When you’re ready to move on and pursue new opportunities, it’s important to place some time and attention on how you exit your current job. Of course you’re excited about the new offer, but you want to make sure that you don’t burn a bridge with your current employer as you go. It’s possible that your current boss will be called as a reference for you later on, so you want to ensure that there are no hard feelings as you depart. To exit without burning a bridge, keep these tips in mind:
Understand that there may be anger at first
Particularly when you’ve worked for an organization for a long time, your boss may feel angry or hurt when you announce your departure. Fight the urge to return this anger with hard feelings of your own, and instead make an effort to understand where they’re coming from. Over time your manager’s anger will most likely subside, and you’ll probably be able to maintain a pleasant relationship.
Give as much notice as possible
One major reason working relationships go sour is because the employee announces their departure just days before they start their new job. This leaves managers high and dry when it comes to finding a replacement, and can cause them to form a negative opinion of the departing staff member. In order to keep the relationship pleasant, do the respectful thing and give your manager as much notice as possible. This gives them plenty of time to find and train your replacement.
Offer to help with training
In order to make the transition seamless and to show your continuing commitment to the company, it’s in good taste to offer to train your successor, ensuring that they know exactly what that position entails and can do it perfectly from day one. This prevents miscommunication and errors from occurring as the new person gets accustomed to their role.
Take care of any legal obligations
You want to make sure that your departure is buttoned up legally, preventing your manager from having to chase you down in order to sign paperwork after you’ve left. In order to keep the relationship with your soon-to-be former employer pleasant, take care of any necessary legal details before you leave and make the transition easier for everyone involved.
As you depart, you may also consider writing your employer a note thanking them for the opportunity and explaining what made you enjoy your stay with their organization. This shows your appreciation for your time with the company, and illustrates that you’ll continue to think of that business in a positive light, even when you no longer work there.
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