How To Leave Your Job After 3 Months (With Examples)

When you land a job, it’s typically recommended to stay with that employment for at least a year. But when you end up in a job that you dislike, it’s hard to take that advice to heart.

In this article, we will go over how to quit a job after three months, give you examples of what to say, and tips for quitting.

Key Takeaways

• To leave after three months, provide two weeks’ notice to the appropriate parties, offer a transition plan, and continue to do good work.

• Staying in a job for the sake of staying in a job isn’t always a great idea. When you feel burnt out, taken advantage of, or have lost passion for your work, these are tell-tale signs that it’s time to get out.

• You might feel guilty or worried about your future, the reality is that often what’s best for you is also best for the company down the road.

• Even though job-hopping is less of a red flag than it was in recent years, leaving a job only a few months into your employment can be stressful and even raise a few eyebrows.

How to Resign From Your Job After 3 Months

Once you’ve made the difficult decision to leave your new job, it’s time to start giving some thought to how you’re going to resign. It might be tempting just to walk away, stop showing up for work, and forget the employment ever happened at all.

But this is not a great idea. You never want to leave a bad impression on anyone, even if you hated the job. You never know who you may run across later in your career.

1. Provide a two-weeks notice. This is typically the respectful time period to give any employer. However, it depends on the company and your position. More senior positions could require four-weeks notice, depending on the circumstances.

2. Approach your boss calmly. Provide them with a tangible reason as to why you are leaving. You don’t need to be overly specific such as airing grievances with other employees or company policy. Your best bet is to keep the conversation simple, straightforward, and concise. Your manager may ask you a variety of questions, so be prepared to answer them.

   Your manager may also try to convince you to stay or that things might change. Depending on your circumstances, you may consider them and even rethink your decision to leave.

3. Offer a transition plan. This is to help them ease into finding a new candidate for your position or keep up with your workload after you leave. This keeps you on good terms with your employer and gives you an easy and firm plan to ensure you leave the conversation with what you want.

4. Continue to do good work. During your final two weeks, continue to do good work. This will leave a final good impression that could help with any future references. During this time you should also clean out and organize your area for the next person to come in.

Examples of What to Say When You Quit a Job You Just Started

What you say to your employer when you resign will depend on your reasoning for leaving. Every job and every employee is different. It’s okay to dive into some specifics, but going too deep can open up a can of worms.

Start respectfully by sitting down with your manager in a quiet space or on a face-to-face virtual call. Don’t beat around the bush; let them know what the meeting is for and that you are resigning. Give them a reason, but finesse the specifics as best you can.

Some example sayings could be:

If you’re sure about leaving, don’t let them talk you out of it or make you think that you’re being unreasonable. Stick to your guns and have a plan. Don’t worry about any criticism or judgment that might come your way, especially if you have a solid job history.

Sometimes, we need to learn lessons in our own way. Moving forward, you’ll be more likely to look for red flags, so you don’t end up in a job where you’re unhappy again.

Reasons For Leaving a Job After 3 Months

Deciding to leave can be the most challenging part of the entire process. When you land a job initially, you may feel excited and enthusiastic about your role and what you can accomplish with your new company.

Sometimes there are just instances where it makes sense to leave after only a few months on any given job. Here are some things that may sway your decision:

• You land your dream job. This is a widespread reason to leave a job after just a short time. It’s not a sin to admit you need to take a job only for the paycheck, hoping for your dream job somewhere later in your career journey.

  If your dream job or company comes knocking, it’s important not to let those opportunities slip past you. If you’re passionate about the potential opportunity, be honest with your current employer. Chances are they will understand and be encouraging that you should chase your dreams.

• Moving to a new location. There could be a number of reasons for needing to move. A spouse or partner might be relocating or your financial situation isn’t able to support you at your current resident. Needing to move happens every now and then.

• You feel uncomfortable. If someone you work with is making you feel uncomfortable in any way, it’s crucial to speak to human resources (HR). However, this may not always solve the problem.

  It is never okay for another employee, manager, or executive to make you feel uncomfortable at your place of employment. This is a legitimate reason to leave your job.

• It just isn’t working out. Perhaps there is no specific reason you can put your finger on, but the job simply isn’t working for you or your employer.

  This can happen when the employer or employee doesn’t do enough research into what would make a good job fit or if the new candidate fits in with the work culture. There’s no need to have a specific reason. If it’s not working, you’ll know – and chances are, your employer will too.

Tips For How to Leave a Job You Just Started

• Consider leaving it off your resume. Depending on how much time you spend at any given job, you ultimately get to decide if you want to include it on your resume.

  If the job is an in-between job to make ends meet or something you’d rather not discuss in an interview, it’s perfectly acceptable to leave it off your resume. Don’t let the thought of needing to keep the company on your resume sway you from deciding to make the leap.

• Be professional. It can be awkward to leave a job after three months, but it’s important to keep professional during the process. No matter the reason for leaving, you should still do the work that is required of you and offer to help out in any way.

• Be honest. There is no reason to lie when leaving a job. Just be honest with your employer about why you are leaving. There may be a chance they will want to fix whatever it is that is causing you to leave. Lying could also potentially cause issues later in your career search if you use them as a reference.

• Give yourself time to prepare. Give yourself some time to practice for questions you anticipate may come and have firm answers ready. Also, be prepared to have a formal resignation letter to hand in.

Consider Options for Staying

Depending on your reasons for quitting, you may be open to considering staying either as a full-time employee, part-time employee, or contractor.

• When you sit down to speak with your manager, let them know what you feel could have helped you continue your employment. If it’s something like a responsibilities shift or swapping projects, you might be able to reasonably get what you want without needing to leave the job.

• You may be interested in leaving the job due to the number of hours you’re working or the number of responsibilities on your plate. In these instances, you can suggest consulting or freelance work. This allows you to continue employment, but you’ll be able to set your own rates and hours while still helping out the company.

• You may also be interested in staying with the company, but not with the specific team you work with. This can also be an option if your business is willing to give you the opportunity. Explore open opportunities on your company’s website or with the human resources department.

Typically, there is a process to leave your current job and apply for another position within the company, so be sure to follow your organization’s protocol.

How to Quit a New Job FAQ

1. Is it OK to quit a job after three months?

   Yes, it is OK to quit a job after three months. If you have a change in circumstances or the job isn’t a good fit for you, it’s okay to quit after just a few months. Just don’t make it a habit, and make sure you leave gracefully and courteously.

2. Should I put a three-month job on my resume?

   No, don’t put a three-month job on your resume. Unless you can easily explain why you’re leaving (like moving to another state), a short stint at a job will only raise red flags.

3. What is a good reason for leaving a job?

   Good reasons for leaving a job include:

   • Landing your dream job somewhere else.

   • Moving to a new location.

   • Feeling uncomfortable or unsafe at your job.

   • The job isn’t a good fit for you.

References

1. Southern New Hampshire University – 10 Good Reasons for Leaving a Job

2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Quits Levels and Rates by Industry and Region, Seasonally Adjusted

Author

Caitlin Mazur

Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.