Six Important Action Steps Before You Give Notice
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If you’re still working and looking for a new job, you’re probably focusingon the day you take that new position. That will be a great day, the startof a new career path, more money, better commute, or successfully achieving anyother job change goals.
Before you take that new job, you need to plan for another equallyimportant day–the day you give notice to your current employer. You may bethe darling of the department, the highest producer or have the most seniority,but things can change once you hand in your resignation letter.
While you look forward to two weeks of work with fond farewells, a partyor goodbye luncheon and a solid recommendation letter, the company may have adifferent scenario. Depending on your position, access to information andperformance issues that were never discussed, you can find yourself cleaningout your desk moments after you drop the letter off to HR.
So before you make your exit public, here are six important actionsteps:
1. Silence is Golden. You may have a BFF atthe office that you trusted with your personal life, but you don’t know how hewill react to this news. If he’s been interviewing as well, he can either,a.) be happy for you and keep it quiet, or b.) Let it “slip” and tip off theboss before you have a chance to break the news. You don’t want your“secret” posted on Facebook by a jealous “friend” for the world to see.
2. Get a copy of your personnel file. Youhave a right to copies of documents in your file, and should keep copies of anypersonnel actions, benefit change forms, awards or recognitions. If youdon’t have a copy of everything in your file, ask to see your file “just tocheck on something,” and then ask for copies of anything you don’t alreadyhave. You won’t have an opportunity after you leave, and it may not be aseasy after you resign.
3. Count the cost. Read the employee handbookor company policy on resignations. If you have to be employed for 12months before the company pays out unused vacation or sick leave and you haveonly been there for 11 months, you may want to delay your resignation foranother month to collect the extra payout. Do they offer referenceletters?
4. Read your original offer letter. The greatjob you did negotiating a full relocation allowance or sign on bonus may havehad strings attached. If the new job will make up for reimbursing thecompany for an early exit, go for it. Finding out you have to pay backthousands of dollars for a voluntary quit after you hand inyour resignation letter may be a huge financial burden.
5. Talk to your new employer. Once you’veaccepted the new job, let them know when you are giving notice. If your currentemployer decides to cut you loose before your two-week notice period, you maybe able to move up your start date and avoid two weeks without apaycheck.
6. The day you hand in your letter, inform anymentors or others who may be future references for you. Consideration for thosewho have helped you succeed or have been supportive strengthens professionalrelationships which will be assets throughout your career.
Do you have any other tips that you can offer? Let me know in thecomments.
Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speakerand freelance writer for communicationsjobs.net. Based inSavannah, GA, her work has appearedin Training magazine, Training &Development magazine, Supervision, BiSMagazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’snot writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus andhelping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You canread more of her blogs at communicationsjobsblog.com andview additional job postings on Beyond.com.