Saw this on Jobacle today. All about goodbye emails at the office.
There are some great points included in this entry and if you are about to leave the present position and are the type to share your thoughts with the department or company at large - please visit this site first!
I have seen my fair share of goodbye emails - fortunately, I never sent one myself. Goodbye emails are sappy emotional outbursts which do more harm than good.
First, you are leaving the company/job. Once gone, you will be remembered, in most cases, for about five minutes after your exit.
Second, a wise man once counselled, "let your reputation grow hair before you brag about it". In other words, let your name become legend amongst former co-workers - if you were worth it.
Next, why are you marketing yourself to former co-workers? After all, sending that goodbye email is exactly what you are trying to do; making sure nobody forgets you or the valuable contributions you made. If you were so valuable, your work speaks for itself.
Finally, don't leave former co-workers with anything which might be misconstrued or could be used against you in the future. A goodbye email fraught with emotion and tears might be remembered as a sign of a demented unstable person. Not the type of referral you had planned on.
Here is the secret. Put in your notice, be pleasant and go away. You will be much more happy if you follow this advice.
Happy hunting!
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2 comments:
You know, I have to completely disagree with this. Perhaps because the author has never has had to resign from a job and I have (twice) that is why we aren't on the same page.
Writing a goodbye email is not about exaulting ones self.
It is about thanking those whom you enjoyed spending around 40% of your weekly waking hours with. And maybe telling them that you appreciate them and wish them all the best. Just as I would hope they are wishing you!
I would be tremendously put off by a coworker who ran off without saying goodbye (assuming of course that their resignation was voluntary, if you get fired, maybe you have cause to be angry and run off...but even then, maybe still making a gracious exit would be better than just 'peacing out').
Also, to maintain great relationships and to continue to have these individuals as a part of your professional network, it makes sense to say a final farewell and provide contact information.
A gracious, short, humble and sensible LAST impression should never be substitued in favor of the author's suggestion to'slink away'...
Anonymous,
Thank you for your comments!
Most goodbye emails I have seen to the company at large are emotional outbursts. Usually, they are overwrought with immaturity and could come back to haunt the sender.
THAT SAID, there are some instances and means which are applicable. For instance, sending an email, as I think you are suggesting, to that handful of people you worked with is completely acceptable to me.
The problem is, WHO is in that circle of friends? Is it the four or five co-workers with whom you took lunch and breaks, completed projects and carpooled? Or is the 400+ people on the Accounting Department Mail To list? Which sounds like a heartfelt sharing of sentiments and thanks and which like anonymous writing on a bathroom wall?
Thanks again for reading marketing me! I hope to see you hear again!
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