Eight ways to leave your current position

Man walking away with briefcase

So you’ve accepted a new position, that’s great! But we all know that leaving a job can sometimes be awkward. Whether you’ve loved or hated your job, you want to leave on a high. We recently took a look at some of the best ways to impress throughout the application process, offering tips to enhance your LinkedIn, CV, and impress at the interview stage. Now that you’ve landed that dream job, here’s a few tips to make sure you’re leaving your old position gracefully.

1. Don’t tell your colleagues before you’ve told your manager

You’ve just landed a new job, so you’re probably bursting to share the news with your team members. But it’s not the best idea to speak with them before you’ve had the conversation your boss. For one thing, it’s just common courtesy; imagine your manager hears that you’re leaving through the grapevine? It’s not only awkward, but highly unprofessional. Finding this out second hand isn’t the best way to end your professional relationship. Wait until you’ve had this initial chat before speaking with your team.

2. Don’t burn bridges

Go out in style and try your best to help with as much as possible. You have a network of colleagues around you and you never know when your paths may cross again – creating a strong lasting impression is one of the most valuable things you can do.

3. Give adequate notice

Legally you’ll have to work a notice period, but even just out of courtesy, it’s never a good idea to drop everything and go! You’re not obliged to work any longer than your notice period of course, but try your best not to leave your team in the lurch. They’ll need time to find a replacement and you don’t want to make things harder than they need to be.

4. Complete a handover

When you’re moving into a new role, its standard practice to complete a handover – try to make this as detailed and informative as possible for your replacement.

5. Remain positive

Whatever your personal feelings have been about your current job, remaining upbeat in your last few days means you’ll be able to leave on a positive note. Talk about how much you’ve learned, and try to focus on the benefits from your time with the company.

6. Get your colleagues’ contact details

You never know when you’ll need to call upon your former colleagues, and it’s great to keep in touch with your network. Offer out your personal e-mail address and make sure to connect with your colleagues on LinkedIn.

7. Finish strong

Don’t fall into the trap of getting sloppy in your last few weeks! You want to make sure your colleagues and manager are left with a great lasting impression of not only your skills, but your professionalism and work ethic.

8. Ask for a reference

If you’ve left gracefully, you should be rewarded with a strong reference from your employer. Make sure to ask for this before you leave the role. It’s also a good idea to get them to endorse you on LinkedIn so that you can publically showcase how wonderful you are!

At Progressive, we’re here to help you every step of the way on your journey towards a new job. And once we’ve managed to help you find your new role, we’ll be here to help you get ready to move on. Get in touch with our dedicated recruitment team to find out more about our consultative service.

 

How AI is transforming the Oil & Gas Industry

13 Jun 2022

Companies in the oil & gas sector face a harder path to decarbonisation that other organisations in the Middle East. Artificial intelligence could be key to solving this – improving efficiency and reducing emissions, while opening opportunities to scale new clean energy offerings. Find out more.

Saudi Arabia set to be the world’s fastest growing economy and what this means for the talent landscape

15 Sep 2022

According to IMF forecasts, Saudi Arabia is poised to join the trillion-dollar club this year, largely spurred by the global spike in energy prices, especially crude oil. The Kingdom’s economy registered in the first quarter of 2022 a nearly 10 percent increase in GDP, compared to the same period last year. Read on to find out what this means for KSA's thriving talent landscape.

MENA invests big in wind energy

29 Nov 2022

MENA region is beginning to invest big in wind power projects. In this article, we look at the how this industry is shaping in the region and what countries are leading the way

Net zero carbon emission: Where does the GCC stand?

04 Mar 2022

The GCC is in the middle of a transition and the first step towards a sustainable future. Read on to find out how to achieve zero-carbon footprint and how the GCC fits in.