I’ve worked all sorts of jobs throughout my life. Each of them was different in terms of industry, time commitment, and job duties.
Throughout my working life, despite working different jobs, I’ve noticed a few common things people do to sabotage themselves when it comes to leaving a job.
There have been experiences where I’ve seen people scream and yell at their manager, take work supplies that aren’t theirs, not give enough notice to their employer before leaving and other things that made their exit from the job a negative experience.
Many people don’t enjoy the jobs they work. They desire to do something different and spend their time doing something more meaningful to them. Sometimes they fall out of love with their current job and look for something new.
When a new job opportunity arises, it can be tempting to immediately jump ship from your current job and race to the new one. Maybe you’re being laid off, found a new job, or exploring a new experience. Whatever the case is, you should always leave a job on good terms.
Don’t leave your job on a negative note. You never know when you may need a reference, letter of recommendation or work with someone from your company again. It’s always best to make the necessary preparations to leave your job in a professional manner.
In order for you to leave a job on good terms, there are a few things to remember.
1) Keep a Positive Attitude
You may completely dislike your job, the duties you do, or the work environment. Whatever the reason, it’s important to keep a positive attitude. Don’t gossip with coworkers or talk bad about your job during your working hours.
If your boss asks the reason for your departure, frame your answers in a way that is constructive. Thank your boss for the opportunity and stay focused during the final weeks or days of your job.
Unless you win the lottery or get an unexpected inheritance, you’re probably going to have spend several decades working. There’s a good chance you may cross paths with someone from your job again. Make sure you leave them with a positive experience of you.
2) Maintain Your Work Ethic
When you land a new job, it can be easy to let your current job slide to the wayside. Keep your attention from wandering away during work. Continue to put in the necessary hours to complete your tasks and assignments.
Your job hours are for doing the work you were hired to do. Don’t do job searching while on company time or use office resources for personal things like printing off resumes.
If there are tasks or projects you need to complete, make sure you complete them before you leave. Leave instructions and outlines for what to do if you leave without finishing things up. Show that your dependable and respectable towards doing your job duties.
3) Give Enough Notice
The rule of thumb is to give two weeks notice when you’re leaving a job. There’s always room for consideration. Understand the best practices for the job and industry you work in.
Sometimes it’s helpful to provide more than two weeks notice so that your boss has ample time to find and train a replacement. Look back at what previous employees did when leaving the job. Research online to see what others in your industry have done.
I worked a job a few years ago where when I put in my resignation, I was thanked and then dismissed from the job that same day. Another job I worked at, it was in good practice to provide at least one month’s notice so that the company would have time to interview and hire a new employee.
Set a meeting with your boss and tell them of your resignation before anyone else. Be financially prepared if you have to leave immediately once you put in your resignation.
4) Stay Positive on Social Media
Don’t vent your feelings about your job on social media. Even if you have your social profiles set to private, you never know who might happen to see it. Use your best judgement and refrain from posting anything negative about your job.
Save your venting sessions for another time and place, rather than to the online world. Social media, whether you realize it or not, is part of your personal brand and a way to market yourself.
You can use it to network with others, post updates, and even make money. Don’t use it to complain about things. Keep it positive and think before you write.
5) Keep the Transition Smooth
The hiring process can be difficult for both a job seeker and an employer. Help your boss out by keeping the transition out of your job as smooth as possible.
Offer to help train your replacement. Create guides on how to do your job duties. Finish up last minute tasks and outline how to distribute your job duties to others as you make your exit.
Tie up loose ends with your position. Your boss will appreciate it and it will be helpful should you ever need a recommendation letter or if a future employer gets in contact with your former boss.
In addition to making sure the transition is smooth with your job, you should also make sure the process is smooth for you. Wait until you have a job offer in writing before you start celebrating and telling your boss and co-workers that you’re leaving.
I’ve had a few encounters where I was verbally offered a job, but later on it dissolved. Since I had a side hustle and projects of my own to work on, I was able to move forward without too much of a setback.
Dedicate some time to your doing an overview of your finances. Budget for unexpected expenses that might pop up as you transition out of your job and into another. Consider any expenses you might incur with your new job like if you’ll need to buy new clothes or spend more in gas with your commute.
Be prepared both in your job and your personal life during the transition from one job to whatever new opportunity awaits you, whether that be a new job, starting a business, or taking on something new.
How have you made sure to leave a job on good terms? What did you do to prepare for the transition?
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Totally agree I did several jobs and I can say that I am glad to keep in good terms with every single boss I had:D
Good points. You never want to burn bridges as you might at some point come back and you don’t want to make a negative impression on someone you might see again in your industry. Also, you don’t want to have a bad reference.
I’ve given every job that at I left at least a two weeks notice. It’s the principle. I don’t want to burn any bridges.