By Fred Ouma

AFTER getting another job, the excitement of doing something new may be accompanied by anxiety and guilt over leaving the old one and, perhaps, some good friends. Even if you are leaving many foes behind, it is good to leave your old job well.

Corporate alumni associations are sprouting and it is in your best interest to part of these networks. If you handle your transition properly, your former employers may even view your ascension elsewhere as a public relations asset.

â€œWhatever the circumstances surrounding your departure, keep your mind on the big picture and do not do anything that could haunt you,â€ says Patrick Okee, a workplace researcher with Real Surveys.

Below are tips for wrapping things up at your old job and departing with a pat on the back from your boss.

Write down everything you do and how it is done

Forget job descriptions, they rarely tell what an individual does daily or reveal the responsibilities that grace any workerâ€™s plate each week. Also, in an age of zero redundancy at many organisations, you cannot rely on even your supervisor to understand you do your work and how you go about doing it.

Okee says: â€œMany times, a boss may say: â€˜I do not know what this person does. I only know she/he cannot leave!â€™â€

So, do your supervisor and co-workers a favour by creating an exhaustive list of everything you handle along with detailed instructions on how to handle it. Your colleagues will appreciate you for having this thorough document and for having done so much during your tenure.

Train your replacement

â€œIf youâ€™re leaving on good terms with your supervisor, handle it as a partnership,â€ Sarah Namirembe, a career coach and owner of Career Services, says: â€œI should try to put myself in a position to work with my employer to make my resignation positive. Maybe, I can even work and help train the person whoâ€™s supposed to replace me.â€

The old way of handing in a resignation was to give a two-week notice, but today, it is a month or more. â€œTypically, the time to give is two weeks,â€ Namirembe says. â€œNobody knows where that came from and thereâ€™s no good reason for it. In todayâ€™s market, two weeks is insufficient. The more time you can give your employer to prepare for your leaving, the better off.â€

Wish everyone well before leaving

Silvia Nandera of The Point, a human resource and management company, says employees should give everyone a heartfelt farewell and say a few words of encouragement and appreciation to all their colleagues. â€œEven if you do not like someone, bury the hatchet. It takes a big person to do that, but you never know when you will meet this individual again.â€

Also, former co-workers are the best candidates to join your professional network. â€œYou will always have a common ground with these folks. They are easy to stay in touch with. There will always be some bit of news or gossip you can bond over and that makes it less awkward to pick up the phone and chat.â€

â€œAll this is for the future, the big picture,â€ she adds. â€œYou could end up working for some of these people. You may need a favour. You donâ€™t know, so make sure you leave on the best possible terms.â€

On the surface, resigning seems like a time to speak your mind. You storm into the bossâ€™ office and throw his or her chairs around while telling him or her to â€œtake this job and...â€ You get tell your colleagues why you hated working with them and get the last laugh.

But it is one of those things that is not always what it seems. In reality, a resignation like that would do nothing more than burn bridges and get building security to respond in record time. So, whatever you do, do not let yourself be pressured by any frustrations. Consider every item carefully and make your decision distinctly. Also, the best way to start a new job is by leaving the last one with a clean, clear slate. Best of luck!

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