First impressions are critically important to your career – but so are last impressions. If you decide to quit your job, the attitude you leave with is important. Possibly more important than the one you came with. Your final impression is likely to be the only one you’re remembered by. If you were an all-star employee, but left with a bad or lazy attitude toward the work, that’s the legacy you leave behind. Here are some tips for making sure you’re remembered well.
1. Don’t take it with you.
You know that Ricky Scaggs song ‘You Can’t Take it With You When You Go’? (No? Really? Just me?) Well, that line is incredibly true for anyone leaving a job, but especially for cleared personnel. We all have that desire to take our work with us. That sense of possessive accomplishment comes into play when you think of the hours put into the job. But as much as you’d like to take some of that intellectual capital with you, if you get caught taking your company’s intellectual property, or even worse, the government’s classified data, you could lose your clearance or even end up in jail. Many are those unwise souls who emailed themselves an ‘FOUO’ document or a computer program that just so happened to be sensitive. When in doubt, leave it behind. You probably won’t need it after all. (And while you’re at it, leave the stapler and that box of post-its, too).
2. Finish every project you can.
It’s going to be easy to flake the last two weeks. Fight the urge to come in late and schedule every medical appointment you’ve missed in the past ten years. Keep attending meetings, as pointless as it may seem. And actually contribute. You don’t need to be the star of the show, but if you have a good idea, bring it to the table. Don’t just sit on your smartphone updating your new workplace on your online profiles.
3. Don’t rub it in.
Maybe you’re leaving because of a toxic workplace, a crabby boss, or a terribly low salary. Your coworkers may know the harsh reality, but you don’t need to tell them about the career paradise that awaits you. It’s generally okay to be a bit coy about your next work location (this is easy if you work in the intelligence community – you can always use the trusty, ‘if I told you, I’d have to kill you‘ line). Depending upon the size of your industry, there’s always a chance someone you know applied for the same position. If asked point blank, go ahead and reveal where your career is headed, but don’t gloat.
4. Leave a roadmap.
It’s unlikely your replacement has been identified, but leaving a guideline for the next person to fill your shoes is a great idea, as well as leaving comprehensive project notes for any ongoing and unfinished work. In addition to a final meeting with your boss, schedule meetings with any subordinates or co-workers you work with regularly. It’s also a nice courtesy to notify vendors or colleagues in other companies you work with frequently.
5. Say Thanks.
Even if your job was truly horrendous, there was likely some redeeming factor, or something you learned. If possible, include a short ‘thank-you’ in your resignation letter and reiterate it in any final conversations with your boss. Even if it’s as simple as ‘thank you for the opportunity to advance my career’ – because it did advance you into the new opportunity you’re pursing.
6. It’s all about the attitude.
In your last two weeks, it’s really all about your attitude. Try to keep a smile on your face and a good perspective. This can be incredibly difficult, especially if you’re leaving under less-than-ideal circumstances. But it truly will be the legacy you’re remembered by. Take everything in stride – even bosses or coworkers that try to get nasty as you go out the door. Be the bigger person, keep a smile on your face, and whistle while you work yourself right out the door and onto your next amazing opportunity.
