Quit Your Job Gracefully with These 5 Moves!

The US job market is on fire! Lawyers are being hired – and correspondingly – are leaving their employers in droves. Because the legal community is really small, here are 5 ways to quit gracefully:

1. Tell your boss first. Make an appointment, and tell him/her, ideally in-person, before you tell others.
2. Prepare to answer why you are leaving. Keep it positive, e.g., you are moving to a new opportunity where you will be doing X or learning Y. Or at least keep it neutral, e.g., traffic has been tough so you are moving to an employer who is closer. It’s easier for managers to accept these reasons.
3. Transition gracefully. Give two weeks’ notice (at least!). (You may be asked to do more. It’s up to you if you can swing it.) Try to wrap up and hand off things. If you can, offer to answer questions that may come up.
4. Keep your written notice and/or departure memo short and sweet. Thank people for their generosity, time, etc.
5. Stay in touch with colleagues. Connect with people on LinkedIn, and do not burn any bridges! You never know when you’ll need a reference, when you will be back-channeled (when a prospective employer asks around unofficially about you), or if you ever want to rejoin this employer.