About a year ago, my friend (and former co-worker) Steve was having a problem with a manager. He is, or used to be, prone to bursting into flames when he didn’t like the way he was talked to or when he felt something was unfair. One afternoon in August, he had had enough with this supervisor, confronted him (perhaps even using a few swear words) and walked away from the facility, never to be seen again.
Unless you’ve already gotten another job, leaving your current one abruptly probably won’t help you in your search for a new job. Employers generally check applicants’ references, so if Steve applied for a job at a different company or decided to reapply at the company where he quit, what do you think HR will say when asked by the recruiter? That moment of “Wookie Fury” could condition his professional future for a long time. Diplomacy is mandatory.
This may be an extreme example of how not to end an employment relationship. There are also greys.
Keeping your team informed
If you’re transferring to another department, make sure your boss and teammates know your intentions to leave ahead of time (the same rule applies when moving to a different organization). Big companies have migrated to online recruitment platforms. Internal applications are now typically handled through the company portal or intranet, which has automated notification services that inform the person’s direct supervisor when an employee is exploring new opportunities. And let me tell you, I (and I don’t think anyone) likes to hear about someone leaving the team via a push notification. Unfortunately, it happens a lot. People will find out that you plan to leave sooner or later. I would prefer it to be sooner.
Letting your boss know you’re leaving doesn’t mean he or she will start looking for ways to fire you if you don’t get the job you’re now applying for. Rather, it will give the company time to find someone to take her place and make an orderly transition. In case you don’t get the job… well, they’ll keep you a little longer.
what you get from it
Informing those around you about your plans can bring you a host of benefits. When I left my last job I made sure that everyone knew – before applying for the new one, even though I was not sure I would get it – my intentions and the reasons why I was leaving. When I finally received confirmation that I had been accepted into my new position, I received not one, but 2 going away parties (cakes and all), over 30 cards (including a gift card – thank you Nurse Jan! !!!) and the director of the program offered me her help, gave me references or advice if I ever had problems or needed something in my new job. She didn’t have to, but she did it anyway. My former direct supervisor? We go sailing together every two weeks (or when our schedules allow).
The second possibility is that you may be tempted to stay either through a promotion or a raise. If you don’t say anything about your departure, this will never happen.
Hiding behind everyone’s back is a poor work ethic, poor teamwork, and a way of being remembered in an unfavorable light. This is especially important in today’s hyper-connected world. Some people fear what their boss might say or do if they applied for another job, so they choose to keep it under the rug until “right time to say it“Usually thatright momentis often referred to astoo late. I’m sure there are myriad other possible reasons why people don’t notify their superiors or co-workers, but I honestly don’t know of them. If you do, I’d love to know.
