Now that you have a job offer, you're going to have to give notice to your present employer. Don't get your knickers in a twist over how best to go about it! Just as you wanted to sway potential employers with your astounding skills and abilities, you want to leave your present employer with a good impression.
Last impressions are as important as first. This truism is doubly important in the legal field where "everyone knows your name." People talk, and when they're talking about you, it's important that the conversation remain positive. The time between the announcement of your resignation and your last day is a prime opportunity to ensure that today's coworkers become tomorrow's dependable references and contacts. Here are just a few suggestions as to how to go about it:1
Time to Get Ready, Freddie. . .
- Know when it's time to move on: Working for someone is a dating relationship, not a marriage. At some point, unless you are a partner, it's probably time to move on to bigger and better things. It's just the reality of today's workplace.
Don't Cause a Storm, Norm . . .
- Never leave in a huff: No matter how perturbed you may be or how much angst you have, it's never a good idea to walk off a job. Take a walk around the block instead. The legal field is a very small community. Trust us on this one. You're not going to want to burn any bridges.
- Take a look at your current skills: Are your skills up-to-date? Have you been in one job so long that you have failed to familiarize yourself with the three Ts: technology, techniques, or tactics? Before you quit, make certain that you have marketable skills. Do you know what practice areas are hot now? Are you in a dying practice arena and without cross-training into other specialties? Are you aware of how paralegals are utilized in other organizations? Is it time to finish your degree or certificate? Do your computer skills extend beyond word processing? Can you maneuver your way around, across, and through the Internet? Check with local headhunters to find out about current market conditions. Don't jump the gun on giving notice. It's best not to announce your departure until you've landed a new position for a couple of very good reasons:
- You are more marketable if you are employed.
- Some companies have an immediate termination policy, particularly if you are going to a competitor.
- And, if your skills aren't marketable, you may have a long wait between jobs!
Don't Try to Look Back, Mack. . .
- Don't get fooled by counteroffers: Remember why you decided to leave. If the issues go beyond the dollars, a counteroffer from your present firm does not always mitigate other issues. If all that was needed to make you really happy was a few more dollars, you may want to reconsider leaving. Other than that, ask yourself, "Once I get used to the salary increase, will other problems causing me to leave now cause me to leave again?" For example, "are they going to get rid of that old battle-ax down the hall or not?"
Create a Truce, Bruce . . .
- Mend broken fences: Make peace with any adversary. Take her aside and mention a few things you enjoyed about working with her. Keep the conversation short and sweet-or write a personal note. Can you be accused of playing politics here? Sure! However, we'd rather see you leave your employer in a positive framework, com-plete with colleagues sorry to see you go. That's really so much better than that beastly dancing in the hallway the moment you are about to become a mere memory.
Extend Your Hand, Fran . . .
- Build lasting bridges: Admire a particular colleague? Have a particularly close relationship with a coworker? Take her to lunch and let her know. Drop her a note mentioning what you learned from her. So what if you kept getting passed over while she got all the goodies! Get over it. At least you'll leave on a positive note with a new best friend.
Write a Good Plan, Stan . . .
- Prepare a detailed status memo: Nothing is worse than to leave colleagues confused about what you were doing. Take time to write a detailed memo that outlines the status of your current assignments, past cases, or matters that have a probability of surfacing. Don't leave thinking your successor will automatically get up to speed. Leave your job in an orderly and organized fashion.
Try to Leave Clean, Dean . . .
- Leave your desk in order: Make certain to leave your desk neat, clean, and organized. Return all borrowed books, equipment, and the what-nots you borrowed from Susie in 1979. Perk up or-what the heck-throw out any dead plants. Answer all required letters and memos. Finish up every last assignment as time allows. Dust those window sills, and get those chocolate fingerprint stains off that computer. That last impression is as important as the first.
Respect the Firm, Herm . . .
- Take only what you are allowed to take: Being an employee with the firm or company does not mean the tools you used, such as books, Rolodex, equipment, computers, post-its, or coat trees, belong to you. Do not take anything with you, including forms or client files. If you are not certain about an item, ask the appropriate authority.
Hire a Good Guy, Sy. . .
- Hire a great replacement: If you are asked to hire your own replacement or to participate in the process, make certain that the person you hire is right for the job. You won't score any points by being remembered for approving the hire from hell.
Put on Your Tie, Clyde. . .
- Firm up outside contacts: Use the news of your departure and successor's arrival to reconnect with former clients and suppliers. Vendors, in particular, can be very supportive and helpful. They have inside knowledge of the industry you never dreamed possible. You may want to let them know where you'll be landing. They can be critical to your future success.
Know When to Go, Flo . . .
- Give proper notice: Two weeks' notice is standard. If you feel that more notice is warranted, try not to go longer than 30 days, no matter how long you've been with the firm. You're a "short-timer," and anything beyond a month is too long for you, your new employer, or colleagues to handle.
Pick up Your Files, Miles . . .
- Make certain you are aware of what is in your personnel file: Many states have laws that protect employees' rights to access to their personnel files. Be sure that you know what is in your file before you leave. In most states, you are entitled to copies of your performance reviews. Take copies of "kudos" letters (correspondence in which clients, colleagues, or supervisors have acknowledged your good work). In this day and age of reference reluctance, it is very hard to get a firm or corporation to commit to anything more than name, rank, salary, and dates of employment. You may need these reviews and letters for future job searches.
Have a Good 'Tude, Dude. . .
- Maintain a positive and professional attitude: Stay positive and professional while you are a short-timer. Continue to behave in a professional manner right through the time you leave. Don't start coming in late, leaving early, or using up your personal days because "it no longer matters." You'll only put pressure on your colleagues to pick up your slack and work overtime or harder to compensate for your attitude. This may account for the growling you now receive in lieu of "good morning." Your attitude could be the final impression your coworkers remember, and it's so much nicer if the memory of you is pleasant.
And Set Yourself Free.
- Ace the exit interview: Anticipate questions about the firm and its staff. Be prepared to answer why you are leaving. Be sure to be diplomatic. Although the exit interview may seem like the time to spout off all those things you have been saving up for years, don't say anything you would not want repeated. And above all, think before you take aim. Offering suggestions to improve systems or operations is one thing, but harshly criticizing someone revengefully is quite another. Before decimating someone, be sure to ask yourself, "what purpose will this serve?" Leaving thoughtfully with an eye toward the future is the only way to go. Here's to outrageous success! Best of luck in your new endeavors!
