Whether you are earning minimum wage or top dollar, the way you depart a job leaves behind an employment legacy that can come back to help or haunt you.

Leaving one job for another should be a career enhancement decision and, as such, the way you depart and the way you are remembered are vital to your career planning.  Even though some employment laws may protect you from a “bad reference”,  your reputation among peers and in your industry could suffer from a poorly executed departure. 

As your career progresses your network becomes increasingly valuable.  Without it you are forced to start from scratch each time you need or desire to relocate or change positions.  A person with the reputation for burning bridges will forever be running from that reputation.

Believe it or not when you leave your job, there is a better than average chance that your employer or supervisor will have an emotional reaction to your departure.  This is especially true if it comes as a complete surprise.  When an employer or supervisor hires, trains, and works with a person, a certain sense of personal investment in that employee occurs.  To find out that a subordinate is leaving without explanation or forewarning is not only disappointing but can also be interpreted as a personal failure on the employers part; it can also be interpreted as a lack of loyalty, or betrayal on the employee’s part.  You want to avoid as much of this as possible.  Ideally you want your former employer to be happy that you have moved onward and upward and the doors left open for your return at some later time.

Appropriate notice is the answer, however timing is important, so be careful.  I recall the story of a young programmer who, out of respect, went to his employer and explained that he was no longer challenged by his position and wanted to give notice that he intended to begin searching for other employment.  His employer thanked him for his honesty and in turn gave him notice that he would begin searching for his replacement. 

Of course, the replacement was found long before the young programmer found his next position.  Don’t make that mistake.  But also don’t make the mistake of thinking your employer will not feel somewhat betrayed knowing that you have been job hunting while working for him or her.

Two weeks is the generally accepted length of notice for entry level and lower level management positions.  For mid level managers, and upper level positions, 30 days is appropriate, longer for director and C level positions.  You should plan your departure realistically,  keeping in mind that once you give notice your employer may want you to leave immediately.

In addition, your new employer is going to form opinions about you based on the way you handle your departure from your previous position. If you are job hunting and employed make sure you do it on your own time and on your own supplies and equipment.  A new employer may never become yours, if he or she believes you are using the resources of your current employer to job hunt.

Make it clear to your new boss that you intend to do what you believe to be honorable in leaving your current employment.  Remember that often your current employer is going to want you to leave before your notice period expires so compromise is always possible regarding your start date with your new employer.  Be sure you understand the urgency that your new employer may be under.

Appropriate notice is not only when you notify your employer of your intended departure but how you do it as well.  Tell tale signs such as gradual disappearance of your personal items are dead give-a-ways and do not do anything to help you.

Let your co-workers know about your departure only after you have informed your employer.  Avoid taking some of them into your confidence.  As much as you may trust them, you are leaving, they are staying, and their loyalty may be to the company -- not to you.  Also, just plain old gossip may get the news to your boss before you do and this is always negative.

When you tell your employer you should do so simultaneously in writing and in person.  Your letter of resignation should present your intention clearly and concisely, it should have no more than three short paragraphs. 

The last day of your employment and the length of your notice should be stated clearly in the first paragraph. Paragraph two should include your assurances to your employer that you will leave keys, equipment, credit cards, and any other company belongings that you may have in your possession in a secure place; or you may ask for instructions regarding those items.  Paragraph three should include your sincere thanks for the time spent at this company, if there is a specific positive you can mention, do so, otherwise a general thank you is sufficient. 

A resignation letter should never include a negative, or a recommendation to the employer regarding your ideas of how he or she can correct a problem.  It is not your opportunity to vent and should not be used as such. 

When you tell your employer you are leaving do so with a rehearsed statement that represents the truth and the message you want to convey to the company and to your coworkers, make sure the story you leave behind is your story.  By not giving a reason and by not addressing the issue openly you give license for rumor to run wild – the same rumor may still be circulating years later.

Leaving a job in a graceful positive way is just as important as embarking on a new one in the same manner.  It is possible to leave a negative situation in a positive way.  The choice is yours – the high road has no traffic jam.