In some cases, leaving a caregiving job is a difficult decision; other times, it can feel like no brainer. But no matter how good — or bad — a working situation has been, it’s smart to keep things professional during your exit. <\/p>
While there’s a personal element to caregiving jobs that’s matched in no other profession, when it comes to quitting, the way to go is short, sweet and sans emotion. “You want to stay out of the weeds when you’re leaving your job as a babysitter or nanny,” says Michelle LaRowe Conover, lead educator at Global Nanny Training<\/a>. “It is not the time to rehash the details of what went wrong during your employment with the family. Keep your notice professional and to-the-point and document your projected last day of work.”<\/p> From preparing to having the conversation to what to do on your last day, here’s how the experts advise leaving a nanny or senior caregiving job. <\/p> Once you’ve made your decision, do these things before speaking with your employer. <\/p> Before you sort through the logistics, it’s important to sort through your personal feelings. <\/p> “Nannies have valid reasons to leave a job, but doing so may create strong emotions — sadness at leaving the children, anger if the situation has deteriorated or just exhaustion from burn out,” says Lynn Ziefle, a career counselor at the U.S. Nanny Institute<\/a>. “But it’s important to keep things professional, and ideally, leave on good terms.”<\/p> One way to prevent an emotionally-charged departure is to journal about how you’re feeling before you give notice. “Take a few minutes and write,” says Elizabeth Malson, founder and former executive director of the U.S. Nanny Association<\/a>. “Departing a nanny job often comes with strong feelings since caregivers<\/a> get very connected to the children in their care, so journaling can be a powerful tool for working through thoughts and emotions.” <\/p> After making sense of your own feelings, Malson advises trying to put yourself in the family’s or client’s shoes, as it can give you insight to the bigger picture. <\/p> “After some self reflection, take a minute to review the situation from the viewpoint of the family,” she says. “For instance, if you don’t have a work agreement in place that outlines departure expectations, will leaving on short notice create a significant hardship if they don’t have backup care?”<\/p> Looking at the situation from all angles will help you approach things fairly and objectively.<\/p>Key takeaways<\/h3>
Steps to take before giving your notice<\/h2>
Sort through your emotions<\/h3>
Put yourself in your employer’s shoes<\/h3>
Consult your work agreement (if you have one) <\/h3>