3 Things You MUST Do Before Leaving a Job!

I met a friend for lunch and couldn’t help notice that she was beaming with joy. She had extra pep in her step and I had to ask…

“You look amazing, what’s going on?”

With a huge smile, she happily announced, “I finally got a new job! My last day is on Friday.”

My first reaction was as a supportive friend. I gave her a huge hug, overwhelmed her with congratulations, and happily shared in her joy. She had been with her company for almost seven years, and was absolutely miserable for the last two. Getting a new job was a painful process for her and I was so happy to finally see her happy.

My next reaction was as a career coach. I couldn’t help myself. I had to ask about her exit strategy and what she was planning to do with her final days at the company. She happily admitted her plans were filled with farewell lunches and goodbye Margaritas.

I instantly realized that she had a “social” exit strategy but not an effective “business” exit strategy.

Here’s the advice I shared with her…3 Things You MUST Do Before Leaving a Job!

1) Get Recommendations

“Out of sight, out of mind” is never more true than after you leave a job. While you are still in the office and visible, you want to get letters of recommendation and online recommendations on LinkedIn. Even if you’re leaving on bad terms with your manager, you can still reach out to co-workers, other members of the leadership team, clients, and suppliers/partners.

The goal is to strike while the iron is hot. It’s much easier for people to recommend you, and say nice things about you, while you’re still fresh on their minds.

2) Get Things in Order

Sure, many people have the Jerry Maguire fantasy of dramatically storming out of the office with nothing but a goldfish in their hand and an assistant on their arm, but that really doesn’t work in the real world. Regardless of how you feel you’ve been treated, it’s never a good idea to burn a bridge.

Instead, try to set the next person up for success. Think of passing off your job in a well-organized binder or resource list, so the next person can easily follow your instructions and take over your job responsibilities. Have a conversation with your successor and explain the current status of your projects, where to find critical information, and who to call in case of emergency (not your number).

It doesn’t matter whether or not your “binder” is used or appreciated…it’s all about professional Karma. Do the right thing.

3) Get Connected

You may not be able to take projects or reports with you, but you certainly get to take relationships with you when you leave. Make sure you have all the contact information you need before you walk out the door.

Your network is everything, and it’s much easier to maintain a network than to build one when you need it. You may not need all those names the day you leave, but you may need them in the future. Rather than relying on your memory, make sure get connected on LinkedIn or Facebook or put their information in your phone while you’re still there. This includes friends, co-workers, clients, customers, and suppliers/partners.

Yes, my friend listened to her “career coach friend” and put these tips into action before she left. These three simple tips can turn your exit strategy into a successful departure, building bridges instead of burning them. Onward and upward!