This article was published in the National Liquor News, Sept 2018 edition

The world of liquor is a small industry and it is only getting smaller as we are more connected than ever before. Employees should keep in mind how they leave their current role as this can have an impact on their future career path.

Our advice to candidates intending to resign is to have a plan and stick to it. Firstly, you should understand your contractual obligations. Do you have a non-compete agreement and if so, will this impact on your ability to perform or start in your new role? If you haven’t got a copy of what you signed, ask for your contract from HR. If you have a non-compete it’s likely you need to share where you’re going with your current employer. Regardless, it’s better to be transparent so all the cards are laid out from the outset. If you don’t understand what you’ve signed, seek legal advice.

You might be ready to tell people about your new role, however the first to know should be your current manager and this should be done in person. News travels fast and no one wants to be caught off guard. Give your manager time to work through the situation and also to be able to share the news with other employees in the best way possible. If you can’t meet in person a phone call is the next best thing.

With a verbal resignation you should also provide a letter to formally document your resignation. This should cover the key points such as your name, the role you’re resigning from and what your intended last day is. Hand this over in person when the meeting is finished and keep it short.

The length of your notice period can impact on how your departure is viewed by the business. Give as much notice as possible and the more senior you are, the more notice that is required. You could be asked to leave immediately, particularly if you’re going to a competitor. Be prepared for this scenario and make sure you have all your personal items ready.

Keep emotions in check as you don’t want to burn any bridges. We’ve seen candidates that bad mouth managers while working out their notice period and it makes everyone feel uncomfortable. Also don’t disengage. While you may have mentally made the switch into your new role, still show up on time, be present and get your work done or provide as smooth a transition as possible.

Keep in mind how you want to be remembered and what you’d expect in the same situation. It’s your reputation at stake and in any industry, this matters.

For all things sales and marketing please call Sue Lauritz on 0403 063 128 or Amber King on 0404 023 944.