It sounds silly when you say it out loud. After all, if you’re leaving your job, what do you care what the old boss thinks of you, right? Well, in reality, leaving on good terms is better for your career — and it doesn’t hurt to leave a trail of people who wish you well, instead of a wake of destruction.
Sean Ogle over at Business Insider has some great tips for folks who want to leave their jobs and stay on the old boss’s good side. They all boil down to the same thing, though: Be cautiously honest, and be prepared for any response.
For instance, he offers an anecdote from his own job history, in which he didn’t quit, but asked about a work-from-home arrangement.
“I pitched a remote agreement and got this back: ‘We will not accept your proposal, but we will accept this as your resignation,'” he writes. “Be prepared for this response.”
For folks who aren’t seeking to arrange new contracts with the old company, or to bluff their way into a different position, a lot depends on why you’re leaving. For example, Ogle advises workers who want to move on from their first job out of college to be honest about their motivation, and not to feel like they owe their employers for giving them a chance. He advises Gen Y workers to communicate clearly about their desire to have more experiences, and leave knowing that they’re making a good choice for their careers in the long run.
Budding entrepreneurs might find themselves in a similar boat. Once again, communication is key, especially if you already work for entrepreneurs in a small business environment.
“They’ll get it,” Ogle says. “Trust me.”
(Photo Credit: leesean/Flickr)
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