How to quit a job without burning the bridge

1. 01Sign the next offer firstWritten and signed, with a start date and any contingencies cleared. Never resign on a verbal promise.
2. 02Check your obligationsNotice period, unused leave payout, equity vesting cliffs, bonus dates, non-competes, and repayment clauses for training or relocation.
3. 03Tell your manager first, in personShort and warm: you've accepted a new role, your last day is X, and you're committed to a clean handover. No grievance list.
4. 04Send a brief written resignationTwo or three sentences with the last working day. Everything else is a conversation, not a document.
5. 05Document and hand overWritten runbooks, open threads, passwords through proper channels, and a named owner for each thing you carry.
6. 06Handle the counteroffer deliberatelyMost people who accept one leave within a year anyway. Decide in advance what, if anything, would actually change your mind.
7. 07Exit gracefullyThank people specifically, save nothing that isn't yours, and ask two colleagues for a recommendation while you're fresh in mind.

General educational information, not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Rules vary by country and change over time — verify with a qualified professional before acting.