A recruiter contacts you about a new opportunity, you decide to take a chance and submit your resume and the next thing you know, you’ve flown through the interview process and landed a new job!.

Although you’re advancing in your career, you know that switching companies can be a delicate process. The last thing you want to do is alienate your former colleagues.

Here is the best way to gracefully leave your job and capitalize on your previous role.

Tell your boss in person

Before you tell anyone else, you need to meet with your manager. Don’t create bad blood by letting rumors spread. Remember that your boss will be your best reference, so you want to be courteous in disclosing this information.

There’s no need to go into extensive details. Keep your reasons for leaving brief. If you’ve found a new opportunity that will advance your career, they will understand. Companies know that their employees may leave at some point for various reasons – new opportunities being one of them.

Always do it in person. Remember to ask how they prefer to bring up the news of your departure to your colleagues.

Give proper notice, but be prepared to leave earlier

Set an exact date as your anticipated final date. Best practice is to give at least two weeks after the date you’ve notified your employer. Employee contracts vary, so revisit your contract to make sure you’re allotting the expected amount of time.

It’s possible that your manager won’t want you to stay the full two-weeks. Depending on your culture, plan for an early leave.

Connect with colleagues and clients

To prepare everyone for the transition, it’s a good idea to let your co-workers know. You can send a departure email and add everyone to your LinkedIn if you haven’t already. It’s also a good idea to notify any clients and let them know that you’re departing; especially since you don’t want to sever ties with your out-of-office network. They can also provide testimonies for your skills later on.

If possible, wrap up any projects you have since it’s your responsibility to tie any loose ends. Your professional reputation is at stake if you leave half-finished assignments that get sent to your former colleagues. A job well-finished speaks for itself. If it’s something that can’t be completed in two weeks, make sure to equip your colleagues with the resources they’ll need to finish it for you.

Are you looking for your next big opportunity? We recruit in hospitality, senior living, real estate and civil engineering. To learn more, reach out to us at info@jdisearch.com