Dear Joan:

What is the best way to end the final weeks before resigning (while waiting to hear final details about a new job offer)? I am almost ready to move on, and the past few days have been very hard. I mean like people asking questions, my motivation, etc.

Answer:

It's not clear if you have formally resigned, or if you are waiting for the final offer and have started to let the deal leak out. In either case, here are some tips for making your exit a graceful (and savvy) one:

• Never say the word "resign" out loud until you really have a solid job offer in your hands. If the offer falls through, you are left in the uncomfortable position of back peddling with your current employer.
  
  Even if your current employer lets you stay, he or she is now suspicious about your loyalty. If you were job hunting before, why wouldn't you do it again? Some employers even get angry when an employee announced they are leaving. They take it as a personal affront.
• Never threaten to resign in a fit of anger. I have heard of cases where the employee said they were going to resign in an angry outburst, and the employer accepted the person's resignation on the spot. Oops. It did no good to say, "But I didn't really mean it!"
• Don't tell your potential employer that you have resigned before the final details are negotiated. You lose some of your bargaining leverage. The new employer usually tries to sweeten the deal, to push you enough to leave. If you quit too soon, they have no reason to fight for you. They never love you more than before you say, "Yes."
• Keep your job-hunting a secret from fellow employees. Even if you think you can trust them, don?t bet on it. People love to pass on that juicy bit of news because it will shake up the status quo. "Gee, maybe I should be looking?" "If he leaves, how will that affect my job?"
  
  As people become aware that you are looking, they start to ask questions. They pull back from you, so they won't be associated with anyone who is "disloyal". Or, they start to mentally cut you out of the grapevine, because they know you aren't going to be around much longer.
  
  Sometimes the negative peer will latch on to you, because he feels he has a kindred spirit to vent to. In any case, it will draw unwanted attention and your boss is sure to hear about your plan.
• When you are job-hunting, it's essential not to lose focus on the job you have. This can be very difficult because --mentally-- you have already left your job. In order to get your head into interviewing mode, you have to project yourself into the (exciting) new job. This can make facing your existing job pretty tough.
  
  Try to compartmentalize. In other words, when you are at work, dig in with a vengeance. Then leave work at lunch to make your outside calls. If you try to return calls or search job boards while working, you are going to sabotage your paying job.
• When you finally do announce your resignation, take the high road and stay off those burning bridges. This is no time to blast your current employer or backstab your co-workers. Simply say you are leaving for a job with "more responsibility" or "more advancement potential."
  
  Even if you are really leaving because you can't stomach one more day in that hell-hole, it will do you no good to say so. Be gracious to the end. (What happens if the job falls through, or isn?t a good fit, and you have to come back to get a job reference?)
• Don't discuss what your new job pays. If you boast about your big signing bonus or huge pay increase, you will alienate your current employer, who still has to keep his remaining employees from jumping ship.
• Take steps to document projects that are in the works or to train your replacement. Your employer will be grateful and so will your team. It will also give you something constructive to do while you are counting the days until your departure.

Do you need answers to tough job hunting questions? Are you looking for some added punch to help you stand out from the crowd? Joan Lloyd’s has developed job hunting tools that can help you to maximize your job search:
Savvy Negotiation Strategies to Get Paid What You’re Worth on a New Job (Detailed, special report)
Easy, Step-by-step Guide to Using the Internet to Land a Great Job (Detailed, special report)
How to Get Your Dream Job (VHS video)
The Resume that Gets Results and the Interview that Gets the Job (37 page, detailed instructions)

Joan Lloyd has a solid track record of excellent results. Her firm, Joan Lloyd & Associates, specializes in leadership development, organizational change and teambuilding. This includes executive coaching, 360-degree feedback processes, customized leadership training, conflict resolution between teams or individuals, internal consulting skills training for HR professionals and retreat facilitation. Clients report results such as: behavior change in leaders, improved team performance and a more committed workforce.

Joan Lloyd has earned her C.S.P. (certified speaking professional) designation from the National Speakers Association and speaks to corporate audiences, as well as trade & professional associations across the country. Reach her at (800) 348-1944, mailto:info@joanlloyd.com, or www.JoanLloyd.com.

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