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Professionally Leaving a Job
The way you leave your job says as much about you professionally as the impression you make on your first day. Arabian Woman has all the tips you need to move on with dignity. Know Your MindThe first step is to decide whether or not you really want to leave. Is there just one aspect bothering you, such as low wages or a personality conflict? If so, you need to have a frank discussion with your manager. It might be worth looking at moving to another department, or negotiating a raise rather than leaving completely. According to Mona Ataya, Marketing Vice President at regional recruitment company Bayt: “All problems in the workplace are solvable if both parties are interested in a resolution,” she says. She recommends communicating properly with your manager and HR department, and working out a plan with a six-month trial to see if the situation can be fixed. “Just like problems do not arise overnight, solutions, too, take time,” she says.But sometimes, leaving is inevitable. There are three reasons why people usually resign; either they want a complete change, have been offered a better position, or hate their current job. All have potential pitfalls. The first reason tends to make leaving the easiest. If you are throwing everything in and starting again, then you already know that your current job is not right for you. It is also easier to stay on good terms with your employer, as there are fewer reasons for hard feelings. Make sure that you have thoroughly researched the viability of what you want to do next, and have the skills necessary to change career; it can be harder than it looks. Leaving for a better offer elsewhere can be difficult. You may feel guilty, and that you owe your current company for opportunities they have given you. Get over this, or they could take advantage when negotiating your leaving package. You don't owe them anything apart from respect. Be polite but firm, and be honest about where you are going. Check out your legal obligations first; many contracts in this part of the world have non-competitive clauses that restrict who you can work for in the future. Ensure before you resign that you are legally able to take the dream job you have your eye on. Also, check that the new offer really is better. Will you really develop or is it just more money? Weigh up all the options to make sure that it's really a move forward, not just sideways. If you hate your current position or company and just want to get out, don't jump the gun and resign in anger before lining yourself up a new job. Make sure you have somewhere to go to, then take a deep breath and prepare to behave well on the way out of the door. You may know you don't want to deal with these people ever again, but the trick is to leave without them realising it. Once you know for certain that you are doing the right thing, prepare what you are going to say, write your letter, and pick your moment. The morning when the company has a big presentation is not it. Breaking The NewsYou need to tell your employer about your plans both personally and in writing. With both, less is more.Do not go into a resignation meeting angry or hurt, says Ataya - be calm and professional. All you really need to say face-to-face is that you would like to hand in your resignation and what date you envisage your employment ending. You will be asked why, but give as few reasons as possible. Work out what you are going to say beforehand, know how you are going to deal with any tricky questions, and stick to the script. For starters, you don't know how your boss is going to react. He may feel betrayed, upset, angry, or nasty. Be ready for anything and don't let a strange reaction throw you. It can be very tempting to speak your mind about your reasons for leaving, since you're ‘going anyway'. No matter how fed-up you might be, now is not the time to vent the frustration that you've held in for two years. Telling them everything that may be wrong with the company may make things better for the next woman in your job, but it doesn't make it any better for you. You're the one who has to get your gratuities and escape without bans or restrictions on who you can work for. More likely than not, you'll also cross paths with your current employer in the future. Hold your tongue. If you must give negative reasons, keep them strictly factual. The best response is to say that you feel the need to grow and move on, and that a new job will give you more scope to do so. Do not get personal, such as blaming management styles or lack of support; deal with facts, not emotion, says Ataya. Say a few good things about the company; it will make the weeks when you work out your notice easier. The best time to resign is at the end of the day, preferably before a weekend, so that both parties can go away and think about it afterwards rather than having to go straight back to work as usual. Don't tell the rest of the office what you are planning to do first; not only does this show a lack of respect for your boss, there is a strong chance the gossip will precede you. A formal resignation letter is a must for both of you to keep on file. Keep it brief and positive, says Ataya, saying why you are resigning and what date your resignation is effective from. Overstate your happiness with your soon-to-be-former employer. Even if you are running as fast as your legs can carry you from the worst job on earth, thank them in writing for the opportunity and give a ‘nice' reason for moving on. Never put anything negative in print, and wish the company luck. This may seem hypocritical, but trust us. You may need to call on these people for a reference, and this letter will be the first thing they see in your old file. “Remember, anything you commit to writing can, and likely will, come back to haunt you,” says Ataya, whose company Bayt provides free and confidential online assistance with writing resignation letters and preparing for an exit interview (contact her at feedback@bayt.net). Resisting TemptationIf everything up to this point has been amicable, there is a good chance that your company will try to get you to reconsider, especially in the Middle East where replacing people involves more cost and travel than in the West.The possibility of a counter offer is one reason you should be calm and professional in the resignation meeting, points out Ataya - it leaves the door open for a more attractive offer from your boss. If you are interested, listen carefully, clarify the offer (Ataya suggests making notes) and then take time to think about it before making a decision. There are two schools of thought about counter offers, which can sew seeds of doubt in even the most determined of resigning employees. They can sort out single issues; if the only reason you're leaving is for more money and they offer you a pay-rise, then yes, you could take it and be happy. But chances are, your reasons for leaving are deeper than that. And if they aren't, then there are more professional ways to get a pay-rise than by holding your company to ransom. And besides, do you really want to work for someone who only appreciates you when you are walking out of the door? It can work, but often those who accept a counter offer - better money, higher job title, nicer hours - leave shortly anyway, finding nothing really changes. If you do accept, bear in mind that your profile at the company will also have shifted; they now know you were thinking about leaving, which may effect your chances for future promotion. On The Way OutBe as careful what you say to other people as you were to your boss. Do not go around the market bad-mouthing your soon-to-be-old company. If you're job hunting, it will impress nobody. Any potential employer will be aware that next time around, it could be their company that you are talking about. It will also make you seem the nasty party, no matter how badly they've treated you. And if the company and its products were that bad, what were you doing there?Be positive to co-workers as well as outsiders. These people will be forwarding your phone calls and emails, and may soon be asked what you were like to work with. Don't be rude about your current job - the rest have chosen to stay there - and don't brag about your new position. If anything falls through, you'll be left looking foolish. Giving adequate notice is the professional way to behave; it gives your company time to replace you and gives you time to find something else (if you haven't already). Not giving notice may also prevent you from collecting your full gratuities. One month is standard for this part of the world, but check your contract - you may be tied to more, and your next company may not be happy waiting three months for you to be in a position to move. On the other hand, you can give more notice if you think your current employer deserves or needs it, and you're in a position to do so. But know what your legal responsibilities are and if relations sour, offer to work it from home. If you're unhappy to the point that you can't spend a minute more in your office, chances are they won't want you around corrupting the rest of the staff either. Know what you're financially entitled to, and speak to the accountant, HR or your boss to make sure you get it. Labour laws for many countries in the Middle East are available on the Internet, and from many law firms. Leave everything in good order. Offer to train up your replacement. Tie up loose ends and leave your files in a way that others can easily understand them. Talk your supervisor through your documents so they know where everything is, and leave a contact number for queries. No doubt you are excited about your new opportunities, but stay focused on your present job until the end. You want people to remember you as a good worker, not someone who left a mess behind for everyone else to clean up. You may also want to contact the people you deal with in your job and let them know that you are moving on. This saves confusion when they all phone looking for you over the next few months. The best way to do this is a general email, saying that you are moving on, giving new contact details and advising who will be dealing with them from now on. Resigning can be scary; you're letting go of something safe for something slightly uncertain. Leaving a job on the wrong foot can lead to rumours, difficult situations and a bad reputation professionally. But handling it well will leave you with good contacts, a good name and above all, the knowledge that you handled the situation as best you could. This is a small part of the world; you will run into the same people again and again. The more grace you conduct yourself with, the better note your future career will start on. |
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