If you’ve come to the end of your time in a given job, then it can be difficult to break up amicably. If you’re resentful or hostile to your employer, or your term ended acrimoniously, then it’s easy for those negative feelings to spill out onto your former co-workers. This might not be what you really intend, and it can actually cause your career significant harm in the long-term. This goes especially if you want a positive reference to present to future employers, or if there’s a possibility that you’ll one day want to come back.
Of course, you might have warm feelings towards the people with whom you’ve been working. Before you set out in search of pastures new, it’s worth trying to articulate those feelings. Let’s take a look at how you might do just that.
Say goodbye to everyone
If you’re selective when it comes to your goodbyes, then it might be taken as an insult. People might try to interpret an oversight as a deliberate slight. The easiest way to avoid this is to simply say goodbye to everyone – whether you were on good terms with them or not.
Bring a goodbye hamper
To soften the blow of your leaving, you can bring a goodbye hamper into the office. If you do your research and find out which tasty nibbles everyone is interested in, then you’ll earn yourself extra kudos. There are a few staples that are guaranteed to go down well. A chocolate hamper will usually please everyone.
Hand out your personal number
If you want to stay in touch with people, then give them your number. You might remain part of any informal groups on WhatsApp or other platforms, provided that they’re not officially associated with the business.
Don’t leave work unfinished
If your colleagues discover later that you have left work unfinished, then they’re sure to be displeased about it. To avoid this, make sure that you’ve tied up every loose end. If you want extra points, then you might leave explanatory notes, so that your replacement can get up to speed more quickly.
Don’t bad-mouth the company
It can be tempting to vent your complaints about the company after you’ve left it. This is a particular danger during subsequent job interviews. Don’t fall into this trap; it’ll almost always backfire on you.
Give HR feedback
If you do have complaints about your time at the business, then it might be a good idea to offer them to the HR department. Constructive feedback will allow the business you’re leaving to address any longstanding issues, and potentially make life more bearable for those doing your job in the future.
