Them’s The Breaks: How To Leave Your Job On Good Terms

6 do’s and don’ts

It goes without saying that this week has been one of the craziest in British politics. In the last few days, the Prime Minister has lost the support of his MPs and is set to resign in the Autumn. This comes as a shock to the 87% of Britons that didn’t think the Prime Minister would offer his resignation. 

Whilst 60% of Britons thought Boris Johnson should resign, it seemed like the Prime Minister was going to hold out until the bitter end. 

But if you find yourself in a similar situation to the Prime Minister then you need to figure out how to leave your job on good terms. Here are some red flags that might help you out.

Tell Management of Your Decision

Do: 
Once you know your leaving, write your letter of resignation and deliver it to Management or HR. If necessary, sit down with your boss or HR to discuss your reasons for leaving and to put a transition plan in place. Be professional and courteous, but don’t be clear about your reasons for leaving. 

Don’t:
Be unclear about your current position or intention to leave. This can cause a lot of confusion and have an impact on your ability to continue to do your job effectively until you’ve completed your notice period. Always be clear and effectively communicate where you currently stand.

Provide a Clear Notice Period

Do: 
When leaving any role, it’s important to work with management to outline your notice period. This helps you and your company to set clear expectations for when you leave and to put an effective exit plan in place. Once your notice period has been agreed you’ll be able to plan around your exit making it a smooth and stress-free transition.

Don’t: 
Be vague about when you expect to leave. Not having an end date in place can make it difficult for you to manage your remaining responsibilities and for management to begin looking for your replacement. Setting a clear exit date can make the leaving process easier for all parties involved.

Get Your Files in Order 

Do:
Before you leave, take some time to review any projects or tasks you’re currently managing. Are there important documents you should share with your team or interested parties? Are your files easily referenced? Can someone easily pick up where you left off? All of this can help ensure a smooth transition.

Don’t:
Forget to give your successor or management access to everything you previously handled. A structured handover can ensure that all projects are seamlessly handed and that important issues or files can fall through the cracks.

Finish Strong

Do:
Finish the last of your role on good terms with your co-workers both personally and professionally.  Make sure to complete any and all projects you can before you leave and provide a clear outline for your successor. Everyone at the organization should feel that you left well, not that you were escaping your current situation.

Don’t:
Be tempted to slack off the last few days on the job or cause issues with colleagues. Allowing your productivity to fall or causing disruption will always cause more harm than good. See-through any projects and develop an efficient handover to leave a good impression.  

Leave Well

Do: 
Be respectful. When leaving a job, it’s tempting to talk about your experience. While many of us hope for a positive work experience, some might be negative. But before your take to Twitter to call co-workers out, take a breath. Be cool, calm and collected throughout your notice period and beyond. 

Don't: 
Call out co-workers or management. While it’s fine to critique your former employer, avoid making unsubstantiated claims or engaging in things like name-calling - it could come back to haunt you. Don’t say anything you wouldn’t want an employer to see or it could hurt your progress in the future. 

Reflect on Your Experience 

Do: 
Be honest about your experience. Reflect on everything  – the good, the bad, and the ugly – while still maintaining your professionalism. Break it all down - Where did you do well? Where did you go wrong? What can you improve on going forward? These are all important questions that can help you develop personally and professionally beyond your finished role. 

Don’t: 
Take your experience for granted. Whether you left your role for positive or negative reasons, there is still a lot you can take away. Reflect on everything you learned from the experience - good and bad - and use that to make positive changes in the future.

Christine Macdonald is the Founder of The Hub Events. Christine started her career in sales and marketing, moving into learning and development over 15 years ago. She’s got a keen interest in employee engagement, performance management, and learning evaluation. Connect Christine Macdonald