After you have formally accepted a new offer of employment, it's in your, as well as your current employer's, best interest to serve notice as soon as possible. Serving notice can be a difficult thing to do, especially if you have worked for your employer for a long time and have formed strong bonds with those around you. However, if you follow a few guidelines, you will be able to minimize the stress of the situation.

Don't Burn Your Bridges

It is very important that you present your resignation as the logical conclusion to your due diligence on another company and their subsequent offer, not as a means to bargain with your current employer. You don't want to come across as an opportunist, and certainly don't want to exit your current company on bad terms. A formal letter of resignation should accompany your verbal notice. A brief, professional and definite letter of resignation will ensure you maintain control of the situation. On most occasions, you will have the upper hand, since your employer won't be aware that you are intending to leave the company and, therefore, may be taken by surprise. Because of this, you must be prepared for a range of reactions, from anger to disappointment to a congratulatory handshake. Sometimes these reactions can lead to emotional appeals or promises of counter offers.

Be Concise and Positive

It is important that you keep your resignation letter and verbal notice succinct and professional. It isn't necessary to give a detailed explanation of your reasons for leaving the company, or what your employer could have done to retain you. However, it is necessary to give enough information to get the point across, and again, stay on good terms. This is not the time or place for angry tirades, no matter how horribly your boss or co-workers may have treated you. Whatever satisfaction you derive from the outburst will probably be canceled out by embarrassment in fairly short order.

Be Fair

Common practice is to give your current employer notice at least two weeks before leaving the company. With senior executives, projects sometimes necessitate a lengthier notice period. Make sure the amount of time that you give is fair to both your current and new employers. In most circumstances, a resignation will catch an employer by surprise. There will be work they had anticipated you doing. So they would like as much notice as possible. But your new employer obviously has a need for your skills as well. If they didn't, they wouldn't have extended an offer. They are interested in getting you on board as soon as possible. Do your best to be fair to both sides. Once you have completed the agreed-upon transition period, don't feel guilty about leaving.

Plan Ahead

Prepare yourself for the possibility of an emotional reaction when delivering your resignation. Many companies actually have a policy to immediately terminate anyone who is going to a competitor. On the other hand, your employer may become upset at the idea of losing you. If nothing else, it will be time consuming and expensive to find your replacement. He/she may therefore try to change your mind.