Question

What is the best way to leave a job on good terms? I have worked for a company for 15 years, and recently got an offer that was too good to pass up. But I do care about the people I'm working with now, and I don't want to burn any bridges.

Answer

Dear Concerned,

Congratulations on your new opportunity! It looks to me like all your hard work has finally paid off - just not at the same company. While I can appreciate that this makes you feel a little bit uncomfortable, do keep in mind that this is a business decision above all else - you are simply doing what's best for yourself and perhaps your family. If the company you currently work for was offered a fab buyout, would they be as worried about you as you are about them right now? 

Still, we all should strive to leave a tidy desk (and unburned bridges) when we move on to bigger and better things. You can do a number of things to ensure that there is a smooth transition from one job to the next.

Aside from giving the customary two-weeks' notice, fabby suggests that you: 

• Write a personal, positive letter of resignation. This is something that will end up in your permanent employment record, so make it as positive and all encompassing as possible. Tell your current employer how much you've enjoyed your experiences with the company, how much you've grown and how much the people have meant to you. Cite specific events or milestones that were memorable and gratifying to you. Tell your current employer that you wish the company well in its future endeavors. 

• Offer to stay until a replacement is found. If you have a little more leeway than the customary two weeks, offer to stay until a replacement has been found for you. My only suggestion with regard to this option is that you put a definite time limit on it -- I've seen some job searches go on for months. One month is sufficient time for a replacement search to be in final stages.

• Offer to train the new hire. Does your job have lots of little nuances or responsibilities that aren't necessarily part of the job description? Are there components to your work that you can document either in flow chart or written format? Offer to do whatever you can to make the new hire's learning curve easier. This will definitely keep you on good terms with your soon-to-be-former employer. Who wouldn't think kindly of you if you left a detailed notebook or presentation for the new kid on the block?

• Offer up a fab candidate yourself. While you're considering whether to accept a new job, start thinking about people who've impressed you most over the years. Should any of them be considered for your job? Do you have a friend or colleague outside of the company who would be a fab candidate? Make a list of potentials for your boss as one of your "parting gifts," so to speak.

• Think of everything from the company's POV. Consider your current employer's point of view: You are working there to perform a specific and necessary task. But you are not irreplaceable, sorry to say. Most companies understand that you must look out for your own best interests. Gone are the days of company loyalty - and of retiring from the same place after 35 fab years of work! Statistics say that most professionals change jobs every five years or so - and companies know this well. Your leaving may not be as big a shock as you think!

Katina Z. Jones is President of Going Places Self-Promotions, Inc., a nontraditional resume service for both corporate and individual clients with an unprecedented 98% success rate in securing interviews. Katina is author of career books such as The Adams Businesses You Can Start Almanac (Adams Media Corp., 1996), Succeeding with Difficult People (Longmeadow Press, 1991) and co-author of the forthcoming The Women's Guide to Running an Exceptional Business. She is an award-winning journalist and has written hundreds of articles for major newspapers. 

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