The day has arrived and you’ve received a job offer that you’re going to accept! While the prospect of starting a new position is exciting, the thought of first needing to give your current employer notice may make you nervous.

Resigning can certainly be an awkward and difficult experience, but how you handle it is crucial to leaving the company on good terms. Not following proper resignation etiquette can reflect poorly on your character, which may negatively impact your ability to contact that employer for future reference or professional favor.

Here are 3 ways to ensure that you leave your current position on good terms with everyone:

Tell your supervisor first

The first person you should inform of your decision to resign should be your supervisor, and preferably, it should be in person. You can reveal as much or as little as you would like about your new position, but be sure to communicate your appreciation for your time at the company as well as how your experience there has helped shape your career. Finally, ask if there is anything you can do during your remaining time to help with the transition, such as training someone to take over your responsibilities.

Give at least 2 weeks’ notice

When leaving a position, it’s always important to be as considerate of your employer’s time as possible. That being said, it’s considered a best practice to give your supervisor at least 2 weeks’ notice when resigning. Your new employer should understand this concept, so don’t wait until the last minute to resign and leave your current workplace scrambling to find a solution to your departure. Rather, ensure that they have a reasonable amount of time to start thinking about how they should manage your transition and find your replacement.

Show respect with a warm goodbye

It’s always important to show your appreciation for your experience at the company. One way to do this is to write your former supervisor a thank you note for giving you the chance to exhibit and strengthen your skills. Also, be sure to thank your co-workers who have impacted you in a positive way.

You also want to make sure that you are leaving on a positive note by completing all of your work, proactively assisting in the transition, and making yourself available to answer any questions about your role. Once you leave, the final step towards securing strong connections with former colleagues and supervisors it to stay in touch. This way, if you ever need to reach out in the future for anything ranging from career advice to a reference, the person should feel comfortable helping you out.