| When an employee and a company part ways, it can | | | | project that you're leading -- a month's notice may be |
| be similar to a relationship breaking up - nasty and | | | | more appropriate. A new employer realizes that you |
| acrimonious or mutual and dignified. What is the best | | | | have to give sufficient notice to your present |
| way to resign when you are leaving a job of your | | | | employer. Even if your present employer has a policy |
| own volition? | | | | of asking job changers to leave immediately upon |
| No one likes getting "dumped." And that is exactly how | | | | giving notice, you should still give two weeks. It's a |
| your boss may feel. It is a natural feeling for any boss | | | | professional obligation to give sufficient notice when |
| to feel that they have been "betrayed" by their | | | | you're making a change in employers. |
| employee. The supervisor may feel your actions are | | | | 3. MAKE A GOOD LAST IMPRESSION |
| "treachery" by interviewing with another organization | | | | Although those last few weeks on the job may not be |
| and accepting an offer of employment. When a | | | | the most pleasant, it is important that you continue to |
| manager brings you into an organization and invests his | | | | perform your job duties in a professional manner until |
| time and energy in training you and watching you grow | | | | the last minute. Those days will seem interminably long |
| professionally; the manager may have a "maternal | | | | as you anticipate starting your new job, but it is |
| paternal" feeling for their "protégé." | | | | important to leave a lasting good impression with your |
| Many bosses may take a defensive posture and feel | | | | employer. |
| that you have not given them the same level of | | | | Remain on good terms with your co-workers as well. |
| commitment or opportunity that they have given to | | | | Who knows somewhere down life's road a former |
| you. The employer may also experience a | | | | colleague might become your new boss or end up |
| psychological and emotional "devastation" that may | | | | working with you again. It's a good rule of thumb never |
| create a "swirl of uncertainty that by leaving you are | | | | to take anything or anyone for granted. If you are |
| jeopardizing their business." However, the manager will | | | | staying in the same industry, it is likely that you will |
| not communicate his personal concerns. Generally the | | | | cross paths with a number of former colleagues over |
| manager will cover up his immediate concerns and | | | | the years. If you don't work directly with them, you will |
| persuade you into believing you have made a terrible | | | | likely cross their paths at conferences or on |
| mistake in your career. | | | | professional committees. Who knows when you will |
| At the point of resignation, generally the manager is so | | | | need their support! |
| caught up in the "total disruption" your departure will | | | | 4. TRAIN YOUR REPLACEMENT |
| create, that they can not/will not be empathetic to your | | | | If your present employer wants you to train your |
| needs. The manager will not be "generous" in terms of | | | | replacement, be amenable to the idea. Make your |
| thinking about you and what is best for your career. | | | | replacement's transition as easy as you hope yours |
| Do not tell your boss, anyone you work with, any | | | | will be on the new job. Avoid passing on company |
| professional where you are going. The only person | | | | gossip to your replacement or "badmouthing" your |
| who should know your plans is your family. As | | | | boss and/or your co-workers. Why set someone up |
| Shakespeare said, "The common curse of mankind, | | | | for a negative experience by instilling the prejudices |
| folly and ignorance." Another favorite quote, "discretion | | | | you have acquired. That doesn't serve anyone. |
| is the better part of valor." Learn by other's | | | | Keep a professional attitude at all times, no matter |
| mistakes-learn by paying attention to what history | | | | how tense or difficult your last weeks prove to be. |
| teaches us. | | | | Your goal should be to leave with as much grace and |
| Never assume that you know exactly how anyone will | | | | dignity as possible. You want to be remembered as |
| or will not behave. Prudence is a wiser path. | | | | the consummate professional. |
| The manager will only be thinking about what is best | | | | 5. STAY COOL |
| for his business. Based on your relationship, tenure, | | | | Outstanding employees are rare commodities. Your |
| level of success at the organization, the manager's | | | | professional attitude and composure under arduous |
| focus will be how your departure will impact his | | | | circumstances communicate volumes about your level |
| business. In another section we review counteroffers, | | | | of professionalism. |
| why the manager may present a counter-offer, and | | | | Who knows how many times in your life you will |
| how you can damage or destroy your career by | | | | change jobs. A reputation is something that you must |
| giving the manager the opportunity to even present a | | | | work hard to build for many reasons. A former boss |
| counter offer. | | | | or co-worker can just as easily become your future |
| The manager may feel that your resignation is a | | | | boss. |
| statement that communicates, "You personally and/or | | | | A recommendation by someone who knows you by |
| professionally do not respect him, that you have an | | | | reputation can open a coveted "door" to a new |
| issue with his management style, that you are more | | | | company as you work your way up the career ladder. |
| talented than he is, etc., etc., etc." | | | | Everyone has good and bad days. Practice being |
| There are many reasons to stay on good terms with | | | | even tempered, and do not react to emotionally |
| a former employer. More importantly - it is in your best | | | | charged situations. Don't resign in a fit of anger. Think |
| interest to try very hard to not burn bridges - because | | | | things through. Resign like a professional. |
| you never know where your career will lead you. | | | | 6. THE ART OF THE RESIGNATION LETTER |
| The way the resignation is received depends almost | | | | Never resign one job until you have a written offer |
| entirely on the personality of your boss and on the | | | | from the new employer. It is rare, but verbal offers |
| policies of the company. I've seen the most gracious | | | | have been withdrawn. Additionally, it is critical the |
| and polite people ushered right out the door, and I've | | | | written offer is consistent with the verbal offer. You |
| seen companies ask the employee to stick around | | | | should not resign and accept a new position until your |
| and train his replacement. | | | | written offer reflects the verbal offer. |
| The best way to judge what's going to happen is the | | | | Your resignation letter should simply state the following, |
| look at how the manager treated other employees | | | | "I, John Doe, hereby resign my position as manager of |
| who resigned. | | | | ABC Company effective January 1, 2005" Sincerely, |
| 1. LEAVE ON GOOD TERMS | | | | John Doe. Date the letter today. |
| It can be tempting to liberate pent-up hostilities and | | | | Do not thank the company in your letter - do not |
| frustrations you may have built up over the years | | | | complain, do not recount your accomplishments. Keep |
| when you realize you are free from a job. But it's not | | | | your resignation letter short and sweet - if you have |
| wise to do so. | | | | anything else you want to say - such as, to thank a |
| Transitions are important. Your future career is | | | | mentor, or share with co-workers how much you |
| affected not only by how professionally you tender | | | | enjoyed working with them, etc., say it with your |
| your resignation but how you conduct yourself | | | | mouth, not with a pen. |
| afterwards. There is a right way and a wrong way to | | | | Do not tell your employer where you are going! Under |
| resign. The right way transforms a job change into a | | | | no circumstances should you share that information |
| smart strategic career transition. The wrong way may | | | | with your boss or anyone else in the company---until |
| negatively affect an otherwise promising career. | | | | you are at your new job. Remember you never know |
| Remember, in the highly competitive job market, a solid | | | | what someone will or will not do. It's rare, but the old |
| list of work references is often the deciding factor | | | | employer may try to hurt the person's new job or hurt |
| when landing the next job. | | | | their career in some manner. It's best not to leave |
| 2. GIVE SUFFICIENT NOTICE | | | | anything to chance! |
| Always give sufficient notice to your present | | | | It's best said by Shakespeare, "we know what we are, |
| employer. Two weeks is standard, although in certain | | | | but know not what we may be." Hamlet, Act IV. |
| circumstances, such as completing an important | | | | |