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How
to Leave a Job Gracefully
Imagine a co-worker
who trashes his cubicle, plays practical jokes on his replacement
and slinks off with the copier on his last day of work. Is this
a person you'd recommend to a prospective employer? Or expect your
company to rehire? Or want to work with again? Probably not.
We can only
hope that the reported antics surrounding the Clintons' White House
exodus are untrue, because bad behavior - from a chief executive,
no less - degrades the employment experience for the rest of us.
When faced
with leaving a job, it's best to exercise decorum, whether the move
is voluntary or forced. To make the best of an awkward situation,
here are some tips to remember:
Keep
your mouth shut.
Leaving a job (like ending a personal relationship) is strictly
a private matter; and waving your dirty laundry serves no purpose.
Stay
cool.
Even in the context of a "confidential" exit interview, there's
nothing to gain from scorching the Earth.
Keep
your distance.
Soliciting support (or fomenting dissent) from your co-workers might
create the impression of a conspiracy or coup d'etat - and unwittingly
implicate innocent people.
Burn
bridges at your own peril.
The company you left yesterday may need your services tomorrow.
If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it.
Sure, it's easy
to be gracious when everything's rosy. But it takes an extra dose
of character to act like an adult when the going gets tough. If
you're ever caught in a sudden employment shift, try to maintain
your composure and consider the consequences of your actions.
Workplace trends
like flexible schedules and casual Fridays may come and go - but
good manners are forever.
Otherwise, Shakespeare
wouldn't have written, "A person is remembered for his entrances
and exits."
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