by Adrian Owens

Created on: May 11, 2010

“Oh God! I hate my life”. If this is your mantra to get through your day at work, it may be time to look for another job. But how do you leave your job gracefully especially when the adjectives hatred and loathing commonly enter your mind. 

First, remember the sage words “Don’t burn your bridges”! Why? Because you are going to need your current job for a reference for the next 10 years to include in your job history. Thoughts of installing a file-erasing virus into the system should stay just that: a passing thought. Same for telling the Director of your Department what you truly think of his new policies. Yes, your actions do follow you, for years to come. 

If you are required to provide a minimum amount of notice before leaving the position, make sure you allow that amount of time before starting your new job. Don’t spend your remaining time with the company “bad mouthing” your coworkers or managers. Take this opportunity to complete assignments, organize files, and inform your team, if working on a group project, of your imminent departure. The more organized your files are and information you share before leaving your current position will guarantee a complimentary reference. You don’t want to be remembered as a disorganized mess, who wasn’t a team player, leaving the company in the lurch by being non-communicative.

Once you are positive you are leaving for other employment, take the time to tell your direct report supervisor. You would not want them to hear about it through the company grapevine, they being the last to know. A letter of resignation should be written to thank your current employer for the opportunities it provided in allowing you to grow in knowledge and experience. Briefly recounting a specific positive incident will make your letter of resignation memorable.

When it is finally time to depart, prepare your work area for the next inhabitant. A fellow coworker left for new employment and the next day when we arrived at work his desk looked as if he was still employed with the company, there were files and papers strewn about. The manager had to assign someone to clean his desk off and organize his files resulting in more than a disparaging word being said. Of course you want to take your personal effects with you and make sure the top of your desk is clear or organized at the end of your last day of work. By doing so will show you understand how to gracefully leave your job.

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