Leaving A Freelance Job

Leaving a job can be a difficult time, no matter the reason for your departure. I currently work one full-time position and multiple contract positions. With my recent news and impending move, I am having to craft and develop transition plans for each of these organizations as I begin to notify my employers. While I am lucky to say that my departure from all of these roles is simply due to my move to Paris, making a detailed transition plan is important even if you are departing on less than nice terms. You never know where your next job may come from (most of my employment comes from references and word of mouth) and it is important to display immense professionalism till the end. I tried to do research on how to depart such a role professionally, when there is no clear HR department sometimes and my contracts are sometimes vague, but found no clear information. As a result, here is my methodology to leaving such a job:

Before you even submit your notice, you should consider what ideally this transition would look like for you:

• How much notice can you give? Are you flexible in this? (Check your contract to make sure a mandatory time is not specified)
• What tasks are you currently working on? Will you be able to finish them prior to departure? If not, how will you pass on your knowledge of the work that needs to be done?
• Are others cross-trained in your role? If not, how can this occur in your remaining time?
• Is all information and internal knowledge you contain in a centralized place in a digital format for easy transfer? If not, how will you do this?
• What are your expectations with the final billing cycle? What does your contract entitle you to? (Again, check your contract to see if pay for unused vacation days, etc. are specified)

These are all important questions to ask yourself in advance so you can understand what your personal needs are in this move and preemptively think on how you can help your employer feel secure and confident in a situation that can really be disruptive. When you have these answers you will also be prepped to better negotiate what you are able to provide in your remaining time. I have a terrible tendency to OVER commit in professional situations (I just want to help everyone!), so I have to be very realistic about what deliverables I know I can guarantee in a short time frame. 

Sometimes employers have no interest in you executing a transition plan, and may accept your departure immediately. Even if this occurs, the gesture and forethought of having a plan speaks volumes about you as a professional and are worth the effort. Cases of immediate departure also emphasize the importance of taking time while you are employed to document the work you do, maintain accurate and organized files, and take the time to cross-train your colleagues - so even if your departure is sudden, your work will continue to speak to your professionalism after you are gone.

When you are finally ready to notify your employer, remember that having an in-person conversation first is always the best and most professional way to handle this. If you work remotely, a phone call may be your next best option. I recently had to do this with a client where my supervisor was based across the country. These conversations are often a surprise, so be prepared to listen and be empathetic about the curve ball you just threw at them. Losing an employee means a lot of things: 1) loss of institutional knowledge 2) having to begin the hiring process 3) on-board a new employee - all of these equal time and expense for a company.  Listen to their concerns - then discuss and negotiate how you can negate some of these issues. You want everyone to leave this engagement feeling as positive as possible. 

After your initial conversation (phone call or in-person) and when you have agreed to terms, be sure to send a follow up email as your official letter of resignation. This documentation is important for HR, and so that everyone is on the same page of expectations. Here is a sample email I recently sent as a follow up after a phone call with my supervisor:

Dear [Name]

I am writing to notify you of my impending departure from [company]. Over the weekend I received an offer that will be taking me to Europe that will allow me to enter my dream line of work. Although I have greatly enjoyed my time with [company], I just cannot say no to this opportunity, and I therefore have to move on. 

I have spoken with [HR contact], whom I have cc-d here, who will be helping with the transition. As a contract worker, I realize my release is rather immediate. I will be taking today to wrap up any outstanding projects and will return all documents to you at your convenience. This includes [Listed agreed upon projects]. I will submit my final invoice upon returning the documents. 

Thank you again for the opportunity to work with you.

Best wishes, 

Jessica Baldwin

These tipsare clearly meant to outline how a departure would look like under normal, professional circumstances. I know that this is not always the case. My only piece of advice is just to follow the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated. Always be the "bigger person" and be able to leave with your head held high knowing you did the best you could. 

I have had the pleasure of working with some amazing clients this past year, and for those that I will not be able to continue to work for while abroad, I hope that I have been able to contribute something during my time of employment. I also hope that we are leaving on terms where we could work together in the future!