Ten things to think about before handing in your notice

When leaving your job, it is a good idea to remember that you may work with former colleagues again in the future, so try to leave on good terms.

IT workers are highly sought after at the moment as more companies embrace technology to drive their businesses forward. So, if you have outgrown your current role, or feel that you need to broaden your experience, now is the time to make your move.

The best way to find relevant openings is to build a good relationship with a specialist IT recruiter who is well-networked in the technology sector and can advise you on how to tailor your CV so that it presents your skills and experience in the best possible light.

If you are successful in obtaining a new position, you then will need to think carefully about how and when to tell your current employer that you are leaving. Set out below are some practical tips to keep in mind.

10 points to keep in mind when handing in your notice

• Maintain good relations. Whatever your reason for leaving your current job, it is advisable to leave on good terms. Avoid burning bridges as you may encounter your former colleagues again in your future career.
• Check your contract to see how much notice you need to give your employer. While it is okay to give more notice, you may need to negotiate with your employer if you want to make an early exit.
• If you manage a team, you will need to think about what to tell them. They will want to know why you are leaving. Your employer may want to have input when it comes to when and what to tell them so it is a good idea to check before making your announcement.
• Make a list of your main tasks in your current role and prepare handover information for whoever will take over.
• Check your holiday entitlement. Your employer might ask you to use up any untaken annual leave prior to your departure.
• Decide when to tell anyone else that you need to inform — e.g. key customers/contacts.
• Your employer may not want to lose you if you are valuable to the business and/or may be difficult to replace. Think carefully about what you will do if your employer makes a counter offer.
• On the other hand, your employer might want you to stop working immediately if you have accepted an offer from a competitor so be prepared for a sudden exit. Usually, you will continue to be paid while on gardening leave but you will not be able to take up your position with your new employer until the gardening leave period has expired.
• If you have accumulated personal belongings in the office, you’ll need to get them together ahead of your departure. Remember to delete any personal files you may have saved on your employer’s computer.
• Having carefully planned your exit and avoided saying anything negative about your current employer or colleagues, don’t let your guard down at your leaving party!

If you are thinking about quitting your current role but haven’t yet found a new position, Eolas Recruitment will be happy to help you identify relevant opportunities. Check out our online reviews and contact us for more information. As a leading specialist recruiter in the IT sector, we have excellent relationships with many leading employers which means we often know about opportunities before they are advertised.