Congratulations! You just got an offer for a wonderful new job. There’s just one catch. You have to say good-by to your current employer.
Maybe you loved your job and you face an emotional farewell. Or you maybe you hated every minute and you’ve been counting the days till you could walk out the door one last time.
Clients often admit they’re nervous about making the departure announcement. They’re afraid the boss will be angry. They feel guilty about the work they’re leaving behind. Maybe someone else has to take up the slack for awhile.
But clients also wonder how to resign gracefully yet still protect their own longer-term career interests. They suspect their departure style will influence their careers for a long time,
They’re right.
Here are some guidelines to move to your next position with grace and style.
1. Give the correct amount of notice required by your company’s written policy.
Every so often my clients feel sorry for their former colleagues. So they stick around an extra week (or even an extra month). Inevitably, they begin to feel like a fifth wheel. Nearly everyone says, “Next time I’m leaving right away!”
2. After you leave, do not accept any job-related calls from your company unless you have a written consulting contract.
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