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You probably already know that it’s good etiquette to tell your supervisor that you are resigning before anyone else knows about it. This is because you don’t want your manager to get the news through the grapevine. Your manager and HR personnel should always be the first ones to know.
What most of us may not realise, however, is that the next people you should inform are your colleagues, vendors and clients you work with. It may be a hassle answering questions like “Why did you quit?” and “What are your plans after this?” multiple times a day, but it is your responsibility to keep them in the know.
Here are five pieces of information you should be sharing with them, whether you like it or not:
Date of departure
No need to be cryptic and mysterious about your date of departure – it’s not the date of Armageddon that no one but Heaven knows. This information helps your colleagues and other stakeholders make adjustments to deadlines so projects won’t get disrupted. You also don’t want them to schedule important meetings on dates when you’re no longer around.
Statuses of projects
Ideally, you should call for a transition meeting, where you get stakeholders and your replacement (permanent or interim) to sit down for a discussion. At this meeting, give them an update on the statuses of all projects.
Your plans during the notice period
At the same transition meeting, discuss the tasks you’d fulfill before you go. Alternatively, you could drop everyone an email.
Most companies require staff to serve notice periods of at least a month. It’ll be too late to only update your colleagues and clients on the final day – they won’t have enough time to clarify details of projects with you before you go. Telling them what you’ll accomplish before you go allows for a smoother transition and shows that you’re responsible.
Handover information
Equip your replacement and other stakeholders with relevant information that will help them take over smoothly from where you’ll be leaving off. Don’t leave any loose ends hanging.
Contact information
Provide an email address and contact number stakeholders can reach you at after you leave. Tell them you’ll extend your assistance to them to ease transition.
It may be tempting to just throw in the towel and secretly hope they’ll not be able to function when you’re not around, especially if the resignation wasn’t amicable. But remember, displaying a sense of responsibility and professionalism in how you handle your transition gives work associates a good impression of you. You’d never know how your paths may cross again. The same people you’re dealing with now may become your future superiors or maybe even offer valuable opportunities next time. So make sure you don’t burn any bridges.
