Things I did before quitting my job: A resignation plan prepared over about a year

It took about a year from the time I decided to quit my job until I actually left.

Since I was a non-regular employee, my contract was renewed every three months, but three months is not enough time to prepare for a successor and complete the handover. And above all, there was the matter of my own finances. There were a mountain of things I had to think about before quitting the company.

In this article, I have summarized the resignation preparations I actually carried out in chronological order. I hope this will be of some help to those who think, 'I want to quit, but I don't know where to start.'

First of all: I thought of resignation as a 'project,' not an 'emotion'

The moment you decide to quit, your emotions are usually running high. Feelings like 'I just want to quit' or 'Once I quit, I'll do this and that...'

However, if you quit on impulse, you will usually regret it. It is important to be calm before resigning.

That is why I decided to treat my resignation as a 'project.' Set a goal, work backward, and prepare one step at a time. Move with strategy, not emotion.

When I did that, my feelings strangely calmed down. Resignation is often viewed negatively at companies, but by staying calm myself, I was able to maintain smooth relationships until I left, and I was able to resign on better terms than I had ever seen before.

Phase 1: Things I did before solidifying my intention to resign (1 year before resignation~)

Articulating 'why I want to quit'

The first thing I did was write down on paper what I wanted to do after resigning.

When you write it down, you can see whether 'this can be solved by changing jobs' or 'it can be solved by changing the way I work itself.'

In my case, the amount of overtime and the sense of discomfort with the company's direction were significant, and I constantly felt that 'being in this company is wearing me down.' I think it was good that I was able to confirm that.

Checking my financial situation

After you quit, there is no guarantee that you will find your next job immediately. Quitting when your savings are less than three months' worth of living expenses is mentally quite tough.

Even so, if you want to quit early, a side job is recommended. If you can intuitively understand 'ways to earn money other than your salary,' it will also lead to confidence in working as a freelancer.

Phase 2: The timing for communicating the intention to resign (at the latest, half a year before)

Why half a year before?

Some people think, 'You only need to give notice of resignation one or two months in advance,' but that is just a matter of the rules.

If you need to hire a successor, one or two months is not nearly enough. In my case, I judged that at least half a year was necessary considering the hiring and training of a successor. Even if you post a job opening, there is no guarantee that applicants will come immediately. Especially in this day and age, unless the conditions are very good, it seems that hiring is a struggle.

The benefits of communicating your intention six months in advance are not limited to this. The fact that you 'communicated with plenty of time' makes it easier to maintain a good relationship with the company. There is even a saying about 'leaving without leaving a mess,' and a peaceful resignation becomes a long-term asset.

Who to tell and how to tell them

Ask your direct supervisor (or the representative from your staffing agency) for a one-on-one meeting. If there is an opportunity for a performance review, that is the best time.

What to communicate is 'when you are aiming to resign' and 'the reason (to the extent that you are comfortable sharing).' If you omit negative emotions as much as possible and use positive phrasing, the conversation will proceed more smoothly.

Phase 3: Handover Preparation (From six months before resignation)

Handover is also 'for your own sake'

Doing a thorough handover is not only consideration for those left behind, but also a way to protect yourself.

Depending on the work, you might receive inquiries after you resign, such as 'What happened with that matter?' To prevent that, make sure to perform the handover as carefully as possible.

The contents of the handover materials I created

I created the handover materials with the assumption that 'the person who will do the job for the first time after I am gone will read them.'

List of tasks First, list all the tasks you are in charge of. Daily tasks, recurring tasks (weekly, monthly, yearly), and irregular responses—everything. You might even realize yourself, 'I was doing this kind of work too.'

Procedure manuals Document frequently used tools, system operation procedures, and notes for each business partner, including screen captures. Putting into words things you were 'doing somewhat intuitively' is surprisingly difficult. However, this is what successors appreciate the most.

Network and contact list Information on external business partners, contacts in related departments, and people to ask for specific matters. If you add a brief note explaining the relationships, your successor can move more smoothly.

List of ongoing cases List current projects, pending issues, and items with approaching deadlines. Clearly state the status and the next actions to be taken.

Set a period to work together with your successor

If possible, work together for a certain period once your successor is decided. This is 'OJT.'

There are mountains of things in the workplace that cannot be conveyed through documents alone. Tacit knowledge like 'Oh, in this situation, you actually do this'—a period of working side-by-side is essential to convey that.

Phase 4: The story of 'involuntary resignation' you should know

This is a part I especially want people working in black-company environments to read.

What is the difference between 'voluntary resignation' and 'involuntary resignation'?

There are two types of resignation: "voluntary resignation" and "company-initiated resignation."

In the case of voluntary resignation, there is a 2-3 month benefit restriction period before unemployment benefits (employment insurance) begin. You will be unpaid for 2-3 months after quitting.

On the other hand, in the case of company-initiated resignation, there is no such benefit restriction. You can receive benefits starting the month after you quit. Furthermore, the benefit period is often longer than for voluntary resignation. In terms of money, this can amount to a difference of several hundred thousand yen.

People with a lot of overtime may be eligible for "company-initiated" status

This is not widely known, but—if your overtime hours exceed a certain threshold, you may be treated as a "specifically qualified recipient," receiving the same benefits as a company-initiated resignation, even if you resign voluntarily.there are cases where this applies.

The specific criteria are as follows.

1. Overtime of 45 hours or more per month for 3 consecutive months

If you have worked 45 hours or more of overtime every month for 3 consecutive months, you may qualify.

2. Overtime of 100 hours or more in a single month

If you have even one month of overtime that exceeds the so-called "karoshi line" (death from overwork line), you may be eligible.

3. Average overtime of 80 hours or more per month over 2 to 6 months

If your average overtime hours over a period of 2 to 6 months were 80 hours or more per month, you may also qualify.

If you are thinking about resigning, I recommend that you start noting down your daily working hours in a notebook or on your smartphone starting today. Even if you try to recall "how many hours that was" after you quit, you will forget the details.

When consulting at Hello Work, presenting these records to the staff increases the likelihood of being certified as a specifically qualified recipient.

By the way, I resigned due to company circumstances.

In my case, there was another person who wanted to resign at the same time. That person, or rather, they just suddenly bolted one day. They stopped coming in suddenly. Even though they were in their late 40s like me (lol).

Since it was originally a small department, the company begged me, saying they would be in trouble if two people left at once. So, I delayed my resignation date by six months. Because I stayed on due to company circumstances, I was happily able to resign as a "company-initiated" departure. While I would have received 90 days of unemployment insurance for a voluntary resignation, I received 180 days worth.

By the way, I did not find new employment and became a sole proprietor almost at the same time as I resigned. Even in this case, I was able to receive the re-employment allowance properly.

Phase 5: Final adjustments leading up to the resignation date

Don't forget to use up your paid leave

If you have remaining paid leave before resigning, the principle is to use it all up before you leave. When you communicate your intention to resign, check your remaining paid leave days and discuss a schedule for using them with your supervisor.

I had about 10 days of paid leave remaining. I had assumed that my resignation date would be moved up to accommodate using my paid leave, but since it was a busy season, my paid leave was applied to weekends. I wonder if that was actually allowed under the system?

Research social insurance transitions in advance

After resigning, you must arrange your own health insurance. There are three options.

・Voluntary Continuation: Continue your current health insurance (for 2 years, but you pay the full premium yourself)
・National Health Insurance: Join the plan in your municipality of residence
・Become a dependent of a family member: No premiums required if conditions are met

Which one is more advantageous depends on your income and family structure. Comparing them before you resign will make the process smoother.

I am a sole proprietor, but I am covered as a dependent of a family member. I plan to explain this in a separate article.

Keep in mind your tax return after resigning

If you resign in the middle of the year, you may not be able to receive a year-end tax adjustment, so you might need to file a tax return the following year.

Make sure to receive your withholding tax slip. Also, keep a record of the amount of your unemployment benefits. If you remember just this much, you will be fine even if you look up the rest when the time comes.

Conclusion: Resignation is the start of a new way of working

There is no need to feel negatively about resigning. However, preparation is important to realize your resignation in the best possible way. Act with a strategy. That alone will significantly change your life after resigning.

I would be happy if this article could help push someone to take that 'first step'.