Quitting with Class - Guest Blogger Laurie Bell

Laurie Bell has a great blog, b.y.o. resume.  She's a talented writer and covers some great topics for job seekers.  I'm posting a bit of her blog with her permission and hope you go to her site to read the rest.  Be sure to read her other posts, too.

"Why on earth would I choose to write about such a subject in these economic times?! The economy is slowly, but surely, improving and people will be transitioning to new jobs on their own. Regardless of the reasons for which you're leaving, always keep it pleasant, short, and generic. Why? Here are some key points:

Your HR file never dies.

If you provide a long letter of resignation, explaining just how wrong your manager/coworkers/the company may be, it stays in your HR file f-o-r-e-v-e-r. How is that harmful if you're quitting and never coming back?! If you wish to reapply to that old company or any of its subsidiaries, the hiring manager will go through your file and, even if you were in the right about your gripe, it could make you look like a loose cannon.

Please see the bottom of this post for an example letter*.

 

Disney was right, it's a small world after all.

You might want to work for another company in the same industry to where some of your former colleagues have gone, or even come back to that company again. Word travels, even if it seems like your leaving is of no importance to others. Please see the bottom of this entry for some harmful ways in which people I've know have quit**. "

 

Now go to Laurie's blog for the rest of the post.