> First of all it's best done face to face, because you don't want to be misunderstood, and you want to give the other party a fair chance at replying.
You're making an assumption here: that one is leaving for amicable reasons (e.g., a better paying job elsewhere, a new career path, going back to school, etc.). There's another mindset that this sort of company is perfect for: "I don't give a hoot about my soon-to-be-ex-employer, I just want out."
In that case, a company like this might even be the better means of quitting -- as the saying goes, "if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all." This company provides (IMO) a valuable ways of communicating without having to get personal feelings involved (at least for the departing employee).
Amicable reasons or not, face to face is best. At work you sometimes have to face situations that are not pleasant. Staying calm and professional pays dividends. One can (and should) still be quick and firm during the resignation meeting.
And the world is a small place -- exiting right can help you in the future, even if you think you will never work with that company again. My 2c.
Not always, and especially for those that don't "think on their feet". I'm one of those, and I prefer writing, simply because I can make sure I've said everything I want to say in the exact way that I want to say it. I get flustered when put on the spot, and sometimes say what I don't mean, or say what I do mean but ambiguously.
Point is, people are different, so face to face cannot always be best.
I often have a hard time networking because I was raised by two very serious people who took their jobs very seriously. I made the mistake of moving to Chicago where it seems like the accepted way to "make friends" at work is for everyone to pick someone to be "Dwight Shrute" and they bond by crapping all over them as much as they can.
I can't begin to tell you how utterly distasteful, unprofessional, and pretty shocking this I find this considering I work in a field full of nerds.
I have no qualms about leaving workplaces with toxic cultures like this (about 90% in Chicago). I have no desire to recommend or be recommended by people who's idea of bonding is forming a clique of bullies, find job security in doing as little training and professional development for new employees as they can get away with, and excuse their own poor performance by drinking until they can't remember their own name.
My work speaks for itself and has been enough to get me in the door wherever I want to go at the salaray I deserve.
All other things being equal it's better to leave amicably. But sometimes it's just not possible. For instance, if you are being subjected to flagrant harassment, I don't think anyone in their right mind would argue you need to do anything beyond the legal minimum out of some sense of obligation.
You're making an assumption here: that one is leaving for amicable reasons (e.g., a better paying job elsewhere, a new career path, going back to school, etc.). There's another mindset that this sort of company is perfect for: "I don't give a hoot about my soon-to-be-ex-employer, I just want out."
In that case, a company like this might even be the better means of quitting -- as the saying goes, "if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all." This company provides (IMO) a valuable ways of communicating without having to get personal feelings involved (at least for the departing employee).