Marketing Me! The sudden resignation

A business bug out bag, resignation is better than termination, and leaving on your terms, not theirs.. Read more.

It can happen to any one at any time..

The human resource director walks in your office with another member of the staff and asks for a quick meeting. Thinking you are doing a great job and increasing the company revenue, you have no reason to be suspicious.

You follow the HR director to a nearby conference room where, upon seating, are informed your services are no longer needed at the company. Kicked in the gut, you struggle for breath and barely hear the terms of your serverance package explained to you.

Fifteen minutes later, you find yourself shoving personal possessions into an empty copy machine paper box and then being escorted to the front door.

Could this have been avoided? Sure. But get ready...

First, in today's business world, EVERY DAY COULD BE YOUR LAST DAY. Nobody is "safe" any longer. Layoffs, downsizing, cutbacks, all could happen at any time regardless of the health of the company or the market.

Stop thinking you are OK and the other guy is going to get it. Everyone is vulnerable.

Therefore, it is imperitive that you plan for this possibility constantly. In the "end of the world" survival community. members are encouraged to maintain a Bug Out Bag (BOB) at all times. In the business world, you should do the same.

Here are the contents of your BBOB - Business Bug Out Bag.

- Have backups of all correspondence, contracts and emails on a portable device. USB thumb drives are cheap and easy to use.
- Have a complete and current list of all customer and business contacts available. I recommend using a PDA type device such as a Blackberry or Palm Pilot. Update DAILY from your CRM license and you are assured of having the latest and greatest asset available at all times. Purchase the phone and PDA; do not use the company hardware.
- Your own laptop, if possible. Some companies allow employees to use their own computing hardware for work. Do this and save yourself a step or two.
- Copies of company literature of products or services you represented.
- Any intellectual property you created for the company or to drive revenue growth such as mailing lists, web sites, or press releases.

The final piece you should always have on hand is a resignation letter with the date left blank.

Why?

If the company is in trouble or you know the chopping block is looming, leave on your terms, not theirs. A resignation is far better than a termination any day.

The most successful people I know have never been laid off. They left before or during a stressful situation generally to another position they had already lined up and had in place. When the situation at work went south, they prepared their resignation letter and made their exit.

Typically, your resignation letter should be terse and to the point.

An example..

This letter is to inform [Company X] that Tuesday, October 30, 2007 will be my final day. Please make arrangements for my final paycheck and unused accrued holiday time to be paid on that day or an arranged date.

Upon my departure, all correspondence may be sent to my home address at xxxx...

Thank you,


Never put any personal or professional reasons for leaving a company. Your resignation letter will be placed on file and may be used at a future date. Leave no paper trail too large to cover!

Finally, be prepared to explain clearly why you resigned. Make this a 30 second speech (elevator speech) and practice reciting it. An example..

"Yes, I was with [Company X] for several years. However, there were some internal and external changes occuring with the company at the time which helped me in my decision to move on to other opportunities."

Never go into longer explanations about a former company. There is no reason to and to do so could possibly brand you as a complainer and malcontent.

Rather focus on the value you bring to your next company. And if you planned your BBOB correcttly, you will have the evidence and references to back it up.

Marketing Me! Goodbye letters and emails

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!

Marketing Me! When it is time to move on

Work is work. But when does going to work seem like more work and less fun?

Work should be part of your passion for life. You should wake up in the morning and feel the creative part of your brain come alive as you plan your daily strategy.

However, if going to work fills you with dread or doom, it is time to move on.

Here are some signs, you may be ready for a move.

Irritability
If your customers, boss and co-workers are starting to annoy you at each turn, it may be a sign to start updating the resume and contacting the recruiter.

Tardiness, absences, leaving early
All indications that the stress of being at the office is getting to you.

Illness, lethargy, apathy
Your body and mind are fighting the office. Pay heed and analyze why.

Dishonesty
How many times have you missed work because of a sick child, out of order automobile or emergency recently? And how many of those excuses were fraudulent?

Does this sound like you?

Be honest with yourself and consider the problem. Perhaps you are in need of a vacation. Maybe there is something else going on in your personal life which is causing this stress?

Identify the problem and if it not something which can be corrected with a long weekend maybe it is time you started planning your exit?