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Remember, once you give notice, your company may decide to terminate your employment at any time, so don't leave your preparations till the last minute.

Personal Obligations:
If you've recently borrowed books, CDs, DVDs, or other items from a co-worker, return them as quickly as possible. Some companies will not allow former employees back on their property once your employment has been terminated, and it may be difficult or uncomfortable to meet with a former co-worker socially. Return borrowed items early.

Company Obligations:
Try to complete current projects or leave detailed and organized notes for works in progress. If your job isn't project based, try to draw up a step-by-step instruction manual for your replacement. It will streamline the training process for you if you're retained for your final weeks, and will help your replacement in performing their new job. Remember, you may not feel that you owe the company anything, but that's no reason to take it out on someone who's just trying to make it the same as you are.

Your Benefits:
You may be leaving, but give your employee handbook one last look-through. Can you cash out unused vacation and sick days? Are you fully or partially vested in your company's 401K or other retirement plan? Will the company allow you to use your vacation and sick time as your final two weeks? Does it specify that you need to give more than the usual two weeks notice? Read through your benefits plan carefully. Some questions can even be asked at this point, if they're carefully phrased.

Memorobilia:
Since your employment will be questionable after handing in your resignation, start packing up as early as you can. For minimal exposure start putting knick-knacks in a drawer and clean your desk thoroughly. If someone acts suspicious you can honestly say "just decluttering" and continue.

Once your items are out of sight (in your drawer) you can begin taking them home with less chance for exposure. The goal here is to have few enough personal posessions that you can stuff them into a single bag on your last day. Keep a bag in your pocket or purse at all times. You can also use this time to write down the extension numbers of anyone you would like to keep in contact with since there may not be an opportunity later.

It's a lot of work to do when you haven't even given notice yet, but even if the company allows you to stay for your full two weeks, life will be so much simpler since you did all of this ahead of time.

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