Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
(OP)
Hi all,
As of november 1st, I will be leaving my current job. My question is whether any of you have informed customers, suppliers and other external people.
In my position (Sr. Engineer) I have a lot of dealings with both customers and suppliers. In my opinion it would be the right thing to inform them by e-mail (just a couple of polite lines) when I still have a few weeks to go in my current job. That moment would be around the end of this week I would think.
Anyone had any similar experiences?
As of november 1st, I will be leaving my current job. My question is whether any of you have informed customers, suppliers and other external people.
In my position (Sr. Engineer) I have a lot of dealings with both customers and suppliers. In my opinion it would be the right thing to inform them by e-mail (just a couple of polite lines) when I still have a few weeks to go in my current job. That moment would be around the end of this week I would think.
Anyone had any similar experiences?
Solidworks 2006/DBWorks 2006 user





RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
Where I work, the company policy requires that the person above the project manager notify the client within 24 hours of the PM giving notice. Of course, this typically doesn't happen; then the management gets bent out of shape when the PM notifies the client.
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
Furthermore, it's been years and years since any of the senior staff has left the company. I'm actually the first senior staff member in six years (the time that I've worked at the company) to leave.
Anyhow, my current intention is to inform the people I regulary communicate with by means of a short e-mail. The fact that everyone reacted in a disappointed but positive manner, is an indication to me that such an e-mail communication will not offend my boss. Well, that's what I'm hoping anyhow.
Solidworks 2006/DBWorks 2006 user
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
On the other hand, on a personal level, I would on my last day, send an email from a personal email address to all my contacts letting them know you were leaving. If they want to know where you are going, they can email you at your personal address.
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
This is of such importance to the company that it ought to be a priority action on the HR and Management check lists when they dump someone or they jump ship.
The more important the position vacated the more important to the company that all contacts are given the appropriate company line which would usually be "Please be aware "X" no longer works for us (no reasons) and "Y" has assumed his responsibilities" and some business as usual blurb.
OK, you can download Outlook back-up from MS to save your entire outlook applications, mails, contacts and all).
But, when I have left my last company, I didn't take my Outlook contacts (I felt that they belonged to the company) and I sent only one circular email to fellow direct employees and just a few personal emails to selected others but I did not send any to clients about my leaving.
The usual outcome is that whenever a client contacts the company the receptionist will say "I'm sorry, "X" no longer works for the company. Can anyone else help you?"
The receptionist will feel frustrated because no one bothered to tell her (a) that you'd gone or (b) who to direct all calls to.
Of course, this is the first any client will know of it.
If it is an automated switchboard or they have a direct line they will probably only ever get an unanswered phone.
If these are simply business contacts then they are the companies responsibility (property?) and none of them will expect to receive any kind of personal email from you, except in special instances as suggested above such as in active projects, and no matter how you word it the impression taken from you emailing anyone other than related to an active project will be to look for a sub-text damaging to either you or the company.
If it was your company and someone was leaving, what would you expect or require to happen? The absence of a formal company policy is not an excuse to do what you'd like.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
***
I will be leaving company X as of.... Thank you all for the
pleasant working relationship, maybe we will meet again in the future.
After my departure, you will be left in the capable hands of person X who will be assuming responsibility for my projects.
***
One reason that I think this is the right thing to do is the fact that I've been working with some of these business contacts for a number of years on current projects.
Also due to the lack of procedure (and thus lack of management interest?), I consider it partly my responsibility to make sure that peope are being made aware of my departure in a timely fashion and that they will know who is stepping in to take care of business.
@MadMango : I am aware of the BCC-trick, thanks anyhow. Also, I intend to make it sound positive, no mud-throwing. I'm leaving this company a good way, I had a really nice time in my current job. Burning bridges is not the right way to go about things, it's a (really) small world
Solidworks 2006/DBWorks 2006 user
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
I personally feel that even though the company is responsible, there's nothing wrong with taking care of that yourself.
Just ensure you do not mention where you are going (as that can be interpreted as soliciation).
-
Aercoustics.com
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
Just about the same story here. Some of these contacts, I will meet again in my new job even though I'm not moving to a direct competitor or anything.
As for the the company being responsible for taking car of this, they've had 1.5 months to do so. With 3 weeks to go, I feel it is time to do it by myself. IMHO it's also to do with respect towards your business contacts. They deserve to be informed in a timely fashion about senior staff moving elsewhere.
No hard feelings though, I have a great working relationship with my current boss and wish him/them all the best for the future. Hell, I was even consulted about who to pick as my successor
@JMW:
I've asked a couple of people (senior staff) I trust about their opinion on the matter. They generally feel the same as I do. I don't know your location, but here in western Europe the company-cultures are known to be (a lot) less strict than in other parts of the world.
Solidworks 2006/DBWorks 2006 user
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
I will be leaving company X as of.... Thank you all for the
pleasant working relationship, maybe we will meet again in the future.
After my departure, you will be left in the capable hands of person X who will be assuming responsibility for my projects.
***
Sounds like totally acceptable and appropriate to me. Anyone who takes their contacts seriously (after all they are human beings on the other side of the phone line or network cable) tells them goodbye and does not sneak out like a thief.
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
In some instances, the legal department may object to you informing the clients that you are leaving (as they are acutally the "company's" clients, and not yours).
For friends and colleagues, I just email them from my personal email account, outside of work.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
If that is the way your company works, then that is the way to do it.
Other companies, may have different policies.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
When you are leaving, because of the various legal conundrums, no one will make any adverse written/email comment that could be actionable. So these messages aren't going to mean anything much nor would the absence of such messages. Your personal message might be sufficiently unexpected that whatever you say you will excite speculation.
Much might depend on your last contact or action. Suppose it was a problem that you would have fixed but now someone else will (or not) fix. The inference might be drawn that you have been pushed. Or maybe you said something innocent enough about some work or persona;l problem or project problem with the employing company. They might "guess" you jumped.
Your message and/or the companies can be written as carefully as possible and still fail to do what it is intended to do. Yours more than the companies.
If you expect to deal with any of the clients again in your new role, then you might be better to contact them after you have left than before.
If not, then let it go. Your responsibilities to the companies clients end when your responsibilities to your employer end.
Your leaving is not a unique event. It happens all the time and letting it go is probably the best you can do.
If there is a problem that needs you then you can be sure the client or your ex-employer will soon make you wish you were ex-directory.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
"After more than 5 years as XXX, I would like to inform that I will leave Company X on YYY day. My replacement will be ZZZ that most of you already had contact in the past. Either way, please find his contacts below for your reference.
I would like to thank you for all the help and support in these past years and I trust that you will extend it to ZZZ in the coming future.
Best Regards,
MedicineEng.
It worked fine for me.
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
Come to think of it, it still seems completely unremarkable.
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
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Aercoustics.com
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X
It turned out that I was right and not a single contact had been made aware of my upcoming departure. Without exception, all responses I got were a mix of surprise and " wish you well" but they were all grateful for me informing them in a timely fashion.
One major customer found out that I was leaving over the course of an important meeting during which both my boss and the undersigned were present. My boss had dropped a few small hints (meant to be humurous) aimed at me. That got the customer guessing and as soon as I was alone with them, they started asking......
IMHO really not the way for a customer to find out..... customer was not too amused either I might add
Solidworks 2006/DBWorks 2006 user
RE: Informing business contacts about you leaving company X