After a few years in the working environment, you realise that people will always come and go, especially if you stay in a company for a while. You spend so much of your life at work that at times you might question where you are heading in life. People are changing jobs frequently these days and changing careers every couple of years is becoming the norm.
One thing that’s common over the years is how people act when they resign or leave a role. People leave a job for many reasons whether it is for a new job or to follow a new direction. But it is how they act after they resign which can leave a lasting impression on those left behind whether it be good or bad.
Whether you love your job, hate it or feel somewhere in-between making the final decision to leave your job often brings mixed emotions. The decision to change jobs, or to leave your role is driven by personal reason so there is no one size fits all approach. What you can do, however, is craft an exit strategy to help you strategically leave your job in a way that you feel comfortable with and without chaos.
So, if your values no longer align with management, or you crave an opportunity that better utilises your expertise and ultimately brings you more joy, it may well be time to start planning an exit strategy to leave your job the right way and give yourself the best chance of future career happiness.
Why is Important to leave a job strategically?
Just up and leaving your job leaves you and your employer in a difficult position. You’ll have no paycheque whilst unemployed and job seeking. For your current employer, having an employee quit can have significant repercussions if that employee holds a business-critical role that no one else can cover.
Leaving a job in a strategic and professional manner with valuable connections is critical, especially when you might need to call on your current employer for a reference in the future to land your dream job.
Here are a few tips to help to leave a job on a good note:
- Identifty the root cause – why are you leaving your job?
If you are ready to quit your job, there is probably one burning reason that has tipped the balance for you. Clearly understanding why you are leaving is the first step in creating your exit strategy. Is it your core role, the management team, company culture, your colleagues or the sector as a whole that no longer works for you? Are you happy in your job but feel the need to leave to grow professionally, to learn a new aspect of your role or to get the promotion that you want? Do you want more money? Do you want the same money but less responsibility? Is there an cultural or environmental issue in your job that you feel uncomfortable with? You need this clarity for yourself, remember this is your career and it is up to you how you lead yourself in that career. As you go through these questions you are likely to think of other reasons for leaving your current role. The important thing here is to name the reason or reasons why you are making this decision as that will inform the rest of your exit strategy. However, if you are sure leaving the organisation is the right choice, be clear on whether you are looking for the same type of role again or something different before putting yourself out there.
- Let your manager know first
Many times people who have told their colleagues they are leaving before talking to their managers cause chaos. The office gossip/rumour mill can run wild when there are people leaving so make sure you have the courtesy to talk to your manager first before they find out from others. Whether you have a great supportive manager or one you don’t get along with, your manager deserves the respect to hear about it from you and in turn they can help come up with a strategy to help transition over your notice period. Also, it is important you say the true reason for leaving. The truth will always come out in the end. Don’t lie saying you are leaving for health or personal/family reasons and need time off as when you start a new role and update your LinkedIn account, it will leave a bad taste in your last companies mouth. Be honest with why you are leaving as the world is small. Lying doesn’t help anyone so be true to yourself and provide a honest genuine reason to your manager as to why you are leaving.
- Allocate time to your job search
Each week allocate a block of time across the course of your timeline for functional tasks. Break your time allowance into weekly slots that deal with short-term basic tasks, and more complex long-term ones. The basic short-term tasks include; Updating your CV, developing your interview technique, getting to grips with the job market, setting up job alerts with IrishJobs and researching companies and industries with opportunities for you. More complex long terms tasks inlcude; Preparing for interview by learning to tell the story of your career, starting or intensifying your networking within your industry or professional bodies and connecting with people who may be in a position to open doors for you. These more evidence focused aspects of your job search are highly important. Ideally, each of the short-term tasks should be completed before you start to submit applications or make contact with recruiters. The more complex long-term tasks should be started and remain ongoing throughout the job search.
- Remain focused in your current role
It is very easy to take your eye off the ball in your current role when searching for a new job. There are those who slack off as soon as they resign and those who keep working. It is better to keep working and leave your role in a great place for the next person as when you leave you are leaving a legacy, whether good or bad, that legacy is how you will be remembered. Also, there is a major mistake, staying motivated and engaged despite your intention to leave is much better for you in the long run. So, consider if you need/want to upskill, reskill or retrain is this possible to do in your current workplace, or what opportunities are open to you? You might also consider creating a handover file of what you do, how you do it and include workflows etc. This makes a massive difference to the person who does your job and most employers really appreciate it. If you slack off then your colleagues or team will remember the extra work they will have to do once you leave. Spend this time wrapping up any projects, finishing off any action points or write notes down which might be important for the next person.
- Don’t bad mouth your last manager or last company
Just because you are leaving as you are not happy doesn’t mean you need to push your feelings onto others. Your experience in the workplace is your experience. Negativity feeds negativity which is why some people leave roles around the same time as all they are doing is being negative about the role/company together. You might feel like walking out the door or feel like making a scene but all that will do is make you look bad at the end of the day. Others might see things in a different light and may not share your experience. Try to leave without burning any bridges. Try and remain positive so that your reputation after you leave is also positive. As Nelson Mandela said, “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies”. Let go of your bad experience and look forward to your future.
Whether you’re preparing for a career move or great opportunity, a thoughtful exit strategy gives you clarity, confidence, and a sense of closure. It sets you up for success, not just for what comes next, but for how you leave this chapter behind.