In generations past people would get a job and may stay with the same employer for their whole life. This is not likely to happen today.
According to an article on About.com the average person changes jobs ten to fifteen times (with an average of 11 job changes) during his or her career, which means a good amount of time is spent changing employment.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that people born between 1957 and 1964 held an average of 11 jobs from ages 18 to 44. On average, men held 11.4 jobs and women held 10.7 jobs. 25% percent held 15 jobs or more, while 12% held four jobs or less.
Since people are changing jobs more now than ever before, what is the best way to leave one job so that you will be considered a good candidate when applying for another?
Our office has been in need of a part time employee. I have been dragging my feet in actively looking for one as it is costly and can be such a hassle. I promised my staff that when I returned from vacation (which was two weeks ago) that I would take care of this situation.
Having exhausted my usual avenues of finding a suitable employee I was faced with having to call the local medical assisting school or run an online ad. Both of these options would require a lot of time with resumes and applicant interviews, which I was dreading.
Then much to my surprise I received a text message from one of our former employees who we have kept in contact with over the last several years. She stated that she was going to leave the job for which she went to school for. She wanted to work part time so she could spend more time with her little one at home and wanted to know if I would keep my ear open for any medical positions that I might hear of in our town.
My mouth dropped open, I was thrilled to say the least, my prayers had been answered and with an employee that was better than the best I would ever interview.
Now I cannot say this about all of our past employees that have left for other jobs so what made it so easy to rehire this past employee?
1. She let us know way in advance what her plan was for her “dream job.” There were no surprises, she planned it out informing us every step of the way through her education and then training process.
2. When she got her job she did not leave us stranded. She came in at night and on the weekends helping out until we found a new employee. We wrote reference letters for her new employer.
3. During her six year employment we never had to question her integrity or ethical standards.
4. We didn’t always see eye-to-eye but we were always able to work things through and together. She was a team player always thinking of the business first.
5. She kept in contact with us for the past seven years, we attended her wedding and baby shower. She worked on a relationship with us and always showed respect to those in the office.
She built the bridge she did not burn it. Never in her wildest thoughts did she think when she left her employment with us that she would ever return, but guess what? Life and situations change and you never know what is ahead.
If you need to leave a job make sure you do it the right way, keeping the door open and continuing to build bridges as you may need to walk back over them one day.
08/19/14
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