give my two week notice but haven’t decided when yet. So I am now stuck in the ackward phase between giving a notice and appearing like I am staying at my job.
No one knows I am leaving except myself and all of you readers. I have been getting some projects thrown at me that will not start for a few months, which I already know I won’t be working on. So am I supposed to just ignore that fact until I give my notice or do I just give in and let it out now.
Who knows…
Anyways, coworkers always ask me things like will you be around this fall to help with computer moves? Or Can you come help me in August with our new equipment?
What exactly are you supposed to say to these people? The only choices I could come up with were:
A. Lie and say: “I would be glad to come help you this fall.”
This works, but it isn’t really being fair to your coworkers. Your straight up lying to the person but covering your own ass. If the goal is to look out for numero uno, then this is the one to do. This is one I have used the most so far. 
B. Tell the truth: “No, I am quitting soon.”
This is more fair to the people, but then you risk all sorts of problems. It is never good when your boss finds out from a coworker that your getting ready to quit. Plus there is a chance they fire you before you anticipated. Not that it is a bad thing…hmmm.
C. Defer the question: “Sorry I am very busy but I will stop by later.”
I have tried this, but they always come a knockin’. People cannot handle waiting for an answer so they come looking for you or send you 16 emails reassuring the question. I have not had much luck with this option.
It is really a tough one to answer. There really is no right or wrong way to go about it. I think my solution is just going to be leave early and come in late. The less amount of time I spend at work, the less questions I will be asked by coworkers.
We will see how this works out. Stay tuned tomorrow for an even more interesting question:
What do you put on your 6 month evaluation review when you know your quitting?
Published on May 21st, 2008. And don't forget to check out my book, Life After the Cubicle.
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If they ask you for something as far away as August, I’d just say, “I’ll do my best.” By the time you decide to give notice, that will still be plenty of time for them to have someone help them out for an Aug. project.
You could always tell them that you just don’t know what you’ll be doing this fall so they should ask back later or find someone else.
Even if you weren’t planning on quitting soon, who knows what next month, yet alone next season will bring and how that’ll affect our lives.
You could also try some sarcasm and humor, which I relied upon heavily in my end days. “Fall? That’s football season, I tune out until winter, sorry find someone else” etc.
I have been stuck in that same phase for about a month, trying to decide when is best to tell…