What You Need to Know
Is this really important to me? After all, I’m leaving!
Whoever first said “never burn your bridges” (in a job sense) had his or her priorities right. You should always leave a job on the best possible terms. And there are many reasons for that. People from the organization you are leaving may be called to give you references. You may be asked, or you may ask, to return some day to the company you are now leaving. You may end up serving as a peer with your ex-boss or ex-associates on the committee of a professional association.
In sum, even in large industries, it is still a small world. People (especially at higher levels) know each other and may casually inquire about a former employee. Staff members from your former organization may go to conventions or conferences and meet people from your current organization. If you left a negative impression at one company, your next employer may very well hear about it.
Then again, there’s an increasingly common occurrence: Suppose your new organization were to be bought by or merged with your old one? You could find yourself working for (or with) some of the same people you left a year or more ago. It just makes sense to make sure you can face former employers with your head held high.
My boss has been impossible to work with. Should I talk about this?
If you have not already expressed grievances with your current boss, then there’s little advantage to doing so at this time. If you are involved in a formal exit interview, it is far better to be accurate and truthful—stressing the positives about your boss (and co-workers). Keep in mind that the person you are sharing any negative thoughts with could be the person who might be deciding whether to hire you back someday. Do you want to leave the impression that you have been a malcontent, even if your boss was the reason for your dissatisfaction? Although it may be hard, it’s important to keep a long-term perspective as your prepare to leave a job.
Should I help my employer to find my replacement?
Why not? If your boss asks you to interview candidates for your job, doing it well can go a long way to leaving a positive lasting impression. When talking to candidates for your job, it’s very important that you do not discuss negative aspects of the job, coworkers, supervisors, or the organization. This is the time to be as positive as possible, without being insincere or stretching the truth. Talk about the positive facets of the work and the organization. Remember, the person you are interviewing may get the job, and you want his or her impression of you to be that of the consummate professional. Keep thinking: It’s a small employment world.
If the interviewee asks you why you are leaving the organization, restrain from talking about how much more money you will be making, or how much better the working conditions are supposed to be at your new job. It’s best to answer such questions by focusing on the advantages your new job has for your career. Tell your potential replacement that you were offered an opportunity with some interesting challenges that will build on the skills that you have attained in your current position.
If your replacement will not be joining the company until after you’ve left, seriously consider offering your boss the option of your communicating with your replacement at a later date. The fact that you are willing to help your boss even after you have left the payroll will leave a lasting positive impression.
What to Do
Prepare Your Letter of Resignation
There are many steps to leaving a job without burning bridges. Always give adequate notice to your employer in writing. Your letter should be brief and professional and contain the date of your last day of work. End your resignation letter on a positive note by commenting briefly on the valuable learning challenges or growth opportunities the position you are resigning from has afforded you. That’s it. Do not go on about how much better the new job is.
Meet with Your Immediate Supervisor
Never submit your resignation by sliding a note under a manager’s door or by sending an e-mail or leaving a voicemail. It’s just not professional. Arrange a time to meet with the person to whom you report directly. Your immediate supervisor always deserves the courtesy of a face-to-face meeting. During this meeting, you should tell your supervisor that you have decided to take another position and when you will be leaving.
Do not whine. This is not the time to tell your boss all the things that are wrong with him or her, how low your salary has been, or how awful the working conditions are in your present organization. When asked why you are leaving, simply state that an exciting new career opportunity has presented itself, one that you just could not refuse.
Always be professional in this meeting. If you have had any problems with your supervisor, forget about them now. The best advice ever given about this meeting is “let your supervisor save face.” You want your boss to feel as comfortable as possible during this meeting. You also want to assure him or her that you will be finishing certain projects, continuing to meet with customers, and so on. Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of exiting with dignity is to keep this meeting positive and upbeat.
Continue to Work As If You Were Staying
This is critical to exiting with dignity and leaving an excellent lasting impression. Continue to work as if you were trying for a promotion. Finish as many projects as possible; attend all meetings; be an active participant in your work. This is not the time to let things slide. Finish with style.
What to Avoid
You Don’t Give Enough Notice
At the top of the list of things to do, and not do, when leaving a job, giving your current employer insufficient notice ranks high as something to avoid. In a number of professions, the two-week notice is a thing of the past. Many organizations expect (and need) a much longer notice. Check to see what the norm is in your industry or organization, and do it discreetly when you start looking for another job. Companies look very unfavorably on employees who give little or no notice before leaving. Give your employer adequate notice to recruit someone to take over your position.
You Resign Via E-mail
You were hired on a face-to-face basis; give your employer the courtesy of a face-to-face resignation. It’s the professional thing to do.
You Talk Too Much about Your Exciting New Job and Salary
It may be hard not to be excited about your next job, but you should restrain yourself from sharing that excitement with your soon-to-be ex-associates. Coworkers will undoubtedly ask you about your new position, and talking about it is natural; but bragging about how much better your new position is than your old one only leaves coworkers feeling resentful. Tempting as it is to brag, and excited as you are about your new position, limit your discussions to comments such as “Well, this is a good opportunity for me.”
Where to Learn More
Book:
Levitt, Julie Griffin.
Web Site:
“Job Resignation Do’s and Don’ts”by Randall S. Hansen: http://www.quintcareers.com/resignation_dos-donts.html
