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Professional reputations built over a lifetime may be destroyed
overnight should you fail to secure (a) timely reference letters, (b)
cover story to your co-workers, and (c) seal of your personnel file
against nosy third-parties.
Secure
timely reference letters.
First of all, request favourable letter of recommendation before, rather
than after you’ve left the company.
This letter should include starting date of your employment,
position(s) held, responsibilities undertaken, and reference to your
having performed all job duties in a professional and satisfactory
manner. If supervisors are too busy to write something up for you,
then draft it yourself, and have your letter signed by a qualified
boss/officer of the company who actually worked with you and therefore
in position to know you well.
Too many times, well-meaning employers will promise you the world as far
as references are concerned, but quickly lose interest once you’ve
left the company. Finally,
better for your letter not to contain specific reason(s) for your
departure, so that you’re left with maximum flexibility to offer
whatever reasons you feel are appropriate under various circumstances of
new job interviews.
Cover
your story from workplace gossip.
Secondly, request that co-workers be notified of your departure reasons
in writing so as to dispel the typical false rumours about your
termination. Whereas a
positive company-wide memo may assist you in landing a new job for an
industry contact/competitor, false rumours and water-cooler innuendo
spread rapidly through narrow industries.
Seal
your personnel file.
Finally, ask your employer for express promise that your personnel file,
performance reviews, medical claims, attendance records, alleged
misconduct, etc.. will be
effectively sealed from third-party
access. At no cost to the
employer, your boss’ written assurance of confidentiality will enable
your departure with maximum personal privacy and reputation intact.
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