Eight ways to leave your current position
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.
