5 Tips To Successfully Change Jobs Without Burning Bridges

Change is inevitable. People change jobs, either by their own free will or through company reorgs, downsizing or "rightsizing" (whatever that is).

And while leaving an organization by choice or otherwise is never easy, there are ways to make the transition smoother for yourself and your former employer. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the departure there are ways to exit gracefully without leaving a wake of animosity behind.

Always remember, it’s a small world and an even smaller industry—especially in the high-tech space—and there is a good chance that you will cross professional paths with some of your former colleagues again. When you don’t exit a job professionally and don’t finish your tasks, you are not so much harming your former employer as much as causing extra work for your colleagues. They all will remember that.

Below are some simple guidelines to ensure that when you start on your new professional path you are not burning important bridges you left behind—bridges that you may need to cross again someday.

Give proper notice: When you’re changing jobs your first reaction is to dive in fully and forget the past. It’s a difficult balancing act because your new employer wants you to start as soon as possible while your previous employer—unless you are moving to a competitor—wants to hang on to you and squeeze out every ounce of work. Keep in mind your colleagues are going to have to pick up your workload until a replacement is found. That takes time. Giving two weeks' notice is standard, but more time may be required depending on your role. If you are a manager or executive you need to be open to the idea of staying on for a month if your old company needs it and your new employer allows it.

Don’t blow through your PTO days: It’s very easy when you are preparing to leave a job to look at your paid time off (PTO) days and try and use them—especially sick days, since most companies won't pay you for sick days accrued, only for vacation time earned but not used. This is amateurish. If you start calling in sick after you resigned you will quickly lose credibility among your peers. You are not being fair to your company or work associates and your reputation is not worth a few days off.

Provide a comprehensive turnover report: Just giving proper notice is not enough. Your final days of employment should be productive. You need to make every effort to help with a seamless transition. That includes providing a turnover report with the current status of projects, contact information and any future initiatives you were involved in. Your superiors and work associates will remember how you exited and whether you were cooperative and professional or left them twisting in the wind to figure out what you were doing. Take the time to leave your former company with a clear and comprehensive turnover report.

Give honest feedback without badmouthing: While some people use their exit interview as an opportunity to throw people under the bus and complain about everything they think is wrong with the organization, don’t be that person. Always balance your negative experiences with positive ones. Be honest in communicating why you are leaving so it is then up to them to change the environment, but also take the opportunity to thank those who helped you and treated you with respect. Leave on a high note.

Offer to be available after your departure: In many cases after you leave a company there are unresolved issues. While no company really wants to reach out to former employees for answers, sometimes it is necessary. Be willing to be contacted after your departure to answer any outstanding questions that may arise. Chances are they won’t take you up on your offer but knowing that you are willing to help them through the transition softens the blow tremendously and erases a bit of anxiety.

Again, change is difficult. If you are making a professional change you are hopefully doing it because you see a greater opportunity. Exit gracefully, you will never regret it. How you leave will show your true character.