The Bragging: I handed in my resignation last week. I have a job offer too good to pass up that I accepted; it is a position with better opportunities for advancement, in the career field I went back to business school to get into, it pays better, and it gets me out of the industry I’m in, which is a dead end.
The job I’m leaving: Before business school I was in IT. I moved over to operations and continuous improvement about a year and a half ago and I’ve seen my stock with the company rise. Our facility has become the model facility for the rest of the company and I’ve had the chance to make a positive impact for both the company and for our site’s employees.
The Awkward: Over the last year and a half, one of my new responsibilities has been to organize and facilitate the quarterly performance reviews for our facility for the VP and SVP of Ops and others. Guess when the next such quarterly review takes place? That’s right, this week. In fact, this quarterly review will be watched by the managers of five of our other facilities, as well as the VP of Ops for that half of the company (different VP from the one coming to visit). The site manager still wants me to conduct the presentation (I’ve already compiled the bits done by others and performed the analysis I normally do). But it is going to be a little awkward telling these folks how well things are going, what the future plans are to continue to improve, and what areas still need improvement all the while everyone in the room and on the teleconference knows I’m leaving.
Eh, what’s the worst they can do? It may be a little awkward, but at least I’ll get to go out with a high note as we’ve crushed our goals for the 1st quarter and have every expectation to do the same for the 2nd, with or without me.
I wouldn’t feel awkward about it, if I were you. If your job/field is a dead end, then everybody there *knows *it, even if they won’t *say *it. I’m sure they’re happy that you’ll be making more of yourself at your new job than you can where you are. The worst thing you’re likely to encounter is jealousy from co-workers (people in my department get this, for the few who are ambitious and lucky enough to get out).
It’s a different business climate than it was 50 years ago. Nobody expects employees to be permanent anymore. In fact, if you stay in one job for too long, your wages will stagnate and people will start to wonder what’s wrong with you that you “can’t” get promoted or a better job elsewhere.
When I handed in my resignation at the bank I used to work at, my boss told me, “As you know, standard procedure would be for me to call security and have you escorted out now. But, unfortunately for you, I can’t run this place without you, so I’m going to have to make you work out your notice.”
It was the most flattering thing she’d ever said to me.
Several times when transferring jobs/companies, I’ve been asked to stick around for a bit to do important work. I’m fine with that - I don’t like leaving things a mess, and I like finishing my commitments.
As my career progressed, I’ve learned how many of these same people I run into at other places…and how much respect I apparently earned by being “professional” about it. That turns into recommendations and future jobs.
Folks have been very kind and wished me good luck. A few 'take me with you’s as well. Both my boss and my dotted-line boss who has been a mentor over the last year has been incredibly supportive about everything. Mostly there’s just one person that can be kind of a jerk face and I’m interested to see if that one behaves like a professional or if shows ass.
Thanks. We’re on the same page. I don’t like leaving things unfinished and have been working extra hours since I turned the notice in to get things under control and wrap up a couple of projects. I want to make the transition as smooth as possible. My leaving isn’t a knock on the people I work with, or the company, simply too good of an opportunity to pass up. Folks understand that, I think so it hasn’t been negative.
I don’t think it’s awkward at all. You’re leaving at a perfect time. You can do the quarterly review since you have been there for the quarter, and you can give them all guidance for what to do after you leave. What would really be awkward is if the last quarter went really poorly and you had to make a report on that and then walk out the door.
It’s always weird leaving a job no matter what the reason. It’s like leaving a family.
