Good luck to you. I felt completely sick before quitting my last job. Just know that you're going on to bigger and better things!

Expect to be vaguely dissapointed at how quickly the organization routes around your impending absence. As the walking dead, you get a preview of what the office will be like after you are gone. Generally, it turns out your presence wasn't so critical afterall. (and Good Luck, change is good!)

What Triode said.

But also, fuck them. Just concentrate on how good it feels to be away from there.

The actual act of quitting? It's going to be uncomfortable. There's really no way around that, unless you have a flare for drama and feel like stomping out Norma Rae style. It will be hard.

But if you know it's the right thing to do, it's the right thing to do. So, just do it. And be glad.

COBRA is good if you're going to be unemployed for a long time, but it's hella expensive. Personally, I say fuck it. If you really need medical care while you're not working, go to a free clinic.

You might expect a bit of standoffishness from your coworkers. That's jealousy more than anything else.

Just do it. I'm betting you won't be sorry.

(I've never quit a [real] job. Was planning to, but was trumped by two weeks when the company announced that they're closing the lab and joining the parent lab was offered to everyone.)

Talk to HR. That's what they're there for (aside from annoying the other employees). They probably won't have one, but ask to see if they have a "checklist" for quitting. Then again, they might have something in their 3-ring binders.

I guess a lot of it really depends on your work environment.

As for what I would have done if I had to do it again (not accept the company's offer) - cash in the stock options. Costed me (albeit a potential) $10,000 to hold onto them.

I wish you well. I am sure you will be better off. The two weeks notice is if the employer is firing you. You can leave at any time. I can't really offer more than that as whenever I have quit a job (IT based) they immediately kick you out and pay out whatever is owing.

But if you have made the decision to quit you will feel better when it is done.

*wishes rebirtha well*

Some places might just have you leave right away, as arse said. They just don't want to deal with anyone there who's not going to be there.

I'd make sure you erase all personal stuff off of email and your hard drive first, and keep all your desk stuff ready to pack, just in case.

But here, arse, 2 weeks is the expected thing to do when you leave a job. It's what every employee tells the boss.

True amber but it is not the law and in IT they just want you out so you don't do anything bad. (ignoring that you would have done that before telling them :) )

I don't have any good advice, so I'll just wish you good luck and shoot warm soft jealousy rays in your direction.

Don't start throwing things unless they start throwing things first.

Two weeks notice is a courtesy, not a law. If a company treats you decently then give them the courtesy, if not then don't.

My last employer did not get two weeks notice.

And congrats!

What everyone else said. I quit one once, and wanted to quit another one but got laid off first. Congrats, good luck, and you will be sooooo happy you did it.

Good luck.

rebirtha, Last time I quit a job, it was last summer, and I signed the contract at my new job and then spent the 25 minute drive down to Oregon City to my old job rehearsing my little speech, only to be fired when I walked in the door.

In case anyone's clicking, quitting went like silk. I managed not to give in to any impulses to badmouth anyone, including during the exit interview. It was all very mild, with my co-workers too repressed to get confrontational with one exception, who took my quitting as a personal slight on account of a snotty e-mail she had sent me a couple days before I gave notice. I was overdue for a review and raise, and they didn't stiff me on the retro pay (were rather generous, in fact) and I asked the COO for a letter of recommendation and received it. All in all, I felt more capable than I probably ought. And voluntary unemployment is terrific.