The time has come. You’ve sailed through the application process and multiple rounds of interviews. You received an offer of employment. Now it’s time to say farewell to your current employer and colleagues. Does the thought of leaving fill you with dread? Are you confused about what to say and to whom? What’s the appropriate amount of notice to give? Here are the steps to help you plan your endgame, reduce stress, and exit gracefully.

Provide Notice

Once you’ve received an official offer from your new employer, you’ll want to schedule a meeting with your current boss. Even if you are leaving with animosity or regrets, it’s best to communicate face-to-face with your current employer. To keep the meeting professional, outline what you want to say in advance, and focus on the positive. Highlight what you’ve learned and what you’ve contributed and be sure to thank your boss for the opportunity.

Next, you’ll want to discuss your notice. Two weeks is standard, but if your position is highly specialized or comes with advanced responsibilities, you may want to provide more notice. In the public sector, if a list exists for your job classification, your position may be quickly filled. However, if no list exists, it may take months to recruit and fill your position. To leave on good terms, be flexible and offer as much notice as you can.

Write A Letter of Resignation

After the meeting is over, you’ll want to write a letter to your immediate supervisor recapping your conversation. Use the outline you created for your meeting to draft the letter. Be sure to include any agreements made around training a replacement, handing off projects, and the date of your last day of work.

You may want to share why you’re leaving, for example, you’ve decided to join the Peace Corps, go back to school, or your spouse has been transferred. Don’t share though if you’re leaving because you missed out on a promotion, are fed up with the work, or dislike your boss or co-workers. Keep things positive. You want to leave your boss with a good last impression because you may need to call on them in the future for a reference.

Share the News with Your Coworkers

For many of us, coworkers become like a second family. When you notify your boss, ask if they will send an email to your colleagues. If no formal notification process exists, ask if it’s okay for you to share the news with your coworkers. When your boss approves, tell your coworkers. This is best accomplished by more face-to-face interactions.

Again, focus on the positives, memorable projects you’ve worked on together, things your coworkers have taught you, and how they’ve helped you grow in your career. Mentioning that your new job will involve a shorter commute, a step up the career ladder, or new and interesting challenges is okay. But resist the urge to boast. You want your colleagues to miss you, and perhaps be inspired to make their next career move, not resent you.

Attend Your Exit Interview

Many organizations provide employees with the opportunity for an exit interview in their final days. If your experience with the agency culture, reporting structure, and working conditions was positive, you should highlight what worked and why. If some things made you less satisfied, share this too, but remember to keep it constructive. If your inclination is not to share because you think nothing will change, remember your colleagues who will continue to work for the agency.

Again, outline what you’re going to say before attending the interview. This will help you organize your thoughts and share the ideas you have for improving the organization. Don’t overwhelm your interviewer with suggestions. Focus on two or three initiatives, programs, or policies and not people. You don’t want to bad-mouth leadership or colleagues, and policies and programs are easier to change than people. List the challenges you saw and mention possible solutions. For example, if your town has few affordable/easily accessible gyms and you think employees would benefit from an onsite gym, mention this. If you notice a high turnover rate among people in their first year of work, suggest a mentoring program for new employees. Leave on a positive note by thanking your interviewer for listening to your ideas.

In “How to Quit Your Job Without Burning Bridges” Len Schlesinger, a professor at Harvard Business School, says “The bookends — how you start and how you end — are the most important parts of any professional relationship.” Unfortunately, most people spend more time focusing on first impressions and give almost no thought to their last. Leaving your job well requires as much sensitivity and planning as doing your job well. We hope outlining these steps will help you leave well.

Have questions about this article or want to share your own tips for making a graceful exit? Email us at info@mynpsj.com.