Rita Robinette

November 11, 2019 By The Empire Executive Group

How to Resign Without Burning Any Bridges

When leaving an existing position, resign like a professional to avoid burning bridges. Here are some tips to leave your current job gracefully:

Be Prepared to Move On Before Resigning

Make sure you have your new position pinned down and are prepared to leave immediately. Even though you may be willing to give notice, your employer doesn’t have to accept it. So, make sure you have cleaned up your computer and cleaned out your desk of personal items beforehand. Of course, if you have an employment contract, it should state how much notice you should give.

Do you have everything you need if you are asked to leave immediately? Do you know your company’s paid time off policy and how much you are owed?

Write a Formal Letter of Resignation

Writing a formal letter of resignation informing your employer you will be leaving is important. This will not only leave a positive impression of you as an employee and it will also become part of your employment file. The letter should include the last day you plan to work, a short explanation as to why you are leaving, and a few words of thanks to the organization.

Resign In-Person

Meet with your immediate boss in person to present the letter of resignation. Of course, if you work remotely or are a contractor, meeting in person may not be practicable. Be prepared ahead of time to provide an explanation for resigning so you aren’t tempted to say things you may regret later. Your good attitude will help maintain the relationship which will be useful in providing a professional reference. The goal is an amicable breakup and the opportunity to be the person your boss would rehire if the opportunity ever arose.

Exit Interview

Ask to participate in an exit interview prior to your departure. Good employers know that knowing why people choose to leave can be helpful. Getting honest feedback can make a world of difference if what is learned is used constructively. Exit interviews vary from company to company and might be in the form of a survey or be conducted by someone in human resources. Remember this is not an appropriate time to vent or complain or make petty remarks. It is important that you keep your demeanor professional and honestly share specific and helpful information.

Help with Your Replacement

Spend whatever time you left to tie up loose ends, so you leave a clean slate for the new hire. Create a document to outlines all the responsibilities of your current position and include any processes you have found useful. If you work on this document with your boss, it may be used to create a job posting and become a helpful guide for your replacement.

Stay in Touch

Staying in contact with your old boss and coworkers is one way to keep that bridge open. You never know when you may need to cross it again.

November 11, 2019 By The Empire Executive Group

5 Factors to Consider Before Accepting a New Position

When evaluating a job offer, there are many important factors to be considered above and beyond salary. Here are five key factors to consider before accepting a new position.

Compensation & Benefits Package

Review the entire compensation and benefits package offered, including:

Salary and salary increases;
Annual bonuses or commissions;
Paid holiday, vacation, and sick days;
Medical, dental, vision insurance, and disability insurance;
Deferred compensation (e.g. 401(k) or other retirement savings plan); and,
Other perks and incentives (e.g. stock options, company cell phone, daycare, gym membership, car allowance, parking allowance, etc.).

Find out how the compensation and benefits package for similar positions compare. This might include online searches, discussions with your recruiter, or even speaking with individuals who have similar positions.

Expenses

Taking a new position may require relocating across town, to another state or even another country. Make sure you take the cost to relocate into consideration. If you will have a longer commute to the new job, consider the extra travel expenses and the personal time required daily for your commute.

Relocation expenses, including adequate transition time to relocate and get settled;
Commuting expenses, including the personal time required for your daily commute.

Time

Make sure there is sufficient paid time off or flexibility in the work schedule required to regroup and revitalize.

Paid Time Off (e.g. Is the vacation time offered equal to or better than your existing job?)
Flexibility in Work Schedule (e.g. If the position requires travel, will the company be flexible with your work hours?)

Company Mission, Core Values, Leadership & Culture

A company’s mission defines why the company exists and its core values define what the company stands for. Together, they become the company’s foundation to help guide who they hire, fire, promote, and reward. Ask and find the answer to these questions:

What message is the company communicating to its clients and employees through its core values?
Are the company’s core values making a difference in the way people work, think, and behave?
Does the company’s culture feel like a good fit for you?

Don’t take a position unless you feel its right for you. If you are concerned about the company culture, ask if you can shadow someone at the company for a day.

Summary

A thorough evaluation of the above key factors will help you prioritize what’s important and formulate your negotiating plan. One way to accomplish this is to write down everything you want in priority order. Identify the things that you want to change based on the existing offer and be selective. Throughout the negotiations, stay positive and don’t be critical when questioning elements of the job offer during negotiations because it might make the new employer suspicious that you are just buying time waiting for another offer. Make sure you are communicating you are interested in the job offer and keep an open mind.

November 11, 2019 By The Empire Executive Group

Strategies to Succeed in Job Interviews

A successful job interview is a crucial step in the hiring process. Your success requires planning and preparation to ensure your performance during the interview is effective and results in a job offer.

Conduct Research to Become an Expert

Learn everything you can about the company, the industry, and the job requirements. Read the company’s latest annual reports, talk to people in the industry, and seek out current or former employees of the company to gain a better understanding of the company and its work environment.

Compare Your Professional Qualifications, Abilities, and Skills with the Job Requirements

Generate a list of your top assets that match the job requirements. Expand the list to include specific instances that demonstrate you have the qualities required for the job. Study these past work experiences and be prepared to share them during the interview.

Be Prepared to Turn your Weaknesses into Strengths

Inevitably, interviewers will ask “What is your greatest weakness?” Be prepared to answer this question in a way that will show the interviewer you are a potential asset to their company and not a liability. You might list a couple of job-specific “hard skills” or abilities that can be learned through education or training. Make sure that these skills don’t disqualify you for the job. For example, the company you are interviewing with has its headquarters located in Germany. Your job doesn’t require you to speak German fluently, but learning this skill would definitely be a strength. If you mention a “soft skill” (e.g. communication or interpersonal skills) or “work ethic” weakness, such as being too much of a perfectionist or being too detailed oriented, make sure that weakness is not necessary to do the job. Be prepared to show how you are working to overcome these weaknesses or explain how these weaknesses might be seen as a positive as it relates to the job.

Listen, Ask Questions & Engage the Interview

During the interview pay attention to make sure you understand the interviewer’s questions. Then, take the time to formulate proper responses. When possible expand your answers by finding ways to include any applicable work experience. Have questions of your own to engage the interviewer and show you have an interest. Near the end of the interview, let the interviewer know you are interested in the job and believe it is an excellent fit.