At some point in your life, you’re going to leave the job you are currently doing. It might be to completely leave the company you are with or maybe do a side-step to another group/department in that existing company. The point is, you are leaving, others are not.
Reasons why you might be leaving could include (but not be limited to) – I’m not challenged any more, I don’t feel like I’m compensated for what I do, the projects don’t interest me, I don’t like how Jeff takes 35 minutes to make his Espresso Latte in the morning holding everyone up, my workspace is really small and the list can go on and on and on…
Everyone of these being a valid reason and/or combination of reasons for why you have decided to leave your current place of work.
Nothing wrong with this, people change, you figure out what works, you figure out what doesn’t and you realize it’s time to move on to somewhere else where you can get back that feeling of – “I want to get up and go to work this morning”, “I can’t wait to start this project”, “When did I miss lunch?”.
Those are feelings of passion, enthusiasm, dedication and invigoration where you just can’t wait to see what the next day brings.
There is a pre-conceived notion that you MUST give two weeks notice when you leave a job – it’s a nice, you can do some transition to other team members, make sure everything on your end is cleaned up and leave knowing the place is in a better position then when you started.
It is not an opportunity for you to sit there for two weeks, come in when you feel like it, plod through some bugs, take extra long lunches, play that 3rd, 4th, 5th game of Candy Crush and really just take up space. Because here is what you are saying to all those around you – “I’m onto much bigger and better opportunities, I’ve worked my tail off, if you need me come and see me between my 5th and 6th game of Candy Crush”.
Many would call that – “Rubbing it in”.
Instead, you should view your last two weeks as your last opportunity to show everyone why you started here in the first place, why you respect and care for the team you have worked with for the last little while and why you valued the opportunity to work on the projects you did. Think of it is this way, for many of the people that you are going to be working with, this will be your last chance to give them a lasting impression of you – of what your work ethic is like, of what you bring to the table. When you walk out those doors, you want people to go – “We’re going to miss that guy” not “Good riddance”.
Just like in an interview where you need to make a lasting impression so too should this be done in your final weeks at your current job.
Some can include;
- Get through documentation immediately, don’t drag it out for two weeks.
- Take on some extra bugs, maybe the toughies, and get them done.
- Take the people you worked with out for a coffee to show your appreciation for them.
- Help any way you can with project delivery
- Create some LinkedIn Recommendations for some people on your team that you really respect and admired.
- Ask for more work
In essence, approach the job like you did in your first two-weeks. I’m not saying do all of these and just these but I am saying go out and do the activities that are sincere to you and those around you.
And lastly, sometimes in any profession, you are too far gone. The opportunity didn’t really work out, I’ve been there, it happens. Why drag it out for two weeks? Both you and the company know the reasons you are leaving so offer up a different route – “Look, I can finish everything in 4 days and be good to go by then”. There is no law saying you MUST stay for two weeks so why waste your time, talk to your new employer and start earlier or take that time off in between to rekindle your passion elsewhere. But don’t drag it out. You aren’t doing your current company any favours and really you are less to yourself and might actually be causing more damage as a result.
