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Quitting: How to Exit With Grace
Anuradha Mayer | WomenCo.
September 10, 2008
So, you’ve made the big decision to leave your current company and start your next adventure. You probably gave considerable thought to taking the new opportunity. Now is the time to put just as much thought into how you will leave your current company. Your goal should be leave with your reputation in tact and maintain strong relationships with your colleagues.
Consider some key strategies to exiting with grace:
• Show Professionalism No Matter What: Even if you are leaving a situation that may have been dissatisfying at times, demonstrate the highest professionalism throughout the exit process. People will remember if you do not handle the departure professionally and it may come back to haunt you. Treat people with the utmost respect and don’t say anything negative about your leaders. These colleagues are your future network.
• Transition Responsibly: Create a detailed transition plan and include recommendations on how key pieces of work should be transitioned and in what timeframe. Do not appear like a “short timer” and continue to attend meetings and interact with colleagues. Offer to be available if urgent questions come up even after you have left the company.
• Be a Class Act: Once an announcement or communication is sent about your resignation, you may receive a flurry of emails wishing you well. Respond to every single note with a personal thank you. Be appreciative of colleagues that want to get together with you before you leave or even throw you a going away party.
• Finish with Style: During your last week, send a positive goodbye note to colleagues thanking them for their support and highlighting others things that you appreciated about the company. Include your contact info or the best way to stay connected such as a professional networking tool like Linkedin.
Making the decision to resign can leave you with mixed emotions. While there is excitement about a new opportunity, there is also sadness about leaving behind colleagues and friends especially if you were a long term employee. Remember, your goal is to preserve relationships, maintain your reputation and exit with grace.
freecherry
12 days ago
12 comments
The way you choose to leave your company or even your boyfriend is all about how you behave. This is a small world we are sharing. Why make our space smaller and smaller?
People with grace and kindness will always do the right thing.
Very good advice.
lupee
13 days ago
4 comments
i had three jobs where i had to quit, but i gave them my resignation except for one job. i just quit, he denied my unemployement and giving me bad references. it doesn't look right on my applications with several jobs asking why did i leave and all i put is quit and to me it doesn't look right. reason for resignations were one the manager refused my request for a few days off. i had requested months in advance, then within weeks he refused request so i quit. second the other job lost my vacation hours and the same thing denied vacation. now how do i explain to the interviewer. without explaining all the mambo jumbo??
z03r4
about 1 month ago
14 comments
yes, show professionalism and be prepared for everything before leave, include to leave good impression to another staffs is an exact way to exit with grace.
Elorraine
about 1 month ago
860 comments
I wish all employees would have read this article, so insightful!
LindaG
about 1 month ago
64 comments
This is so timely! I heard from a friend this weekend that a former employee is trying to get back into her company. This person left on a very negative note - yelling at the manager and storming out on her last day. Guess what? It's been less than a month and the job she went to hasn't panned out. They basically lied to her about the working hours and conditions. Now she realizes that the old job wasn't so bad. She is trying to avoid her old manager by going to his boss with her request. I'm anxious to see how the company responds.
Bluelily
about 1 month ago
104 comments
Great advice. It better to leave a good impression then a bad one.
kamcgee
2 months ago
2 comments
Terrific roadmap for the graceful transition - true for moving positions within current company as well!
LoriLShaw
2 months ago
2 comments
Absolutely! Anuradha, you are a great model of your own advice!
Salma
2 months ago
34 comments
A Good Read!
JobSearchCoach
2 months ago
54 comments
Great advice, Anuradha! This is always good form, but especially in a volatile job market where your new job could just as quickly become your old job.
Caldonia
2 months ago
8 comments
Not only is leaving with grace a matter of good form, but it's also a wise career move. Twice now I have returned to companies that I had left for positions elsewhere. In both cases, I made sure I completed all unfinished business, left things in great shape, and departed on best of terms with the company. Management has a way of remembering how you left a company, and they may well recall that professionalism next time a job opening comes up.
Insanitek
2 months ago
302 comments
Excellent recommendations!
AngelaK
2 months ago
408 comments
Great pointers.