Resignations: What Really Happens When People Leave Their Jobs

When someone walks out of a job, it’s not just a resignation—it’s a resignation, a formal decision to end employment, often tied to career goals, burnout, or better opportunities. Also known as quitting a job, it’s one of the most personal and high-stakes moves you can make in your career. Most people think resignations are simple: write a letter, say goodbye, walk out. But the truth? The real work starts after you hand in your notice.

Resignations don’t happen in a vacuum. They’re shaped by career change, a deliberate shift in professional direction, often triggered by dissatisfaction, growth, or life priorities, and employee departure, the broader pattern of workers leaving organizations, influenced by workplace culture, pay, and management. Look at the posts here—people didn’t just quit because they were mad. They left because they finally understood their worth, found a better path, or realized their current role was draining them dry. One person walked away from a high-paying corporate job to teach online. Another left a government job to start a side hustle that now earns more. These aren’t rare cases. They’re becoming the norm.

What’s missing from most resignation advice is the emotional weight. It’s not just about the letter. It’s about the sleepless nights before you send it. The fear of saying the wrong thing to your boss. The guilt of leaving teammates behind. And then—the quiet relief when it’s done. The posts below show real resignations: the good, the messy, the unexpected. You’ll find stories from people who resigned without another job lined up, who got counteroffers they turned down, and who left quietly after years of silence. There’s no one right way to do this. But there are ways that work better than others.

If you’re thinking about leaving, you’re not alone. And you don’t need to be brave—you just need to be clear. The stories here won’t tell you how to quit. They’ll show you what actually happens when people do—and what you can learn from it.