Resignation: A Powerful Yet Underrated Tool for Profile Enhancement
The time has come to bid farewell to your current organization. The reasons could be plenty. A better employment option, entrepreneurial ambitions or simply the toxic work culture in the current organization could be some of them.
The majority of employees treat the exit process a a mere formality as they are now completely invested in the future options and do not want to spend more time and effort any more than necessary. Some even use this opportunity to vent out their frustrations before leaving.
While all this sounds reasonable, here is what most miss during this phase. Whatever was the reason for your exit, you are going to be far away from the company and its people. Nothing will matter in due course and everyone, including you, will move on. However, if you plan your exit a little more strategically, you end up building a treasure trove of corporate relations no networking app can match.
Exit Gracefully
When the time comes, for the last few days, stop thinking from your heart and use your mind. Forget all the grudges and frustrations and be extra nice to everyone. Consider this an investment, because whatever you may have done or not done, what people will remember for a long time is their last interaction with you.
Why does it matter?
It matters because those whom you left behind will also remain in the same industry with you and go places, and when they go places, they unknowingly carry you with them. Who knows after 5 years when your resume is being evaluated in some company’s HR department, someone gives a small positive recommendation, which can carry more value than background checks. The corporate world is much smaller than it appears and people often cross paths more frequently than expected, through direct or indirect contact. This sounds trivial but think of it – you are leaving behind an impression in the minds of hundreds of people who are from the exact same industry as yours. Also don’t assume that an intern or a considerably junior employee cannot be strategically important to your career. Who knows? That intern or the junior employee could be screening resumes or making interview schedules when you apply for a VP or CXO position somewhere and even minor influence could mean extra 20 lakhs of salary?
It takes very little effort to wipe out all the grudges and build fresh relations during the exit phase because both you and the others are often in more receptive frame of mind. Rebuild bridges, say warm goodbyes and if possible, do not frame anyone in your exit interviews. There is no such thing as lasting revenge in the corporate world.
How to Exit Gracefully
The first step is to talk to your supervisor before submitting your resignation. Take them into confidence and explain why you are leaving. Even if you are leaving due to toxic culture of the organization, it is better to tone it down. You are not going to gain anything by hurling abuses and venting your frustration. Who knows the organization may transform into an ideal workplace in a few years and you want to make a comeback? However, people may not be able to forget your sharp statements and unacceptable behavior during exit.
The next is to write the resignation. The resignation should be short and to the point. Just mention your desire to leave and provide details of the dates, notice period and other relevant information. The third paragraph is the gratitude to the organization and its people for the opportunity to work and learn there.
Once this and other official formalities are done, use the rest of your time in the organization to mend/build relations with people. Don’t discriminate, you never know who will open the door for you in your subsequent organizations. From the most junior to the most senior employees, collect as many relation hats as you can, these will be very useful in the future.
The last thing to do on the exit day is to write a goodbye mail. The mail should be drafted in such a manner the everyone in the organization should remember it for a lifetime. Express your gratitude to as many people as possible. Mention, name and credit people, even if it sounds a little unreal. This last mail will resound for years to come in the minds of so many people who are actually the most appropriately filtered audience for your professional.
Sample Goodbye Mail
Here is a sample goodbye mail you can write just before closing your official mailbox.
Life is like a river. As it travels down the slopes towards its final destination, it passes through many milestones… each one adding its character and finally when the river flows through the plains and nears the ocean, it carries with it, a treasure of minerals that make the valleys around very fertile….
This river keeps flowing incessantly and continuously gathers treasures upstream and spreads them across downstream slopes.
In the corporate world, this river flows through many organizations, gaining from one and benefiting the other with that enrichment.
Such has been my experience at XYZ Company, very enriching, very enlightening and needless to say very very satisfying.
I would like to express my gratitude to each one of you for imparting character, color and a treasure of resources to this small trickle of water that intends to become a deep and wide river one day!!!!
My sincere gratitude to all of you, especially name1, name2, name3… for adding value to my character and resume. I cannot end this mail without mentioning name4, name5, name6… who made this journey exciting and fruitful.
It is not the end, the world is small and the corporate world even smaller, and I sincerely hope to meeting you, working with you and synergizing with you in the future too.
For now, the time has come to say goodbye. Hoping to remain in your fond memories.
Best Wishes
Send this mail to as many co-workers as you like but make sure this is your last official mail in the organization. Before this, you might have already shared your contact details, LinkedIn profile or any other ways to stay in touch.
Many may not agree with this approach and that is perfectly fine and expected. This article is only emphasizes the fact the resignation and exit process are to be treated strategically and not to be used for showing indifference or to vent out frustrations.
Vineet Gupta is the Founder and Managing Editor of PuneNow, where he oversees local news delivery and explores mindful living, parenting, and personal growth. An alumnus of the University of Wales, Vineet has travelled extensively and worked across hospitality, finance, and academia. Now based in Pune, his diverse global background informs his hyper-local perspective, helping the community find meaning, balance, and connection in everyday life.
