http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118583492772882721.html
Building solid bridges generates more than a rosy reference letter when you resign. It can boost your future job prospects. "Leaving well is a basic career competency," observes Dory Hollander, an executive coach at WiseWorkplaces in Arlington, Va. "If you leave on a high note with connections that are real and true, you create opportunities for yourself down the road."
In the 11 years that I’ve been in the full-time workforce, I’ve had jobs totaling all five digits on one hand and then some on the other. Needless to say, I’ve had a lot of experience resigning.
Admittedly, 10 years ago, when I resigned from my first “real” job, I didn’t exit as gracefully as I could have. In fact, being the fresh faced 21 year old that I was, I thought it was my civic duty to ream my lazy, fingernail-cutting-on-the job, reading-Yachting magazine all-day boss during the exit interview. The guy eventually retired a few years later, so I never saw him again after I exited the building.
However, three years ago when I quit yet another job, I left in a somewhat civil, if frosty, manner. In reality, I left for a much better opportunity and much more money. But my desire to leave was precipitated by a disagreement on how our department ought to be run. My former boss still threw me a “Sad to See You Go” party and asked to call me after I left, which of course, I said, “Suuuuure!” The phone call never came and I wasn’t disappointed. However, this time around, I did see my former boss….at a conference sponsored by my new employer, a large professional services firm. I didn’t know she was going to be one of the guests and she didn’t know I was going to be one of the panelists. Needless to say, it was very awkward during the Social Hour. Did anyone notice? Hard to say…. We tried to be congenial while at the same time avoid each other.
Lesson learned: Be nice to your former boss or colleagues on your way out because you WILL encounter them again.
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