Career Tips >> Browse Articles >> Career Changers

Career Tips >> Browse Articles >> Workplace Issues

+10

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.


+10
  • Photo_user_blank_big

    lisajford

    1 day ago

    2 comments

    Awesome article-- this really helped me

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    ag_21pmb9ji2xr7d3nut

    about 1 month ago

    6 comments

    Try to leave showing professionalism, yes. But there are always exceptions. Every case is different
    and calls for different actions. I had to leave a job I had been with for a rather long time with very little notice in order to take advantage of a wonderful opportunity. My old company was undergoing lots
    of changes, not all for the better. So I was leaving a negative place for a positive place. And, I had to
    burn bridges. Hard decision, but I made the correct one.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    camikat2

    about 1 month ago

    4 comments

    Sure wish I would have read that the morning I lost my job.
    Might have helped me think before I acted.
    Very good advice.

  • My_image_004_max50

    Tamara

    about 1 month ago

    28 comments

    I love the positive energy, I hope that next time someone offends me: I will learn from the situation and not hold onto judgements of me. I have had a habit of taking comments to heart and that had hurt me in the past. The reult I stopped being positive and outgoing! I regret telling my co-workers because I looked like the one with an attitude. I let that frusturation build up and I let go by sending an e mail stating what this person has done and said to me. The hard part this person denied ever sayin these things to me! I smile and I stay to myself and now I am cautious because I was hurt. I continue to strive to be as spiritual as I can. I am involved with postive outlooks for my community. It is unfortunate that I have to see this person everyday and how that person has lied and direspected me, I continue and I don't give in to this persons negative comments. I have learned it takes a great leader to walk with pride and be humble to continue that positive walk. Now that I am focused and not so side tracked, I got to be careful who I share my ideas with and let people see me and not the judgements and assumptions of me, I am grateful for prayer and that I am a natural born leader and inspirational person. I humbled by this person and it was a rude awakening. I pray that I don't ever have to experience this again:) I am here in life to inspire and get people to see there leadership in themselves. I love and respect me today. Lessons in life I wish I had more control over and not give away power to others. This is my downfall. I am determined to not let that power go from me in a negative way again.
    I am grateful for the suggestions I will say a thank you note to those who saw my positive side to me, I will feel better about this once I get that done.Thank you

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    freecherry

    2 months ago

    24 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

    2 months 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

    2 months 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

    2 months ago

    844 comments

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

  • Fh000001_edited-2_small_max50

    LindaG

    3 months ago

    92 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

    3 months ago

    118 comments

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

  • P1000545_max50

    kamcgee

    3 months ago

    2 comments

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

  • Lori_crop_max50

    LoriLShaw

    3 months ago

    2 comments

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

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    Salma

    3 months ago

    32 comments

    A Good Read!

  • Roxanne_at_desk_with_glasses_max50

    JobSearchCoach

    3 months ago

    52 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

    3 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.

What's the Scoop?

Post a link to something interesting from another site, or submit your own original writing for the WomenCo. community to read.

Report News Here

Recent Activity

Photo_user_blank_big
Anonymous posted in: "Forgiveness or Revenge", 5 minutes ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
hcarter95 received the quiz result of "Your movie boyfriend is Indiana Jones", 26 minutes ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
Anonymous posted in: "Stalked?", 26 minutes ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
hcarter95 received the quiz result of "Madonna Rocker", 31 minutes ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
hcarter95 received the quiz result of "Media Savvy", 33 minutes ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
hcarter95 received the quiz result of "C-list Celebrity Assistant", 40 minutes ago.
Waterfall_max30
jgatten uploaded the photo: "BBQ at Michaels 014", about 1 hour ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
Anonymous posted in: "Is he cheating?", about 1 hour ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
LizC joined the group "NEW BUSINESS OWNERS", about 2 hours ago.
Chris_rabel_loving_her_prizes_max30
Miss_Mary_Kay commented on: "Monique L.", about 2 hours ago.
Chris_rabel_loving_her_prizes_max30
Miss_Mary_Kay commented on: "Sherrie Dunn", about 2 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
zuqueen received the quiz result of "Traveling the World", about 2 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
zuqueen received the quiz result of "You are a Saver", about 2 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
zuqueen received the quiz result of "Money Master", about 2 hours ago.
65_kj_max30
65_KJ posted in: "Nelly Bly; another- modern day", about 3 hours ago.