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| AJIRALEO TANZANIA |
Don’t Burn Your Bridges | Job Interview Tips
Emotional
intelligence or EQ may be more important than actual IQ for building an
outstanding career. People skills can make all the difference. The
practical advice about not burning your bridges is common wisdom passed
down for generations to young adults as they enter the workforce. A
graceful exit is the only way to go for professionals who want to be in a
favourable negotiation position with excellent references when it is
time to discuss employee entitlements like salary, leave and benefits
for a new position.
Don’t Gossip about Leaving
As
tempting as it can be to vent to a trusted friend about why you are so
happy to be leaving, you must resist the urge. The rumor mill is alive
and well in most companies, so you can’t trust anyone. Even the most
trusted colleagues have been known to spread gossip, perhaps believing
they can trust the person they tell. Your future career can be
permanently damaged if you make the bad decision to share your
complaints. The long-term risk isn’t worth the momentary pleasure you
might enjoy as the result of sharing a juicy bit of gossip.
Professional
connections and strategic alliances are crucial for career success.
Gripes about entitlements and employees who don’t measure up should
never be discussed so you don’t burn bridges.
Even
in cases where a verbal resignation is the first step taken to sever
the employer/employee relationship, a resignation letter should also be
written. It is important to remember that this letter will probably be
saved in your personnel file. With that in mind, it is important to
stick with a basic template when writing a resignation letter. The
information included should be the date you are resigning, when your
last day will be and your signature. Don’t go into details that could be
misconstrued.
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Share Positive Feedback about Your Experience
If
it is at all possible, provide positive feedback with supervisors and
human resource professionals during the exit interview or when verbally
resigning. The only time this may not be appropriate is in cases where
harassment has forced an employee’s recognition.
Thanking
a supervisor for contributing to personal development is always a nice
touch. Everyone likes to hear compliments. Employees should remember to
thank the people who helped them succeed.
APPLY JOBS/SCHOLARSHIPS ONLINE
Give Adequate Notice
While
there is no legal requirement to give notice unless a contractual
obligation requires it, it is customary to do so. Giving notice is
considered to be a professional courtesy. The minimal amount of notice
recommended for lower level positions is two weeks. For higher-level
positions, it is customary to follow corporate protocol and to give a
reasonable notice based on what is necessary for a smooth transition.Give Adequate Notice
The Exit Interview
The exit interview is a common practice for many companies. Disgruntled employees should never use this time to discuss all the terrible problems the company has. Frustration over entitlements that are lacking or other employees are not welcome. Emotional intelligence or EQ should steer employees away from words that will risk alienating strategic alliances and professional connections.
Do What You Can to Ease the Transition for the Company
Emotional intelligence or EQ suggests that one way to preserve professional connections and strategic alliances is to ensure that you don’t leave these people in a bad situation when you leave the company. Employees on the way out should leave meticulous notes and help train other people so they know how to proceed with projects left unfinished.
Conclusion
Making a job change can be stressful and emotional, requiring the employee to carefully plan ahead of time to ensure a smooth transition. Dependant on positive references and feedback far into the future, it is essential for smart employees to leave on a good note.
