Advice on how to professionally quit a job.

GregCavi

GregCavi

Pinnacle Detailing Owner
Hello everyone. I have done some work for our dealership in my small town for a little over a year. I started off not knowing a whole lot but now i consider myself to do some very professoinal work. The dealer tells me not to worry about swirls and all that. HE basically tells me dont fix anything. He wants me to do very low quality work and that isnt up to my standards.

I was approached in school today by someonw who must have gotten a new car and yes hacked detailed by the crew down there and i guess my name got thrown on it. So what i have decided is that the 12.50 an hour and hating finishing a detail that looks like crap have cuased me to want to quit my job.

I have decided that i cant risk my reputation as a detailer by working at the dealership doing low standards work. So what i am asking is not if i should quite but what would be the proffessional way to do it. My mom suggested this way.

Write a letter explaining why i am unhappy working there. Tell him that i have a curtain standard for a car and i wont do low quality work. He will have to pay my prices or get a package that i do on the cars. SO basically let hiim know that i wont hack any more for him and that if he want a quality job he will have to pay for that. I know he will shoot that down and im cool with that. I dont really want anything to do with that place anymore. I have a bill waiting for them now. Its 98 bucks so if i included that in the letter woudl that be tacky?

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks Everyone!

Greg
 
i wouldnt put what he still owes you...he knows that and this letter really wouldnt be about that. I would stick to the other stuff you said but leave that he owes you 98 bucks yet. If he dosnt pay you soon then just start perstering him by going down there and asking for it. i dont think he will have a problem paying you what he owes you. but imo leave it out of the letter.
 
Greg,
Basically I would agree with your Mom (we Mom's have to stick together, you know ;) ), but I would also include a short paragraph thanking them for the opportunity they gave you to work for them & gain valuable experience & knowledge. This would lead into saying that you have grown & your standards now exceed their requirements and you will not compromise your standards.
You're a good detailer & you should not let your name be sullied with sub-standard work.
Good luck & stand your ground!!
Norah

PS - I would send your invoice by separate mail, possibly a day before you mail your letter of resignation. Or if you are dropping them off, try to do them on separate days, but invoice first, so it can get into the A/P system.
 
All of this is great advise. The trick is to be nice about it and not accusatory. It's better to walk away from a job less than satisfied about the way that you quit but having a good reference than it is to feel great for a while about how you quit but not have anyone to speak on your behalf when you are looking for a different job. Just a thought on self-preservation.
 
hi greg, i don't know your situation totallly whether you do contract work for them as well as other places or are an hourly employee. here is what i would do. i work for a dealer as a flat rate detailer(same as technitians). if i were to leave to do my own business i would state i was leaving for the oppurtunity to start my own shop. i wouldn't say anything about their lack of wanting good quality for several reasons,

1) you will still have them to fall back on in the future. if you say anything the manager may take as an insult that will jepordize that connection. as you know dealership employees seem to know many other workers at other dealers. you don't want to get a bad rep. because someone gets offended easliy.

2)if you do contract work with them, if they stick with you even if your prices are a bit more, it can be steady work during slow periods.

3)i would also thank them for the oppurtunity to learn and gain experience and that you will always be grateful. this will stroke the manager's ego and leave you looking great.

i would give them the bill three or four days before the letter, if you give it too closse together the payment might be slowed down. i have thought of how i would word a letter like this a few times as not to close any doors. as frustrating as they might be, you want to take the high road and cone out clean. they could be a good account in the future.
 
I pretty much agree with the above. I would do the following...

Write a professional letter of resignation to them. Give it personally to your boss. In the letter, just tell him that you have decided to move on, but you appreciated the chance to work for them and wish them the best of luck.

Don't mention anything about their quality of work. If they ask why you are leaving, bring it up in a very professional and courteous manner. If they don't bring it up... just let it go.

Show them that you intend to be a professional in every way... and NEVER, EVER "burn any bridges behind you"... you just never know when you might have to cross back over one of them! :bigups
 
Thanks for the advice guys. As much as i want to get in the last word i have realised that it is not professional and i shoudl just walk like an adult.

Greg
 
FWIW, the dealership isn't going to be interested in your evaluation of their detailing department and Tubafreak's comment about not being accusatory is a good one.
My approach would be:
1. Let them know you appreciated the employment experience.
2. Tell them it's time for you to move on to other opportunities and challenges.
3. Give them some notice. (Two weeks would be my choice)
4. Don't tell them you don't think they do a good job. You want to leave on good terms so they will give you a positive reference. You also don't want to burn any bridges. You might someday be back to run their detail shop the way you think it should be.
5. If you have decided to leave, (sounds like you have), then don't get into discussions about the past.
6. When you do leave, leave! Don't go back and hang around or stop in every few days.
7. Don't be too proud to talk to your former employer if he contacts you at a later date. He just might want you back.:)
8. Don't bad mouth the place after you leave
9. See #8

Charles
 
First, get paid.
Then, I'd go in on the next day off and thank him for the opportunity to work there. Tell him that rather than creating a conflict with him, you'd rather just go your own way peacefully. If 2 weeks notice is required, DO IT. From there, if you want another detail shop, do your HW, you know what to look for. Getting your own started is not always the easiest at the drop of a hat. You may have some lined up, but most of the time it won't be consistent since you are soo new.

Good Luck Greg.
 
You've got some excellent advice here. The only thing I can add it please try to follow it. It's not always easy to maintain a professional attitude if the other party gets childish. I hope you don't have to deal with that.

Good luck!
 
From my experience with car dealerships, just quit. Every lot boy that ever put his two week notice in was fired as soon as he told them. They don't pay you anything because you're not worth anything to them, you're expendable. If anything, tell them on a Friday, you're starting your own business as of next week and you'd be happy to detail their cars for them but you will not be working there as an employee anymore. That's what I did and I'm actually making more per detail from the dealership and I've doubled my income because I have more free time for customers cars. I get $70 for cars and $80 for trucks and spend about 4 hours on a detail. Granted these are once overs, but you aren't getting paid for perfection.
Give them a set price and tell them if they want more they can pay extra for more passes with the buffer, extractor work, etc. At that price, they get the engine detailed, interior detailed (no extractor), and one pass with #80 and sealed with #21. I don't get to picky because I'm not paid to be picky. If they want to be picky, they can pay more. If they fail to understand that, I compaired me buying a Lariat and only wanting to pay for a base XL. They wouldn't do it so neither should you.
 
yea exactly...he dosnt care about you...otherwise he would know more about the work you do. it dosnt matter to him...if you dont do it some other guy will do the same thing for half what hes payin you. i don knowing tom i dont think you need to put ur 2 week in...he will just be like "ok kid" (he cant remember names so he calls eeryone kid or guy) then he will probally write out what he owes you and ur on ur way. kinda knowing the guy ....thats what he will end up doing i bet.
 
Lots of great advice from everyone.

You say you are from a small town (I don't know how small you mean), but small enough where your name could be involved with shoddy work. That means that you leaving on a good note is important

A key one is "Don't burn bridges" you never know who you might have to do business with in the future.

A 2 week notice is customery, be prepared if you are told to leave immediately, you know you did the right thing

Thank them for the oppertunity

Don't bad mouth your previous employer.

One thing I am curious about is a bill for $98 what is that for?

Good luck with whatever you decide and success in your future business
"J"
 
Ya he owes me 98 bucks for detials i have done. Im sure he will just say ok and then be on my way. I just will still worry abou thim attaching my name to any car that a cusmomter will complain about when in reality it is he "detailers" that do it.. or actually him doing it. he is a big fan of apc and the oily rag wipe downs and getting wax all over trim. But i will not burn bridges.. my dad told me that to haha. thanks for the great advice guys!!

Greg
 
The reason I asked is that you said you were getting paid $12.5 an hr, I took it that you were an hourly employee. If that is the case you don't have to ask for it, that is your pay
 
norahcrv said:
Greg,
Basically I would agree with your Mom (we Mom's have to stick together, you know ;) ), but I would also include a short paragraph thanking them for the opportunity they gave you to work for them & gain valuable experience & knowledge. This would lead into saying that you have grown & your standards now exceed their requirements and you will not compromise your standards.
You're a good detailer & you should not let your name be sullied with sub-standard work.
Good luck & stand your ground!!
Norah

PS - I would send your invoice by separate mail, possibly a day before you mail your letter of resignation. Or if you are dropping them off, try to do them on separate days, but invoice first, so it can get into the A/P system.
Click to expand...


:yeah

Mom's always know best :D
 
shotime said:
From my experience with car dealerships, just quit. Every lot boy that ever put his two week notice in was fired as soon as he told them. They don't pay you anything because you're not worth anything to them, you're expendable. If anything, tell them on a Friday, you're starting your own business as of next week and you'd be happy to detail their cars for them but you will not be working there as an employee anymore.
Click to expand...
EXACTLY I worked at a dealership for 2 years (tech's helper) they can and may drop you like a bad habit. No one is an absolute asset at a dealership they are all expendible(sp?). Before I quite (2 week notice) they had just brought in a new GM he was "let go" before my last day. Sad thing is he moved to that area to work only to be dropped not to long after. Like everyone said don't burn bridges but don't expect much from them.
 
jaybs95 said:
The reason I asked is that you said you were getting paid $12.5 an hr, I took it that you were an hourly employee. If that is the case you don't have to ask for it, that is your pay
Click to expand...

Its nothing at all structure. I just turn in a peice of paper saying how many hours i worked and the front desk lady writes the check. Im guessing its not legit. Im now legit so glad im leaving there haha.

Greg
 
yea...now you can go write things off...like all that wax and polish and buffer stuff you buy.....yay

Now your just like me....you will have a big folder full of recipts for all the stuff you buy for ur buisness.
 
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