Today’s News To Live By is brought to you by Amanda Augustine, the “Job Search Expert” for StudyClerk. Amanda explains how two recent viral videos contain crucial advice on how to quit your job the “right” way. Enjoy!

Have you ever dreamed of quitting your job?

I’m not talking about one of those polite resignations where you simply send an email to your devil-of-a-boss and hope for the best. No, I’m talking about one of those over-the-top resignations with pizazz. Something that’s bound to go viral.

Take Marina Shifrin, for example. The 25-year old content editor who announced her resignation during a video she created in which she performed an interpretive dance to Kanye West’s song “Gone.” The video has since been viewed by over 17.4 million people on YouTube.

And then there’s Gwen Dean. During Super Bowl XLVIII, Gwen made history by quitting her job during a GoDaddy commercial in front of an estimated 111.5 million sets of eyeballs.

Sure, we’ve all had one of those days where we wanted to tell our boss to go to hell and storm out the door. As tempting as it might be to resign with some gusto, take heed! Think before you act to avoid damaging valuable relationships that could lead to recommendations, references, or even job leads later in your career.

Here are a few tips to help you submit your two weeks’ notice while keeping your professional brand intact.

Find a new job first.

Before you hand in your notice, secure a new position first. It’s often easier to land a new job when you’re already employed, so find the right position before you quit your current job. Even if you’re planning to open your own business like Gwen, follow her lead by establishing your new business before you walk away from a steady paycheck. 

Find the right job

According to a recent study, 51 percent of new employees reported having “buyer’s remorse” and 88 percent were looking to make a change within the first six months of their new job. Focus on finding the right position, rather than simply escaping your current situation. Otherwise, you might find yourself looking for another new job in the not-so-distant future. Not sure what you want to do next? Click on the following link to view some of my job-goal exercises. 

Find the right words

While it may be appealing to craft a funny resignation text with TheLadders “Quit Your Job” app and avoid an uncomfortable conversation altogether, you’re better off biting the bullet to preserve your brand. Schedule a meeting with your direct manager so you can resign in person and in private. When in doubt, keep the resignation short and sweet. Thank your manager for the opportunity and explain that you will be leaving the company, effective on a specific date. No need to add any unnecessary adjectives into the conversation.

Find ways to help

During your final weeks on the job, do what you can to tie up loose ends for your colleagues and customers. This could be anything from documenting your work and processes, organizing your shared files for the team, or helping to recruit or train your replacement. No matter how your employer acts, take the higher road and be a model employee till the end.

Looking for a new job? Download TheLadders’ free app for your iPhone or Android and click on the following link for more job-search advice.

Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders, an online job-matching service for all career-driven professionals ($40k+). She provides job-search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Follow her at @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and like her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.

Feature photo by: Lara Cores (Flickr)