As bad as things may have become, or as much as you want to take a parting shot at your soon to be “former employer”, it’s best to bite your tongue and take the high road. These are commonly emotionally charged situations, and doing something regrettable now can end up haunting you in the future. Trust me, I have seen more than one person who has waged a small war versus a former employer, only to end up having no course for which to retreat when a much needed reference is required in the future, or when paths cross professionally in some capacity again. It happens all the time.
A recent and much publicized letter by Greg Smith was published for the world to read in The New York Times as to why he resigned from Goldman Sachs, and it was not pretty. Mr. Smith provides a quite detailed account of the reasoning or such, and at one point calls Goldman a "toxic and destructive" work environment. I’m not here to judge whether what Mr. Smith did was right or wrong, as there have certainly been supporters on both sides of the fence. However one fact that is inescapable and undeniable at this point is that since it is public, it could at some point (or many points) be to his detriment. In the same manner, a scathing letter to a former employer in writing does not go away. It may feel good to emit frustrations at the moment, but there is no telling what harm that letter could do to you and your career down the line.
I have come up with five things you want to make sure you follow when resigning from a position. Not only will you leave more dignified than if you lash out, but it will also curtail potential issues that may arise and harm your job prospects.
• Avoid publicly airing dirty laundry on Facebook or Twitter – as tempting as it may be to vent and gain support from friends and family in order to feel vindicated on a public forum such as Facebook or Twitter, DON’T DO IT! Once anything is posted online – words, pictures, feelings – they are there forever. Even if you quickly delete or recant statements, keep in mind it only takes a split second for someone viewing it to capture an image on a screen shot or with a cell phone. It may seem you are getting revenge for the moment, but these situations always end up painting you in a bad light in the end. Avoid it all costs – it is not worth the damage it will cause you.
• Do it in person – whenever possible, extend the courtesy of resigning in person, with a letter in tow that can be presented at that time so that it is in writing. There are times when it is not possible to do it in person, such as in the case of a remote employee. But most cases do allow for it, and there is just a respect factor shown when taken care of face-to-face. Often times these experiences allow for opportunities to clear the air or bury hatchets. I would just advise to not let the discussion turn into the opposite; don’t let the conversation turn into pouring more salt on the wounds or fueling the fire. This will only make the situation much worse.
• Submit a resignation letter in writing – state the date you are submitting it, the date the resignation is effective, and thank your employer for the opportunity. Do not write anything negative or disparaging about the company or your co-workers. Keep it concise, and straight to the point. I am writing this post under the pretense of avoiding the negative effects, but there are other reasons for writing a resignation letter as well. You could be relocating, pursuing an opportunity to attend school, or otherwise. In cases such as these, convey your gratitude for the opportunities you have been given to grow professionally and personally, and if possible, give your employer more than the allotted time required for notice in order to ensure they are fully prepared to transition your position without any hitches.
• Honor the commitment for proper notice – if the policy for the company is 2 weeks, then give them the courtesy of 2 weeks. Offer to assist in transitioning the position or in finding a replacement if possible. Don’t use your leaving as an opportunity to leave the company in a lurch for purposes of revenge. I promise you, bad karma will eventually find a way of appearing back at you. There are a few cases where it is warranted to leave before the suggested time period, especially in situations where hostility or extreme negativity are present. There is no reason to continue on just to fulfill a time commitment if you are going to be subject to further abuse.
• Don’t let your negative emotions show in interviews – no matter how prodded you may be to give negative reasons for leaving a previous employer, don’t take the bait! I can’t count the number of times in an interview where the candidate says the right things, but the body language and tone of voice tell a different story. Do whatever you need to do in order to eliminate the negativity attached to your last position, because if you don’t, we observe it. It’s comparable to a gray cloud hanging over you; it’s noticeable. Nobody wants to hire gloom and doom.
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