A former employer is a future reference. Leave them with a smile. www.jaywren.com
Resigning Gracefully: When you’re leaving a company, knowing how to say goodbye gracefully is important. Using the following steps will reduce the stress for you and avoid burning bridges with the company you are leaving.
Review You Decision
Before resigning, once again weigh the pros and cons of leaving your current company. This review will help you ensure that you are making the correct decision. Moreover, reviewing your decision will help you think your way through discussions in your exit interview.
Once you have assured yourself that you are committed to leaving, give the company two weeks’ notice. Two weeks’ notice is common courtesy. It most cases, a company expects no more than two weeks’ notice.
Remove Your Personal Property
Also, before you resign, remove your personal property from your workplace and delete your personal files from the company computers. You do not want to have your company holding your property until someone gets around to doing an inventory of what belongs to you and what belongs to your employer.
When you go into an exit interview, bring the company property: for example, keys to a company car, company laptop, mobile phone, etc. Since you have already recovered all your property, put the burden on your employer to give you an inventory of any other property they believe that you need to return.
Additionally, having your personal property in hand will make things simpler if your company decides to walk you out the door during your exit interview.
Exit Interview
Prepare for the things to do in the exit interview.
When they are preparing you leave your current company, there are benefits to attending and even excelling in the way you handle your exit interview.
Whether you are going through an exit interview with your supervisor or an HR person does not matter. Remember that the person who is conducting the interview is simply doing their job. Whether you like the way they handle the exit interview, they are human beings. There is no benefit to you for being rude or disrespectful.
As I said in the first paragraph, somewhere down the road, you may need the people involved in your exit interview to help you find you as a reference.
Firm but Positive
You should remain positive firm that you are leaving. Allow the interviewers to express their point of view. When they have finished, simply tell them that your decision to leave is final.
Politely explain that it is time for you to move on. Thank your employers for the support they have given you.
Financial Details
Do prepare for questions that you have about compensation and benefits you receive when leaving: unpaid vacation time, unpaid bonuses, and unpaid salary. Your company should explain to you what money you have coming and when they will pay you.
Furthermore, know the questions you need answering in transitioning or continuing your health benefits after you leave the company.
Continuation of Health Coverage
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) generally requires that group health plans sponsored by employers with 20 or more employees in the prior year offer employees and their families the opportunity for a temporary extension of health coverage (called continuation coverage) in certain instances where coverage under the plan would otherwise end.
COBRA outlines how employees and family members may elect continuation coverage. It also requires employers and plans to provide notice. (http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm)”
Don’t Discuss Your New Job
Don’t say where you are going to work or how much money your new employer is paying. Avoid giving any details about the function of the new job or your capacity in the new job. The information about your new job is confidential information between you and your new employer.