Good etiquette for leaving job

Tim Robbins

Hi,
I haven't changed job in a while but will be now.

What is good etiquette for leaving a place?

In terms of telling people, not acting like a d*ck etc., not getting people's backs up?

Cheers

dshamrock2000

I'm finishing up this friday myself, Im just going to have a lunch on friday before I leave and i'll send around a quick mail to thank everyone for their help and leave my contact details etc. I'm going to try and leave as quietly as possible because you never know when your paths will cross again in the future.

Eoin

Your manager might want to tell people in a meeting, or may not mind if you go ahead and tell them in your own time. Depends on the place.

It's sort of obvious stuff really: don't take the piss during your notice period (coming in late, just surfing the web all day etc), be as accommodating as possible to anyone you need to hand over stuff to, don't bitch about the place or people you're leaving.

mikemac

Your boss might say will I say this in the next meeting or do you want to handle this yourself and that's your choice.
Either way, the boss will tell the team leaders and it'll be around the office like breaking news on twitter. Team leaders love to talk

One of the lads/girls might organize a last supper for you. Don't be bothered if nobody does

Be careful in the exit interview. HR is not your friend even if the lady is friendly and seems keen to listen

When you hand in your notice doesn't have to be a strict set date. Like if you're heading off travelling and want to hang a few extra weeks then the boss may let you. That's a good sign, if they wanted you gone they'd say no way

My post is full of sweeping statements, just what I've always come across

Eoin

mikemac wrote: »

Be careful in the exit interview. HR is not your friend even if the lady is friendly and seems keen to listen

I know where you're coming from - but some people can be a dick about it (on both sides). HR might take it personally, or the person leaving might just rant. Neither are constructive!

the_syco

Personally, I work the notice period after giving in my notice as if nothing had changed. Organise drinks on the last day if it's Friday, or to meet up on the Friday after you finish for drinks. On the last day, bring in a box of sweets. This allows you to wander about offering sweets to people that you wish to talk to.

Most places allow you to take the piss on the last day, to a degree. You won't be fully expected to do the usual full workload in most places, but do come in on time.

The exit interview HR is usually to cover their own arses to ensure you're not leaving due to them being muppets. And if you are leaving because they are muppets, don't let them know :P Nod, smile, say you are expanding your career, and don't say anything bad, in case your new job goes to sh|t and you want to come back to the current job.

Irish_Elect_Eng

If you do want to keep your options wide open this is an approach that I have used in the past.

(1) Before announcing to you boss that you are leaving put together a hand-over plan. Listing all the tasks that are in your space, their status, contacts, etc. provide details of where all the information related to each project can be found. Outline in the plan how you will hand over the tasks to others. This will reduce the impact on your direct boss and ease the transition of your work to your replacement.

(2) Clean out all personal mail from your work email archives and store them somewhere your boss can access them the same should be done for all files on your work computer.

(3) Provide contact details (Phone + Email) and make it clear that you will be available to discuss any projects that you were working on with the new guy.

(4) Make yourself available for 1 day post leaving to do a hand-over if they are hiring a replacement.

(5) If you are on Linkedin, write your boss and other key people that you enjoyed working with a recommendation. (Providing that they deserved one, false praise stinks to high heaven)

(6) Give a single clear reason for leaving, one that does not reflect badly on the company.

(7) Do not get into the counter-offer game, once someone says that they are leaving trust is broken, staying for more money will just make you look like a mercenary.

(8) When handing in your resignation, it does not hurt to add a couple of lines thanking the company and your boss.

(9) Be generous with your notice period if you can, if you are going traveling for example give two months notice if possible, it will allow them time to hire and you can help train in your replacement.

(9) Ask people to be your future referees in person before you leave.


That's all I can think of atm.