Before You Resign – A Quick Checklist for FM Professionals

So you’ve decided it’s time to move on. Maybe you’ve been offered a new role, or perhaps you’re just ready for a change. Either way, it’s an exciting time.

But before you march into your manager’s office and hand over that resignation letter, it’s worth taking a breath and making sure you’ve got everything in order. A bit of preparation now can save you from awkward conversations, unexpected bills, or that sinking feeling when you realise you’ve forgotten something important.

Here’s what we’d suggest checking off the list first.

Make sure you’ve actually got the job

This might sound obvious, but we’ve seen it happen. Someone gets a verbal offer, hands in their notice full of excitement, and then… the new job falls through. Budgets get cut, hiring freezes happen, someone changes their mind.

Don’t resign until you’ve got a formal, written offer. That means an actual document confirming your salary, start date, and the key terms you discussed. A handshake or a “we’d love to have you” isn’t enough. Get it in writing, then you can celebrate.

Double-check your notice period

Here’s one that catches people out more often than you’d think. Your notice period might not be what you assume it is.

Lots of contracts have a shorter notice period during probation – maybe a week – which then increases to a month or more once you’ve passed it. If you’ve been in your role a while, dig out your contract and check what it actually says. The last thing you want is to promise your new employer a start date you can’t deliver, or leave your current employer in the lurch.

If you can’t find your contract, ask HR. They’ll be able to confirm.

Check if you owe any training costs

This one can sting if you’re not prepared for it.

If your employer has paid for training or qualifications – think NEBOSH, IOSH, equipment certifications, anything like that – there might be a clawback clause in your contract. That means if you leave within a certain period, you could be asked to repay some or all of the cost.

It’s not always the case, and often it’s pro-rata so the amount reduces over time. But it’s better to know upfront than to get a nasty surprise in your final pay or, worse, an invoice after you’ve left.

Think about timing if there’s a bonus involved

If you’re expecting a bonus, it’s worth checking the small print before you resign.

Some bonus schemes require you to be employed on a specific date – the end of the financial year, for example – to qualify. Others might say you need to still be in the business when it’s paid out. If you resign the week before, you could miss out entirely.

Now, we’re not saying you should hang around in a job you want to leave just for a bonus. But if it’s a significant amount and you’re only talking about a few weeks’ difference, it might be worth factoring in.

Work out where you stand with holiday

Annual leave can get a bit messy when you resign, so it’s good to get clarity early.

First, check how much you’ve accrued for the year versus how much you’ve already taken. If you’ve been saving your days, you might be owed holiday pay in your final settlement. On the other hand, if you took two weeks in January and you’re leaving in March, you might owe some back.

Some employers will ask you to take any remaining leave during your notice period. Others will pay it out. Either way, it’s worth knowing what to expect so your final pay doesn’t come as a shock.

Get your references lined up

References are one of those things people tend to leave until the last minute, and then panic about.

Think about who you’re going to use. If you’re leaving on good terms, your current manager might be happy to provide one – but it’s always polite to ask first rather than assume. If the relationship is a bit strained, or you’d rather keep things quiet until you’ve left, think about previous managers or senior colleagues who could vouch for you instead.

Having this sorted in advance means there’s no scrambling around when your new employer asks for details.

Gather your certificates and credentials

This one is especially important in Facilities Management, where qualifications and certifications really matter.

Things like IOSH, NEBOSH, first aid certificates, equipment training, IPAF, PASMA – these often belong to you personally, not your employer. But copies might be sitting in an HR file or on a shared drive somewhere.

Before you leave, make sure you’ve got your own copies of everything. You’ll need them for your new role, and you’ll need them to prove your credentials going forward. Don’t rely on being able to chase these up after you’ve gone – get them sorted while you’ve still got access.

Resigning doesn’t have to be stressful. A bit of preparation means you can hand in your notice confidently, leave on good terms, and start your new role without any loose ends trailing behind you.

If you’re thinking about your next move in FM, we’re always happy to have a chat. No hard sell, just honest advice and a good understanding of the market. Drop us a message or take a look at our latest roles – we’d love to hear from you.