High-five, the salary negotiations are over, and you’ve formally accepted a new job offer. Now there’s only one thing standing in the way of your new gig: your old one.
Here’s how to exit your IT job on a positive and professional note.
Give Adequate Notice
Once the ink has dried on your new contract, set a meeting with your boss to give your official notice. Two weeks’ notice is standard, but it’s a considerate gesture to provide more time, depending on your contract.
If the company is known to show employees the exit once they give their resignation, don’t give more notice than two weeks. In this case, it’s best to prepare yourself well in advance by tying up loose ends, downloading the files you need before making your formal announcement.
Conduct Exit Interviews
One of the techniques we recommend clients do is conduct a series of informal exit interviews with peers, supervisors, and people you’ve supported in your IT role.
Ask for actionable feedback, positive or negative. Remember to keep your cool if you receive negative feedback, don’t argue, offer explanations, or get defensive.
Tie Up Loose Ends
Try to complete the projects that you’re currently working on. Even if finishing requires more hours than you would like to spend on your current job, it’s your responsibility not to leave any loose ends (or, if it really can’t be wrapped up in two weeks, leave detailed instructions). It’s not only for the sake of the person who will be replacing you, but it’s essential to your professional reputation to leave a job on a high and positive note. Nothing shows gratitude and accountability like a job done well—and finished.
Offer to Train your Replacement
IT is such a rapidly advancing career field; there’s a good chance your paths will cross again with your coworkers. By offering to train your full stack developer replacement, for example, then you’re earning gold stars all around. Offer to help screen resumes, sit in on interviews, work with the new hire, or create a manual for your position. It will go a long way to leaving him or her with a lasting impression.
The overall goal is to exit your IT job gracefully and under the best possible conditions. Think about how you can leave your team and supervisor in an excellent place to continue the work without facing significant challenges you could have prevented. Reestablish good working relationships with your peers and supervisors to foster the most positive career conditions you can.
It may sound simple, but it is: default to doing the right thing in any particular situation. By doing so, you’ll reap the long-term benefits that can follow you for decades in your IT career beyond your current position. Showing gratitude and professionalism will make sure they’ll remember you fondly (whether or not you can say the same for them).
If you are looking to make a move from your current IT role, contact INNOVA people today.
