Dallas offers etiquette advice in 10 things Sarah Palin should do on her last day at work

Make Your Best Impression Blog, News & Testimonials, Press Room / Media   ·   July 25, 2009

Tomorrow is Sarah Palin’s last day as governor of Alaska. The last day at any job can bring up a lot of feelings—both good and bad—and it is tempting to act out on any revenge fantasies that you may have. Unless you want to deal with the consequences of going rogue, here are some more behaviors to avoid on your last day at work.

1. Do tie up all loose ends. It’s not fair to create extra work for your colleagues after you have gone, so be sure to let them know the status of your projects on your last day. “Transfer knowledge or information to those who need it. Just because you’re leaving doesn’t give you the right to leave jobs undone or your employer in the lurch,” said Lois P. Frankel, author of Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office. “Be certain that you have closed the loop on all of the projects assigned to you—it adds to your professionalism.”

2. Do express your emotions in an appropriate manner. You may feel a lot of sadness when you leave a job, especially if you have been fired or downsized. However, it’s best to remain professional, no matter how you may feel.

“Small displays of emotions are okay as long as they are small displays of emotions. Nobody wants to comfort a sobbing coworker,” said Karen L. Martin of Strategies for Human Resources. “That can weaken your reputation with those who may be helpful later.”

3. Do reflect on your experience at your job and take a personal inventory. “If you have had your nose to the proverbial grindstone for a few years, your resume and your 30-second personal pitch will need some freshening up,” said Lorne Epstein, coauthor of You’re Hired! Interview Skills to Get the Job. “You have learned a great deal over the past few years, which is very cool and very valuable to your next employer.”

4. Do file for unemployment as soon as possible. If you are not going into a new job, don’t wait to file for unemployment. “Every day you don’t file is money you and your family are losing,” said Epstein. “Unless you agree to not file for unemployment insurance, get yourself into your state’s unemployment process—as you never know when you will need the financial resource.”

5. Do delete all of your personal files from your computer. Be sure to grab all of your personal files on your last day and save them or e-mail them to yourself.

6. Don’t blow off your last day at work. Although it may be tempting to pull a Ferris Bueller on your last day at work, it’s more professional to just go to the office to tie up loose ends and say your good-byes to everyone. Not coming in will just leave a bad impression with your colleagues.

7. Don’t ruin your reputation. Don’t do anything that will follow you around for the rest of your career. “It can take years to build credibility, trust, and professional reputation—and seconds to lose it,” said legal professional Julia Kelly Hoey. “You don’t want to sabotage your reputation and alienate former colleagues—as well as potential references and job search sources by leaving on a negative note.”

8. Don’t pester your colleagues for help. “If your former coworkers have offered to provide you with assistance in finding your next job, stay in touch but don’t act desperate,” said Hoey.

9. Don’t drown your sorrows in retail therapy. If you have lost your job, it may be tempting to head straight to the mall on your last day to blow off some steam. Instead of wasting that cash on things you don’t need, you’ll feel much better in the long run by volunteering—which will keep you occupied while you help others.

10. Don’t disconnect from the job. “It is best when leaving a position to always work out your notice with 110% effort. Often people tend to mentally check out when they submit their notice to terminate their employment,” said Dallas Teague Snider, Founder of Make Your Best Impression. “Understand that while you are still on the clock of the employer, you should always honor that commitment. When one mentally checks out, they are in essence stealing from their employer.”

Source: Examiner.com