Job Resignation The Right Way
This Really Interesting Article was found Here: The Careerist
As the global economy begins to improve, many people who had put job hunting on hold are getting itchy feet. But when the time comes to go, there is more to it than just dropping a resignation letter on your boss’s desk.
Why should I worry about resignation etiquette?
“Whenever you quit, you are basically firing your boss and your company,” says Stephen Viscusi, author of Bulletproof Your Job. “When you resign, you’re making your line manager look bad so you need to make it clear to them it’s not personal.”
It is worth bearing in mind that you may be causing your boss considerable difficulties because these days it is common for those who resign to not be replaced. Even in better economic times, it can take months for a replacement to begin.
“You really need to think through your leaving strategy,” says Nigel Parslow, UK managing director for Harvey Nash Executive Search. “You should resign with a high degree of humility and empathy.”
Who should I discuss my resignation with?
As well as telling your line manager, you may also have a sponsor or mentor in the company – perhaps the person who brought you in. They should be informed, too.
Once you have resigned, keep it to yourself. Your boss and your company should decide when it is going to become public knowledge. And when you do tell your friends and colleagues, you need to give them the same line you gave your boss.
It leaves a nasty taste if your “real” reason for leaving gets back to your manager – and it is far more likely to do so when people start to regard you as an ex-colleague.
What if my employer tries to tempt me to stay?
You should always listen to what they have to say because you never know what might have been round the corner. But it is worth remembering that those who accept offers to stay, especially when they are just for more money, often leave fairly soon anyway – and it can be much messier the second time round.
Why should I worry about my old boss when I already have a new job?
An amicable parting of ways will mean that any onerous contractual obligations are unlikely to be enforced. Furthermore, your brilliant new job might not work out – and even if it does, a good relationship with your old boss is something you may wish to fall back on several jobs hence.
“I still get reference calls from people who worked for me seven to nine years ago,” says Mr Viscusi.
While many companies no longer provide formal references, a boss you get on well with may give you an informal reference. Even if external factors such as a takeover mean things have worked out badly for you, you want someone who can explain why you left in a way that reflects well on you. And, of course, if you stay in the same sector, there is always a chance you will run into your boss again.
Surely it is still possible to leave with a bang?
Ten years ago, a churlish exit could be easily airbrushed out of your history. But networking sites, databases and online corporate alumni resources mean your former bosses are far easier to uncover than they once were.
You do not want to be forever haunted by an ill-considered swipe you made in 2009.
