Leaving on a High

Try to sing Bon Jovi’s “Living on Prayer”, but replace the lyrics to “Leaving on a High” should you need motivation to follow through on the advice below.

For many of us one of the most stressful and traumatic things that can happen in our life is being made redundant. Particularly when you have been working for a company for a long time and quite frankly been a hardworking loyal employee. Shock, depression, anger and resentment set in. All understandable feelings and reactions….however I am going to suggest that one thinks before one lets these emotions explode. Maybe a controlled explosion is the way to go to release these feelings?

Very often I see great candidates with super experience destroy their relationship with a company when they are made redundant. This is a real shame and it is important to note that it may have taken you 5 years to build your reputation, but it can take less than a week to destroy it. When we leave a company we want to missed, we want our absence to be felt and we want people to remember us for our great work.  So make the conscious decision to leave on high and be missed when you leave your job.

Here are some tips for leaving on a high:

• Try keep your activity levels high….hold on scrap that – Try to work even harder than you have been, when working your notice period. This may even make your employer feel even more guilty about letting you go and therefore more motivated to help you.
• Start to consciously build a network at work. Don’t go into a shell; communicate with staff and management more than you ever have. Ask them to keep an eye out for job opportunities for you and if they know anyone that might be able to help you find your next opportunity.  Do the same with your clients, suppliers etc.
• Make sure you leave no loose ends and that you leave a comprehensive handover.
• Let your customers know you are leaving, don’t complain about the company or your redundancy, but if possible make them aware that you will be looking for a new opportunity. Hopefully they will keep you in mind should they hear of any opportunities.
• Try not to get caught up with “the negative crew”.  Usually found huddled around a canteen table ranting about how badly they have been treated, how bad the company is, how there are worse people in the organisation that should have been let go before them and how doomed their future now is due to redundancy.  Wow, nearly got  depressed writing those last two lines. Negativity breeds Negativity.
• Where possible team up with other “positive” redundant staff and support each other.  This can be very comforting.  Share suggestions, information and contacts with each other.
• We you leave…..stay in touch with key personnel. Keep them updated and tell them what you are up to and what you are looking for.

We must remember before we burn our bridges that we never know when our paths will cross with an ex-manager or co-worker in the future.  And I have not even mentioned the reference about you that your ex- employer is liable to give your future employer.

So why not leave your job on a High?