Leaving a Job Heres Your Professional Exit Strategy - FlexJobs

Leaving a Job Heres Your Professional Exit Strategy - FlexJobsLeaving a Job Heres Your Professional Exit Strategy Leaving a job is like breaking up with a significant other. Whether youre parting on good terms or bad, whether you still loved your job or couldnt wait to get out,partingcan be an awkward time filled with professional mines that you dont want to step on.To get through your next professional exit with your dignity and networking contacts intact, heres our quick guide to crafting your best exit strategy for leaving a job1. Giving NoticeThe traditional two-week elendice is still very much encouraged for anyone quitting their current job. If you can and want to give more than two weeks, thats fantastic, but otherwise, two weeks is standard. Notify your immediate supervisor(s) and then your immediate co-workers of your departure.2. Who To Tell, and WhenIts important to make sure that your immediate supervisor(s) find out first, and through you, not through the grapevine. Depe nding on your industry, you may want to tell them the day before you plan to abflug your two-week notice, and in others, you can tell them as far ahead-of-time as you think is warranted.This really depends on your relationship with your boss and the nature of your work. You really have to feel out your situation to determine what is best. Once your supervisors have been given notice, its generally acceptable to tell your workers.3. Telling Co-workers Before the BossSometimes its impossible to plot your exit strategy without a bit of support from the inside. Tell only one or two very close, very trusted colleagues if you need their advice on giving your notice. It can be beneficial to get advice from someone who knows your bosss style or knows the company culture well, so you know how to proceed.But if youre just telling colleagues because youre excited to leave, wait until after you tell your boss. Otherwise, the rumor mill may beat you to it.4. Offering Transitional HelpBefore you leave, should you offer to help train your replacement, or help your team transition to work-life without you? This is always appreciated, both by the new hire and your current boss. You dont have to stay solely for the purpose of training the new person, but if you have the time and inclination, this can be a great way to leave on a positive note and to set the tone for your connection with your boss after youre gone.5. Working Overtime to Finish Your ProjectsShould you feel obliged to stay late or work weekends just to finish up your work? If you have overdue projects that should have been done already, or theyre ones that you have a unique perspective on, then devote as much of your time as youre comfortable with to finishing them.But no, if the projects are proceeding on target and there are other people involved with them, its not necessary to stay late or work weekends to finish them before you leave. Just make sure you update your teammates and boss as the status of your port ion of the project, and connect any of your contacts with the person who theyll be working with after youre gone.6. Being Available Once Youre GoneOnce youre officially off-the-job for good, is it really necessary to be reachable by your old boss or team if they have unexpected questions? While a very nice professional courtesy, its not required. If you want to offer your contact information for future follow-up, its a very nice gesture that will be appreciated, but its by no means required.The time frame should really be only for a few weeks at the most. Anything longer than a month is taking advantage of your kindness.Leaving a job comes down to this Everything you need to know about quitting a job you learned in kindergarten (thats how the saying goes, right?). Be kind, be courteous, and be available. But dont be a pushover.Looking for a new job? Check out jobs in over 50 categoriesReaders, are you leaving a job? Have you left a job in the past? Tell us your comments