How to resign amicably from a job

[cancsco]

Hi folks,
I am resigning from my current postion as I have got a much better position.
I just want to make sure this transition goes smooth. I have no any conflicts or complains with anyone and I need advise from all of you guys on this.
Do I need to take any letters of work experience with my current employer. I mean, are they really necessary?
Thanks all
Nick

 

[BobPE]

cancsco:

It is not clear, at least to me, what you are asking. Do you want to take project records for your own use from your current employer? If you are a PE, I would say you should take your personal files related to projects you were in responsible charge of. If you are industry exempt, you should have no need for this information.

I have left quite a few jobs over the years. The best thing I have done is to sit down with those key players and develope a transition plan that fits the time frame for your leaving. This will avoid the normal tugging of you in all directions from those people that will panic that someone is leaving. It also allows those people that matter to track your performance as you leave, leaving them feeling comfortable with your final contributions.

Fill us in with more details if you can...

BobPE

 

[cancsco]

Thanks for the reply Bob.
My question is that do I need to take any of the letters stating that I have for in so and so branch and in so and so division, and the way I performed in the team (kind of like recommendation letters).
Thanks
Nick

 

[BobPE]

Hmmm....I would say the letters you would get from your company contacts are no where near as important as the contacts themselves. Ask those people at your current company if you can use them as furture references and ask them to describe to you what they would write about you if you needed them to. I still use references I made 20 years ago, although for singificantly different reasons that I may have used them for while I was working with them.

BobPE

 

[MadMango]

If you already have the other job secure, there shouldn't be a need for any sort of recommendations from your prior employer or co-workers. Maybe I'm not understanding the question.

[green]"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."[/green]
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Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[SlideRuleEra]

cancsco - I agree with BobPE. Just stay in touch with the individuals at your old employer. Any letter that they would write now would probably be so "generic" that it would be of little value. If you need references later for a specific purpose, say for the PE exam, chances are you will get a much more applicable recommendation at that time.

One thing that you could do to help insure that this happens is to "be available" (at no cost), by phone or email, if your old employer has (reasonable) questions about your projects after you are gone.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

 

[MedicineEng]

cansco:
Let me share my experience:
I only switched jobs once. I was in a quite good position and pleased with my salary and work. But then I got an offer to work to another company abroad and I took the decision to leave my job. In one day, I communicated my decision to everybody that worked directly with me and left the door open to negociate my leaving schedule. If I wanted, I could have left few days after my communication, but since the company was preparing its first ISO9001 certification and this was critical for the company it wouldn't be professional to do it. So, in my future company (the one that I work for now), I made very clear that I would not leave my job until the ISO9001 audit. They understood and accepted my proposal and I participated in a sucessful audit and then left. After that, I went there a couple of Saturdays more to pass the work to my sucessor.
Even today (after almost 3 years), I keep a very close friendship with my former colleagues, they already helped me with suggestions and ideas in my actual work and we still have a dinner everytime that I go back to my country.

Sorry for the long post.

PR

 

[HVAC68]

It's good to leave the way PR has left his earlier organisation. You have only good memories and even if there were some bad incidents, they generally tend to get forgotten.

I have switched at least 4 jobs so far in my 14 year career and I keep in touch with at least a few guys in each of my earlier organisations. I have always had the transition pretty smooth.

Back to the original question of a recommendation letter - there are some companies who would like to have a letter like that for records. No harm in getting one and keeping with you. Use it if needed. Otherwise, file it !!!

Back to the original

HVAC68

 

[cardoso115]

I guess the best way is to be honest and show you current employer that this is an offer that you cannot pass on. Along with it should say that you care for the company and you're willing to pass any info about your work to the person that will be filling your place. However, you shouldn't let them boss you around, make a plan together and stick to it, otherwise they might keep bugging you.

I'm pretty sure that a personal statement about you and your work made by someone that worked with you is more important than a recomendation letter written.
I've switched jobs once, and still keep contact with everyone from the previous company (except the boss).

Hope to have helped.

 

[ornerynorsk]

hahahahahahaha. Sorry. This one cracks me up. It all depends on the current relationship between you and the boss, and how he handles sudden, unexpected change (ie: loss of control) Good Luck!

 

[buzzp]

Give them a two week notice but understand he may let you go right away (no matter how nice you think he is). Also, a letter of recommendation is desirable. Latter down the line when/if you look for another job this letter could come in handy. Especially, if your current employer only gives out dates of employment and title to anyone inquiring of your employment history with them.

Don't burn bridges (without letters of recommendations). Even so, burnt bridges have to be completely rebuilt and may affect your ability to get another job in the future without filing a slander/libel lawsuit first.