This post is part of the ‘quit your job to travel’ series which walks you through the steps you’ll need to take to make this life-changing decision.

As I mentioned before, quitting your job to travel may not be for you – it’s certainly not for everyone – but if it is and you need a little motivation to get things moving then this post should hopefully help you out.

Other posts in the series:

• Quit Your Job to Travel: Is it the Right Thing For You? 
• Quit Your Job to Travel: How to Save Money Fast

Okay, so you’re toying with the idea of packing it all in and hitting the road, but it’s difficult to know how and when to quit your job.

Sidenote: if you’re not looking to up sticks and mosey round the world, this post might just help you in the future when you want to quit your job in the best way possible.

Before we get going, remember to look at your company handbook for the right etiquette and anything that may be in your contract about quitting. Different companies have different policies so make sure you’re familiar with yours.

Okay! Let’s quit our jobs…

When to Quit Your Job

Knowing when to quit your job is heavily debated. I mean, if you’re being harassed by your boss or being treated unfairly then, yeah, you need to get out of there. But if you’re job’s pretty cushy, it’s easy to fall into a rhythmic habit that’s almost impossible to get out of.

When you’re absolutely sure

You know what it’s like: you’ll be looking through pretty pictures when you should be working, reading amazing stories by travellers out there exploring the world RIGHT NOW and you’ll think, “right, that’s it, I’ve had enough.”

It might take some serious self-control not to march into your boss’ office then and there and quit on the spot.

Whatever you do, make sure you don’t resign on impulse.

Get all your ducks in order first. Make sure that quitting your job to travel is absolutely what you want to do. If it takes a few months to figure this out, so be it. Things don’t have to happen immediately. It might be just enough knowing that quitting to travel is an option for you somewhere along the line.

When you can support yourself

There is absolutely no point quitting your job if you have zilch money to your name and nothing lined up in the foreseeable future.

Sure, it might be liberating to think that you are free from the ties of a job and the world is your oyster, but how liberating is not having the money to actually get out there and see the world? Answer: not very.

I’d suggest having at least 2-3 months’ worth of savings to support yourself – and I’d only recommend having that little if you have a way of supporting yourself further down the line.
Maybe you have a few freelance clients set up already or maybe you have a job teaching English lined up a month or so into your trip.

Regardless of what you do, make sure you have a way to support yourself before you quit your job.

Don’t leave it too late

Most jobs require two week’s’ notice, so be mindful of this when you’re planning on quitting. Leave yourself plenty of time to get ready for your trip – i.e. you don’t want to be hustling your way to the airport on the last day of your job.

Now we’ve got the when covered, let’s look at the finer intricacies of the how..

How to Quit Your Job

There’s an art to quitting your job that won’t put anyone’s nose out of joint – especially your own. Remember to always keep it professional and friendly no matter what thoughts are flitting through your mind.

Leave on good terms

Absolutely, categorically do not have a showdown with your boss in front of the entire office. Quitting your job is not the time for dramatics – you’ll only do yourself a disservice.

Smile, be polite, and follow all the company protocols.

Explain why you’re leaving

Instead of keeping schtum, divulge why you’re leaving to your boss. They’re likely to find out at some point anyway, and it’ll give them an insight into you as a person (not to mention they might actually be relieved that you haven’t quit to work for a competitor).

What’s more, if you explain where you going, why you’re doing it, and what you’re going to be doing whilst your abroad, they might even offer you some freelance, contract-based work.

This happened to me, and it was nice having a little extra income for the first month of being abroad. Travelling might even give you some desirable skills that the company is looking for, so you never know – they might hold your position open for you.

If you’re feeling confident, offer your services to your boss or at least tell them you can still carry out some duties until they find the perfect person to fill your role. Which brings me onto the next point…

Help make your departure smooth

Filling a new position is stressful for everyone involved, so you want to make your exit as smooth as possible, not just for yourself but for your boss and colleagues, too.

Make sure you’ve given them a detailed run-down of the work you’ve finished and the work that still needs to be finished, and maybe even offer to help train your replacement if you have the time to do so.

Don’t gossip or bad mouth anyone

Okay, so you’re happy to be free of your job, but don’t start bad-mouthing your employers. Industry folk talk, especially managers and bosses, and you don’t want to nix your chance of getting a job when you’re back because of a few thoughtless words you said, do you?

Gossiping about companies you’ve previously worked for is generally bad practice, so just don’t even go there.

Express gratitude

Even if it wasn’t the best job in the world, somebody gave you a chance and you should thank them for that.

It’s just a polite way to leave things. You can either do this in your letter of resignation, or in person if you feel like it. Feel free to thank your boss, colleagues, even the cleaner – whoever you feel it’s appropriate to thank!

Get a reference

Don’t forget to leave without getting a glowing reference! Either ask your boss for a written reference that you can show to potential employers on the road, or ask them to leave a little feedback on your LinkedIn profile.

So, there you have the basics for how and when to quit your job. It’s never easy and it can be pretty nerve-racking, so just remind yourself of why you’re doing it in the first place.

Next Sunday I’ll be discussing a few ways you can earn money on the road, so tune in then to get some ideas (or leave some in the comments below!).

I want to hear from you! Have you quit your job to travel? Do you have any more tips to share that might help others who want to quit their job?