How to quit when your boss will be blindsided

Hello,

I have received a job offer that is too good to pass on so I will be leaving my firm. I plan to put in my two weeks Monday.

I got my current job in Feb 2020 and WFH for basically two years. Now we have been back in the office for the past few months and its been good hanging with the team. I am very close with my team since there are only three of us including me. My managing director and I get along really well and him and our admin will be attending my wedding at the end of the month (hopefully they still will come after my notice). He talks about the future of our team and things and he wants to do with us this summer and I feel bad knowing I'm leaving when he brings this stuff up. He has also given me many perks working here: MacBook, iPad, a nice bicycle, and he sends me liquor delivery here and there haha. These are mainly hand me downs he doesn't need of course.

Another advisor on our team left to go do IB and turned in his two week notice and my MD was pissed because it seemed out of nowhere. It is a little different when I leave because I am in an associate role and not revenue producing. If I leave the business should still run without a hitch.

How can I best manage his expectations when I tell him why this other offer is better for me and why I want to accept it? I feel he will be really let down/mad and it weighs on me even though I'm making the best decision for myself and family long term. Has anyone ever been really close to their boss and kind of blindsided them with a two week notice? How did it work out in the moment and in the end? There is of course the chance he will be supportive but I think it is small.

I'm thinking I could talk to him tomorrow about the opportunity and why I want to accept it, but tell him I'll think it over this weekend before giving my notice Monday. I don't think there is any circumstance where he tries to counter offer to get me to stay, but, either way, it would be near impossible for me to change my mind. Any tips would be appreciated! Thank you!

 
Most Helpful

Lol sounds like my previous job... the investment advisory world is VERY tight knit within your team, so leaving is always really rough. When I left, they were pissed, so just prepare for that. However, they will get over it, and ultimately be happy for you. Just tell them why you think it is the best option for you, and thank them for everything they have done for you. You'll be ok! Trust me, I know the feeling and it sucks! But they will support you (even if they are caught off guard and act pissed for a few days).

 

Think of it this way, do you think your boss posts on WSO and says How to fire when your employee will be blindsided.  You guys are not dating, he cares about bottom line and you care about, well whatever you care about.  You can just be honest and if it is a better opp and he truly repects you as a person and an employee he will be happy for you.  

 

Just be real with him.  Put in a fatter amount of time than 2 weeks and find someone who can pick up your shit with the most ease.  Make sure someone knows how to handle any custom/specialized work you can do.  Keep it kosher with the MD and perhaps give him a bottle with a nice card and occasionally meet up/talk on the phone.

Only two sources I trust, Glenn Beck and singing woodland creatures.
 

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