New Job Task: Mending Fences
Mending Fences
“The more positive you are viewed by potential bosses
or recruits, the better will be your opportunity
to contribute over the life of your career.”
If you are fortunate to land a new job, you have a great opportunity to achieve a long-term benefit from your current occupation. As soon as you know you will be leaving your current role, be sure to be positive about your working relationships with your peers and bosses. Let them know that they have helped you develop better skills and learn from their comments and suggestions.
If you are sure you are going to leave but don’t have a confirmed new position, you can start the process. This “new” approach should be as gradual as time permits. The more time you have, the more the normal encounters will occur with your colleagues. And thus the more “natural” will be the interfacing and the complementing of those whose jobs intertwine with yours.
Why do we recommend this approach? It goes beyond “… don’t burn your bridges…”, which is aimed at securing good recommendations should the new employment not work out. We prefer to look at your career from the long-term perspective. Who knows where everyone you come in contact with will wind up? Who will be department heads or a major executive looking for new team members? You will hopefully have such a position and so you want to have a favorable reputation that allows you to attract talent. Within an industry or a skill set, people talk to people who will have heard of you. The more positive you are viewed by potential bosses or recruits, the better will be your opportunity to contribute over the life of your career.
Stay positive about your interacting before you announce a change as well as after. If your efforts are genuine, your reward could be a much more productive career. Good luck in your exit and in your new position!
R. David Silva
Career Editor
silva@4fashionadvice.com