Great news, you’ve landed your dream job and you’re itching to get started – we get it. It’s great to be enthusiastic about your next move but we want you to remember this, if first impressions count, know that how you leave an organisation is your lasting impression. If not done right, it can quickly undo all the good work you’ve done!
It’s true the same can be said of how an organisation treats you on your departure but that’s for another blog...this one is for you!
We know resigning can be daunting even if you are itching to move on. A little preparation can help keep the anxiety to a minimum and your personal brand intact. We’ve listed a few tips to consider...
We all have work colleagues we refer to as ‘work family’, sometimes like with all families we can over share from time to time. However, in the case of resigning, wherever possible we recommend that you inform your manager in the first instance, it’s more respectful regardless of your relationship or reason for leaving.
Book a meeting with your direct manager, if you are short on time, let them know it’s important that you meet and if not face to face, book a Teams/Zoom meeting.
Be prepared for the conversation. We imagine you’ve played this out in your mind 100 times, but we’ve noticed that candidates seem to be surprised that their current employer might want to offer something to entice them to stay. This is your journey, all we can say is ‘be sure of all the reasons you were wanting to move on in the first place, quite often it’s not just money!’ If you can’t articulate in your own mind, why you’re moving on you may accept the wrong enticement to stay and be back in the in the market within six months.
If you don’t want to share where you are heading that is completely fine however out of courtesy, if you’re moving on to a competitor, you may choose to disclose this without telling them who. This will give your current employer the opportunity to consider their options, have you work out your notice period, negotiate an end date or place you on gardening leave.
Always formalize your discussion with a resignation letter confirming your notice period, end date and thank them for the opportunity and lessons learnt. Wish them the best in their endeavours. A resignation letter is not the place to air dirty laundry and discuss grievances, there are 1:1’s, resignation meetings and exit interviews for that – again another blog.
Now do your job!!! This is where so many come undone. You have a notice period, work it out. These last two, four weeks, 3 months, whatever your notice period, can be enjoyable if you let them be. Remember you have internal and external stakeholder networks that still affiliate you with your current position. News travels fast, and last impressions rarely pass. Don’t fall before the finish line, you are still in the race, go out with a bang in a good way.
If you're thinking about your next move contact the team at Move Recruitment Solutions for a confidential conversation.
