Have you recently submitted your resignation, or are you in your final week at work? If yes, you may wonder what you should and should not do during your “notice” period.
Some people may use the period to help with the transition and complete their existing work to the best of their abilities. Others may take it easy and only do little work to save energy for their new work. A few may use the time to show their displeasure with their current employer and not do their work at all.
If you want to make your notice period more productive, here’s what you should do during your notice period:
Speak To Your Boss First
If you are resigning or leaving the company, it is best to reach out to your boss before speaking to your colleagues. It would help if you also wrote your resignation once you have informed your boss about your intentions. This will allow them to plan how to proceed with your actions and provide a counteroffer if they wish to. It would help if you also used the time to ask how the news will be released to your entire team.
If you were laid off, you should ask them what caused the layoffs and what could have been done to prevent your dismissal.
Focus On Your Work
Upon finalizing your resignation or dismissal, it’s crucial to maintain a professional demeanor. This includes completing your work to the best of your abilities and ensuring that your boss and team have only positive things to say about you. Leaving no job unfinished is a testament to your commitment and responsibility.
Help With The Transition
Aside from completing your remaining tasks, it would help if you also made it a point to assist with the transition by helping your employer train your replacement. Meet up with your replacement and schedule how you can help them transition and teach them what they need to know. It would also help if you made it a point to introduce your replacement to the rest of the team and the clients you are handling, allowing them to understand the changes in your position.
As you go through this transition process, update your boss accordingly so that they know you are doing your best to assist even if you are leaving the team. This will be a good bonus point for your reference letter later on.
Before You Leave, Take The Time To Express Your Gratitude To Your Colleagues And Say Your Goodbyes
. Whether it’s a personal thank you or a well-crafted email, showing appreciation is a sign of respect and leaves a positive impression.
Before you leave, take the time to speak to your colleagues and say goodbye and thank you. List down the people you want to thank or say goodbye to personally, or write an email to those you won’t have time to meet. Use your time wisely when scheduling your talks with your colleagues so you don’t miss any work deadlines or other vital things you must do before your departure.
If your team gives you a farewell party, prepare your speech beforehand. Just make sure that your speech only shares your achievements and personal stories that you want to share. While not everyone will remember your speech, they will remember how you felt in the team.
Get References
Once you start your notice period, speak to your senior manager, HR, and colleagues and see which one will be okay with writing reference letters for you. HR managers typically write reference letters for employees, but you can ask them to write more detailed reference letters. It would help if you also took note of the people who will agree to write you a reference letter so you can approach them in the future.
Sort Out Any Remaining Documentation
Aside from any existing work, you must also ensure you are cleared from other obligations and that all the documents are sorted out. Get your clearance finalized, transfer all the personal information you can keep to your devices and transfer your insurance to your new company or get a new one. You should also speak to the management regarding your gratuity arrangements and ensure all the bills and salaries are sorted and paid for.
Take Your Garden Leave
If you work for the financial sector, you should not be afraid to take your garden leave. This type of leave requires you to stay home for a specific number of months and not join another firm. This ensures that the information you know about your previous employer is no longer accurate and cannot be used by your new employer. It would help if you remembered that you were still under contract with your current employer when you took this leave. So, feel free to share any information and skills during this time.
Plan Ahead
Whether you already have a new job or will still need to apply for a new one, it is best to use your time wisely and plan accordingly. If you already have a new job, ensure everything is ready to transition easily to your new position. If you have some time to wait, take the time to learn new skills that can help you and sort out any paperwork you may have. If you still need to land a job interview, schedule it accordingly in case it will clash with your office schedule.
Whether it is your last day at work because you resigned or got laid off, you must make the most of your earlier days at your current office. Remember, you are still signed with your current employer and must still fulfil your contract. Even if you do not like your current employer, showing your displeasure can only cost you opportunities in the future. Use the tips above to give you a guide and push you to complete your work before you look forward to your next career!
Looking forward to a new job? Here’s some articles to read up:
Great Tips to Start a New Job Virtually
Let’s Help You Relocate For A New Job
Moving On To A New Job
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