FastItalian LearningSign in
PhrasesResigning ProfessionallyÈ stata una delle decisioni più difficili della mia carriera.
B1

È stata una delle decisioni più difficili della mia carriera.

It has been one of the most difficult decisions of my career.

Pronunciation

'Difficili' = dif-FEE-chi-li. Four syllables; stress the second.

When to use it

Use this when your resignation is genuinely difficult — when you have had a positive experience and the decision was a hard one. Authentically sharing the emotional weight of the decision shows that you value what you are leaving.

What it means

Admitting difficulty in a professional decision is a sign of emotional maturity in Italian culture. It signals that the relationship and the work truly mattered, which is the highest compliment you can pay to an employer as you leave.

Variations

Ci ho pensato a lungo prima di arrivare a questa decisione.

I thought about it at length before reaching this decision.

Shows the resignation was considered, not impulsive — important for Italian cultural expectations

Ho dormito poco in queste ultime settimane.

I have slept little in these last weeks.

Personal and vivid; Italians appreciate authentic emotional expression

Non è stata una scelta guidata dalla testa, ma dal cuore.

It was not a choice guided by the head, but by the heart.

Distinctly Italian in tone; the heart/head dichotomy resonates deeply in Italian culture

Mini Dialogue

Responsabile: Quando ha capito di voler andare? Dipendente: È stata una delle decisioni più difficili della mia carriera. Ho lottato molto con me stesso/a. Responsabile: Lo capisco. Si vede che non è una cosa superficiale. Dipendente: No. Ho pianto più di una volta, le dico la verità.

Manager: When did you realise you wanted to leave? Employee: It has been one of the most difficult decisions of my career. I struggled a lot with myself. Manager: I understand. You can see it is not a superficial thing. Employee: No. I cried more than once, I tell you the truth.

Cultural Note

Italian professional culture is not afraid of emotion — admitting that a decision was emotionally difficult is not seen as weakness but as depth of character. An Italian manager will appreciate genuine emotional disclosure far more than a polished, emotionless resignation speech that feels rehearsed and insincere.