A Happy Ending

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Before starting your new job, wrap up in your current role.

It's finally happened. After months of hard work, and numerous interviews, you finally got the job you've always dreamed of. In just a few short weeks, you'll change departments – or even companies – and take on a new role, with a new team and new responsibilities. Congratulations!

There's a lot to think about when you change jobs – whether it's because of a promotion, or a department change, or a move to a new organization. It's an exciting time, but what can you do to make the transition go smoothly for you, and easier on the people you leave behind?

Well, most importantly, you'll need to bring the work in your current job to an ordered close. To help you pass the baton onto the person who's taking over from you, you'll need to bring projects up to date as far as you can, or leave a list for your replacement, where you outline the tasks you've completed, and what remains unfinished.

If you're a manager, and one of your team members is leaving, you'll have your own set of challenges. At the forefront of your mind will be how you can make sure the person completes his or her projects before moving on.

In this article, we discuss why it's so important to "close" your job before you make a transition – and how to make sure you don't leave your boss, your team, or your replacement with any loose ends....