Resign / Quit your Job with Style: Career Boosting Tip #10

If you do find yourself in a situation where you are resigning from your post, be classy. How you quit your job can actually be a career booster. And conversely, resignations that are ill-timed, angry or emotional or clumsily handled can be career limiters.

Here are some obvious reasons why resigning in a classy way will help your career:

• You might get hired back in the same or bigger job
• Every single person you worked with is a potential formal or informal reference
• Every single person you worked with has the ability to think of and recommend you for opportunities their networks serve up. Or not.
• It is a really small world, and bad business behaviour does get around.
• It is the right thing to do, and ultimately, you will feel better about it.

As I reported on a previous post, developing a strong set of references is high on the list of challenges people face in their job search. Well guess what. A lot of that problem begins right here with how you leave your workplace.

No matter how aggrieved or justified you feel, avoid the impulse to screw your current employer. Be classy. You want them to miss you and regret your loss, not celebrate your departure.

• Give proper notice. Consider your timing when possible
• Break the news appropriately - to the right people, in the right order
• Tie up loose ends
• Help train your replacement
• Speak with your colleagues and collect their contact information (don’t leave without establishing those connections)

There, that wasn’t so hard.

Salary Negotiation quotes by Ian in Maxim Magazine

And while I am at it, thought I would mention another recent media appearance, although it is woefully late.

The April 2007 issue of Maxim magazine ran a few quotes from me on salary negotiations. If you happen to have that issue hangingin around, it is on page 126.

Book Recommendation: The Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk

I have had the fortune to be acquainted with Penelope Trunk, aka the Brazen Careerist, business advice / career columnist for the Boston Globe, for some time now. Penelope has always impressed me with her insightfulness and fresh, no-nonsense, practical ideas about managing careers and work.

So, I was delighted to receive from her publisher Warner Books a copy of her new book, Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success. Simply put, it is a really good read, and a valuable addition to increasing your career intelligence quotient.

I may call up one or two of her ideas for further discussion in later posts. What I really like though, is that she captures in 45 short sections new ideas about the changing rules of success. That the corporate ladder climb isn't as relevant as it used to be. That the pursuit of experience and skills and professional / personal development is what drives today's younger workers. That taking detours and resume gaps aren't a bad thing.

Reader Warning:I think Penelope and I get along because we see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues. Sections like "There Are No Bad Bosses, Only Whiny Employees" or "Blame Yourself First" rest squarely in the camp of personality responsibility and choice. If that kind of medicine doesn't sit well, then maybe Penelope's approach isn't for you.

For everyone else, if you are hungry for some practical tips and wisdom on managing and developing your career, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of the Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success.
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Career Boosting Tip #6: Networking Advice: Be interesting

Whether you are job search networking or business networking, one sure fire way to slow yourself down is to be boring. Boring isn’t memorable. Boring doesn’t entice someone to want to follow-up. Which is not to say that you should be obnoxious, or outrageous.

So, what are some ways to be interesting:

• Be Yourself: What is it about job search and networking? So many people try and morph themselves into what they think they are supposed to be - and that is transparent.
• Be Your Best Self: Not only am I suggesting to be yourself, but go one step further, and be your best self. Turn that light on. Be alive. Be energized and enthusiastic. Increase your wattage and people will notice. 
• Have an Opinion: If you have an opinion, share it.
• Be Plugged In: Usually, your networking is done in context…industry, interest groups, community organizations. Know what is going on. Demonstrate that you aren’t just floating by.
• Genuinely Care: If you do nothing else, remember that networking is about relationship building, and the best way to start a relationship is to take a genuine interest in someone, and ultimately, help them get what they want. Be an active listener. Ask genuine questions and remember the answers.
• Be Useful: Useful people are interesting. Are you a hub of information? A source of other contacts? Is your finger on the pulse of the industry? Can you open doors? Provide expertise? Slam dunk any of the above and you will be interesting.

You get the picture.

Inverse Correlation

One might reasonably assume that a significant number of days elapsed between blog posts and newsletters means that nothing is happening over here at BoldCareer world headquarters.

That wouldn't be the right assumption, but it is understandable.

Fact is, we are busy. Very busy. Serving clients. Creating new ways to serve you. And building some infrastructure to serve you better.

But, this blog has been dark of late. And I have lots of things to share and write about it. So, I will get at it.

Just wanted to check-in. Hope you are well.