| Author | Message | ||
     Ratbuell |
...maybe it's Catholic guilt, but I always have a hard time quitting a job. I have a better one lined up, ready to go. Had the easiest interview EVER - it's with a manager I worked for about 20 years ago, who's putting our 'team' back together now that life has brought us all full-circle (he'd left town; a coworker got married, started having kids and quit working; I changed industries completely; the company owner retired - but now the manager is back, coworker's kids are grown and she's working again, and I'm game to get that mojo back that we had years ago). My (new/old) manager lit a cigarette and took a drag. Took a second one. I looked at him and said "OK...?", expecting him to say something. He said "Great, when can you start?" But I have to quit the job I have now. I've been here six weeks, and we'll just say there's lots of reasons I'm leaving. But I'm still having a hard time coming up with how to start my exit conversation. I know. I'm stupid. But I'm not the type to burn a bridge, even when I know damned well I'll never need it again. I guess I just need to take the band-aid approach, and simply take a breath...and rip it off in one quick motion. Any suggestions or thoughts? Anyone else have this issue? | ||
| Uncle |
Like most things in life, the less said, the better. If they press you for a reason, be honest but polite. Don't name names. | ||
| Aesquire |
Long experience tells me to try and make a clean break. Last time I gave generous notice, I was fired. And got unemployment insurance after going to court. Which was a far worse bridge burning than just giving a week notice and expecting the possibility of missing that week pay. It's also the policy many places to get rid of people leaving to reduce drama, their disloyal attitude from affecting other workers, theft & sabotage. It's not without reason. Best is to empty your desk of personal stuff beyond one armload, ahead of time, leaving a camouflage to reduce the "tells" you are leaving. 1 or 2 weeks is polite, but you need to figure that you may be asked to leave immediately. Leaving a clean workspace with few loose ends and ready for your replacement is polite. But if it's going to be a sh%$storm anyway? I think it's slightly better to announce on Thursday that tomorrow is your last day than to announce Friday you won't be back Monday. It's impossible to avoid any hurt feelings. Just try to be reasonable but not to the point you screw yourself. Good luck. | ||
| Ratbuell |
My plan is to go with the "ran into an old manager and he's putting our team back together". I can't be too vague - we're going to have contact in the future, same industry, same town, lots of shared work...but I'm not going to volunteer much at all. If asked, I won't lie, but I'll shade both parties as much as I can (honestly, I got head-hunted by my old boss from this current position). I guess it is what it is and I just have to rip off that band-aid. | ||
| Ratbuell |
band-aid worked. Odd when they show zero surprise and don't ask any questions at all...but, it's done. On to bigger and better (and more profitable)! With better hours to boot! | ||
| Sifo |
My plan is to go with the "ran into an old manager and he's putting our team back together". Sounds like a good plan. It's never a good idea to burn a bridge. It's a small world sometimes. | ||
| 86129squids |
Glad it all worked out, Joe. Happy Trails! | ||
| Ourdee |
Well, I about missed this thread. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Should have told them you're going on strike. | ||
| Rick_a |
I loved the last job I quit. I relocated out of state. I sprung it to them last minute. They were like family to me, I loved the position I had attained, my hours were good, and I was making decent money. They simply wished me luck, and simply told me that if I needed anything, to ask. | ||
| Court |
First: Read the Buell Principles. Second: Be honest and tell them you have been presented with an opportunity that evokes your passion and is simply too good to pass up. Third: Thank them. Be sincere and honest. Fourth: Respect them. Ask what works best, 2 weeks notice or perhaps something else. Fifth: Offer to be part of the process that brings value to the short time you spent with them. Offer to train, help train, prepare a short summary and notes. Sixth: Follow those steps and you will be leaving with the bridge strengthened, rather than diminished. Summary: I work and live in a a world where relationships are King. Some of my closest allies, when I get my back against the wall, are former co-workers and employers. Life, not just work, is a network. I just finished working with 7 packers from the moving company here at the farm. I bought the entire crew lunch and tip and thanked every worker . . . including those who spoke not a word of English. The packing is done and I wanted all this nice people who packed all those original John Lennon stuff to be begging to be the ones to return and load the truck. | ||
| Ourdee |
1st, Court, Where can I find the Buell principles? 2nd, I have always been up front when removing myself from a work force. 3rd, Thankful and not short on pointing out what is right. 4th, Only time I left without notice is when I read the memo between the upper managers that were letting me go without notice to try and trim heads. When asked if I was giving them 2 weeks notice, I asked the president of the company if they were planning on giving me 2 weeks notice. Nice when your family cleans the place on the weekends. They wound up having to hire two people to do what I did. I was the shipping department, quality control, trimmed all the printing plates, made late night deliveries, and was apprenticing under a 73 year old hand tooling/repairing magnesium plates and proofing them before they were used to make molds. I left on Friday and started at Chrysler on Monday. I retired from there. 5th, At FCA I trained my whole department to do my job before I left. Same at the wrecker place I drove for. 6th, I was asked 2 days ago to come back and train all the new wrecker drivers. | ||
| Ratbuell |
The Principles were on a plaque in the factory - I don't recall them off the top of my head, but I do remember they all made sense. Aren't they in a photo in the book? If not, I can dig through my archives - I know I took a photo of it during one of my factory visits... Second - exactly what I said. "I ran into an old manager from years ago; he's getting our team back together and asked me to join, and I told him I would". Third - when it was over, I shook his hand and with eye contact, said thank you. Fourth - he volunteered, when I said he wanted me back as soon as possible, that I could work through this week and be free to go. Fifth - as always, I asked if he would like me to do anything before going or if I could help in any way. I assured him I would not "coast"; I've been doing anything but coasting. It's just my work ethic. |
