Building Your Brand as You Leave a Job New Haven CT

Leaving a job can cause a lot of uncertainty. Surely you want to feel as if you are doing the right thing. The longer you have been with a company the more connected you become; it can be difficult to let go. The unknown is scary. While new opportunities certainly offer the promise of great things there is always the other side of the coin. When you are departing and moving on to (hopefully) bigger and better things, there is a way to make a graceful exit without burning bridges.

Give appropriate notice. I know the standard notice period is two weeks. However, if you really want to demonstrate that you are considerate of others, give an additional week or two, if you are able. Providing your existing employer with a longer notice shows that you are cognizant of the other people you work with. Consider that your colleagues have plans too – maybe a vacation has been planned or someone is out due to an unexpected absence. Your consideration will go a long way in ensuring you are regarded as a consummate professional who went the extra mile.

Provide a transition plan. You know what you do on a daily basis better than anyone. Before you leave, put together a document regarding the things you do and how you accomplish them. Give your supervisor an understanding of the details of your work. It is not that your manager doesn’t know what you do; but positions have a way of transforming into other things. Invariably, you take on other responsibilities over the course of completing your work. Share information regarding the nature of the work to allow your manager to identify a suitable replacement.

Nurture your professional relationships. Just because you are leaving doesn’t mean that you have to leave your friendships behind. Perhaps you have a mentor who has been instrumental in your success – it is important to maintain your relationships. The world is a small place and many industries even more so; you never know when you will do business with these people in the future. Keep the lines of communication open as you depart. Paths might cross again.

Keep a positive perspective. Whatever your reasons for leaving, make sure you don’t leave a negative impression as you exit. If you are unhappy about something related to your specific work or something regarding the overall working environment, your departure is not the time to start slinging mud. No doubt you will have an exit interview with a human resource representative; when the opportunity presents itself you can voice your concerns in a professional and calm manner. Avoid letting emotion come into the conversation and resist the urge to spread negativity about other coworkers or your boss. Your exit should be constructive.

Pave the way for your replacement. Make sure you don’t leave things hanging. Finish projects or provide status reports to your boss regarding unfinished work. Provide detailed and organized information to allow the person who takes your position to start from a posit...

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