Scared to give notice...

Thank everyone. I will type up a letter but I feel I owe her an in person explanation. Like I said, I understand her and she has been good to me. I have never been good at leaving a job. I get emotionally and personally connected to my employers.

you don't owe her any explanation and if you provide one, you open the door for her to try and guilt you into staying or doing something above and beyond what you are being paid to do.

unless you are personally friends with her outside of work, just keep your resignation business-like. if you already have the other job, you don't even need to tell her where you are going or why.

does she confide the personal details of her life in you? if no, then you shouldn't either.

the only exception would be if you had a friendship outside of work you intend to continue.

I would thank her for the opportunity to work with her over the past several years. I would indicate that you have been offered an opportunity to further your career goals which offers an increase in pay and benefits. While you appreciate her as an employer, you cannot turn down the new job opportunity. Just keep it very concise, straightforward and respectful.

Best of luck in your new job!

You have to do what's best for you. It's her reponsibilty to make sure other people can do the jobs of others in case someone leaves. If she does not know how to do half the stuff you do, that is her own fault. A $.50 cent raise tells me you were not appreciated anyway. Enjoy the new job, raise in pay and benefits. Don't look back.

Dear current boss,
It is with regret that i must hand in my resignation.
I have been given an amazing opportunity at company Xyz that i can not pass up.
I will miss working at Current company and wish you all the best in the future.
My last day of employment here will be the 20th,
Regards,
OP




Done.
It seems scary but once its done you will feel better( i had to put mine in last month)

Some good advice in here already. I agree with not over-explaining, despite the temptation. You can be graceful and succinct. Not only do you not owe your boss a lengthy explanation, there are plenty of reasons why you shouldn't provide a lengthy explanation. It's unnecessary and almost always just a means to alleviate some of your own guilt while unintentionally providing means for the person receiving the explanation to argue and/or get feelings hurt.

I agree with the in person and in writing approach. For both, be clear you are leaving, the decision is done, you are taking another opportunity. It's not a negotiation. You have already decided your boss will freak. So keep it short.

Congrats on getting a job you wanted by the way. Don't let that success be tarnished by someone else's crazy.

Be prepared for a counter offer. This happened to me once and I was caught off guard. Know what you are going to say and stick with it.

There is great advice for this work related stuff at www.askamanager.org.

Just keep it short, sweet, and polite. I would say something like "I am giving you my two weeks notice this morning. My last day will be April 15 (for example)." I wouldn't go into explanations unless asked.

I would put it in writing, but tell her in person on Friday. That way she has the weekend to digest it.

You got a lot of good advice here, but I'm going to disagree with this statement. It sounded like she may need to find someone in time for you to be able to train them a little, so since you know earlier, they may take it slightly better with slightly more notice than is required.

I once had a boss who was extremely volatile, and it seemed to soften the blow a little when I told her it wasn't an easy decision, and that I'd been torn, but needed to do this. If they don't find someone right away, you may have time to give them some written instructions that the new hire can work from. I hope it goes as smoothly as possible. The day you give notice will be hard, but then the worst will be over, and the improvement to your life is well worth it.