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Quitting: How to Exit With Grace

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.


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  • Photo_user_blank_big

    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.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    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??

  • Ila_cute_max50

    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.

  • Picture_006_max50

    Elorraine

    about 1 month ago

    860 comments

    I wish all employees would have read this article, so insightful!

  • Fh000001_edited-2_small_max50

    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.

  • Shermel

    Bluelily

    about 1 month ago

    104 comments

    Great advice. It better to leave a good impression then a bad one.

  • P1000545_max50

    kamcgee

    2 months ago

    2 comments

    Terrific roadmap for the graceful transition - true for moving positions within current company as well!

  • Lori_crop_max50

    LoriLShaw

    2 months ago

    2 comments

    Absolutely! Anuradha, you are a great model of your own advice!

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    Salma

    2 months ago

    34 comments

    A Good Read!

  • Roxanne_at_desk_with_glasses_max50

    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_closeup_max50

    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.

  • S010_bella_sol_max50

    Insanitek

    2 months ago

    302 comments

    Excellent recommendations!

  • Angie_max50

    AngelaK

    2 months ago

    408 comments

    Great pointers.


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