I usually post things related to Customer Service, Social Media or similar, and this time it’s only tangentially related to Customer Care, because that happens to be be the area I’m in.
There are many reasons to leave your current employer, it may be because you move on geographically, are looking for a new challenge, or even disappointment in your current role or see a lack of progression opportunities. All of those reasons are understandable and it is of course up to you to make sure you are happy at work, after all, you spend many hours there, generally for an extended period of time. As you can see, there are multiple reasons, but each decision is personal – As individual as you are, and the company you work for and the role you’re in (or were). However, I really think you should make an effort to leave on good terms.
Let me explain why this topic is currently on my mind:
The company I work for is located in a major European country that attracts many young people, for work, party, and experience. As my employer provides a service for travellers, English as a language is much more important than the local language. In fact, we’re one of the few companies here that doesn’t need local language abilities at all, and as such, we get a lot of applications from people wanting to come here. Our local talent management team also supports with documentation, so those people wanting to come here have some support with paperwork and regulations. That’s basically a win win situation.
There are obviously downsides too, for me as a team manager. Those people sometimes move on, and I’m not referring to those who are generally unhappy with the job, company, pay or city. Some people have “wanderlust” (a great German word), some get homesick, some get better job offers and others fall in love and simply move on. That’s the modern world we live in, and that’s OK. There have however been a couple of cases recently, that make me 100% certain that leaving your employer on good terms is a good idea, and under certain circumstances can be a clear advantage for the employer.
Let me explain the two examples: One person joined us as he/she was unhappy with their previous role. They weren’t supported, there were no real progression chances and they wanted to use their language skills. After being with us for a few months, they got an offer from an earlier employer, for a better job, and there were certain things implied that made that person went to move back. We parted ways, and wished each other luck. It didn’t take 6 months for him/her to get back in touch, saying those implied benefits never materialized, and asking whether we still had space. We said yes and were glad to welcome them back to the team and family.
Another person wanted to move country (from Germany to UK) and therefore handed in their notice. We didn’t try to convince them to stay, as I firmly believe that people should travel and gather experience elsewhere. 2 weeks ago we get a message via Facebook, saying they’re moving back, and work available? We said yes, and the team is happy about it.
My point here is the following: We give our colleagues a good place to work in an exciting city, an exciting environment, fixed contracts and fair pay. Of course not everyone sees things that way, and some may have other priorities, and that’s human too, but it’s always good for me to know that people who are open, honest and fair to us about why they leave, are willing to come back when their situation changes. It means that we are doing a good job with our teams, and that’s a good thing.