Leaving Your Job? Follow These 10 Steps.
TLDR: Assuming you are voluntarily leaving in good standing, rather than burning bridges, build them. Honor your obligations to your prior employer, and do not disparage specific people or your organization after you leave. Take time off and enjoy your new gig!
Are you one of the millions of people who quit your job recently? One of 4.4 million in the US, to be more precise? Regardless of where you are coming from or the new adventure you are starting, below are some things to keep in mind.
First, a few caveats.
Caveat 1: This article is written from a U.S. perspective, where notice periods are generally very short, but the broader advice applies globally. I use the term “company” for simplicity, but the spirit applies to all employers, e.g., nonprofits.
Caveat 2: I am assuming you are resigning voluntarily, and that neither you nor your prior employer has engaged in any illegal or unethical activity.
Caveat 3: This is not legal advice and does not cover every possible situation.
With that out of the way, read on!
1. Be sure you are leaving. Sounds obvious, right? Perhaps. But many people make the decision only to second-guess themselves or sit on the fence long enough to eventually be talked out of it. Consider a simple exercise. List what you are running from and what you are running towards. If you are truly running towards something better, this step should be straightforward. But if the result is grey, consider what you can do to address what’s wrong with your current situation.
2. Give appropriate notice. Even if you are miserable, do not let your new employer or emotions pressure you into an accelerated departure or new start date. Consider that unless you are a business of one, others depend on you. To the extent your circumstances allow, give notice at least two weeks ahead of your intended departure date. (Laws or customs in your country may require much longer notice periods anyway.) Giving enough notice shows consideration for your current employer, colleagues, and customers.
3. Be open to extending your notice period if possible. This is a sticky step. You may be approached with a counteroffer by your current employer, or your current team may ask you to extend your notice period for some time. (If there is a counter offer, see Step 1.) Be very careful to not start a bidding war. Unless you know exactly what you are doing, or you are Jeff Bezos, giving an impression that money is overly important implies you are a mercenary with a short-term focus. If there is no counter offer, but your team needs you for a few more weeks (e.g., due to understaffing) this may be the right thing to do.
4. Thoughtfully transition your work. Regardless of Steps 1 to 3, be intentional and considerate about transitioning your work. Prepare a list of all your open projects, and identify a suggested owner for them going forward. It is not your responsibility to assign the new owner, but barring some complicating circumstance, your manager will likely appreciate your suggestions. If you work with external customers, coordinate notifying them with your manager and team leaders. Do the same for any internal communications. It’s up to you how much detail you will get into; typically it’s enough to say something generic like you are leaving to pursue “other opportunities.” A major exception to this is if you signed any specific agreements restricting your future employment; in this case, consult the agreement you signed and speak with an attorney.
5. Meet with your mentors and closest colleagues. These meetings should focus on building bridges. You should first of all thank your coworkers and associates for all of the help they provided. You should also (1) explain your reasoning for leaving, (2) give constructive feedback and (3) ask for advice for the future. The time of your notice period allows you to be more open with feedback than you might otherwise be. As a manager on the receiving end of these candid discussions, I have gleaned important insights that I have learned from and applied. As an employee, I have benefited from suggestions for the future. Importantly, if you leave on good terms, this is the time to confirm if the door to returning is open. Even if you have no intention of coming back, it’s always a plus to have options.
6. Write a graceful goodbye email. Give this the attention it deserves. Whether you realize it or not, first and last impressions matter. You may be tempted to write an emotional farewell that tells the world everything that’s wrong with the organization you’re leaving. Doing this will only burn bridges irreparably. Do not air dirty laundry publicly. If you have constructive feedback, see Step 5. If there is something nefarious or illegal going on, contact the proper authorities. Your farewell email is not the place to smear your prior employer. Remember, someone gave you a chance to join in the first place. If you leave a venomous farewell behind you, your new employer may wonder if they’re next. People talk, so don’t assume if you send something within your current firewalls that it will stay there.
7. Read any off-boarding documentation, and any agreements you signed when you joined. Manage this step very carefully. These agreements can include terms covering confidentiality, noncompetes, non-solicits and/or a combination of all of the above. Importantly, do not assume that projects you worked on are your intellectual property. This means, do not transmit any data outside of your company without first understanding to whom it belongs. Carefully read the paperwork you signed and consult an attorney if necessary.
8. Make connections before your last day. Ask about joining any alumni groups at your firm. Connect with as many colleagues as possible on LinkedIn or other appropriate channels. Perform this step while you are still at your old job. You will have the benefit of looking up people in the enterprise directory and understand key relationships that may be helpful later. Even if (or especially if) you are becoming a freelancer, understanding who the key decision makers are is better done before your last day.
9. Conduct your exit interview professionally and send the farewell email. On your last day, meet with the company representative, and fill out any necessary paperwork. Do not sign anything that you do not understand. Return all company assets, such as your laptop, phone, badge, etc. Make sure to send any final emails well before the close of business; you do not want your email to be stuck in the ether because IT has already turned off your access. (Remember Step 6, do not wait until your last day to write your email.) When sending the email, I suggest you BCC everyone to avoid the situation where someone hits “reply all.”
10. Take time off! If your new organization is flexible and you have the ability to have a break, do it. It’s not always possible (sometimes for the simple reason that your family depends on you for health insurance) but don’t feel pressured to agree to a start date that feels wrong. Also be careful not to start work until your first day, e.g., you should be on payroll before you attend your first meeting.
Congratulations if you’ve made it this far. The above is a long list, but if done right, it can serve you well in your future roles. You never know when a former colleague will contact you for a potential referral, or become your next customer. Good luck in your new gig!