🧠 Why This Matters

Leaving a job isn’t just about saying goodbye—it’s a critical professional move that can shape your future opportunities, reputation, and mental well-being.

According to LinkedIn and Harvard Business Review, how you exit a company can:

• Affect your references and rehire eligibility
• Impact your professional network and brand
• Influence team morale and productivity

This blog breaks down George Stern’s infographic into actionable advice, with added psychological insights and real-world relevance.

🟥 Don’t Leave Without Notice

❌ What not to do: Ghosting your employer
✅ What to do: Give formal notice to ensure a smooth transition

🔬 Brain Science Insight: Ghosting is often driven by anxiety or avoidance behavior. But dopamine regulation improves when we complete uncomfortable tasks, like delivering tough news professionally.

💬 Real Story: A software developer ghosted a startup in Pune. Months later, his background check failed at a multinational due to the missing exit formalities.

🧠 Don’t Decide Emotionally

❌ What not to do: Resign in anger or haste
✅ What to do: Create a career plan and exit with intention

🧠 Psychology Tip: Emotional decisions activate the amygdala, your brain’s fear center. Take time to process before acting. Try the 24-hour rule: Sit on the decision for a day before sending your resignation.

💰 Don’t Blindly Take a Counteroffer

❌ What not to do: Stay just for more money
✅ What to do: Reassess your core reasons for leaving

📈 Statistic: According to Forbes, 80% of employees who accept a counteroffer leave within 6 months anyway.

🧾 Don’t Ignore Legal Agreements

❌ What not to do: Copy files, take data, or ignore NDAs
✅ What to do: Review contracts and return company property

⚖️ Legal Note: Breaching confidentiality agreements can lead to lawsuits. Always ask HR about exit documentation.

🕹️ Don’t Slack Off

❌ What not to do: Mentally check out
✅ What to do: Stay engaged, document work for your replacement

🧠 Productivity Insight: Completing projects releases serotonin—boosting confidence and reducing exit stress.

🌉 Don’t Burn Bridges

❌ What not to do: Leave dramatically
✅ What to do: Say thanks, be respectful

🎯 Long-Term Tip: Always think in terms of your “reputation capital.” People move industries and companies—you never know when you’ll cross paths again.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Don’t Ghost Clients or Partners

❌ What not to do: Disappear from external comms
✅ What to do: Do handovers, introductions, and send closure emails

💬 Don’t Badmouth the Company

❌ What not to do: Rant on social media
✅ What to do: Share feedback constructively in exit interviews

🧪 Emotional Maturity: Practicing restraint builds EQ (Emotional Intelligence). It’s a trait top employers value deeply.

🔥 Don’t Burn Out While Leaving

❌ What not to do: Overwork yourself to “prove” your worth
✅ What to do: Balance responsibilities with wellness

📊 Insight: Burnout in the final month leads to poor handovers and long-term stress. Self-care = Professional care.

🧑‍💻 Don’t Dump on Your Team

❌ What not to do: Offload everything last minute
✅ What to do: Plan transitions, update trackers, and share documentation

👋 Don’t Leave Without a Goodbye

❌ What not to do: Slip out unnoticed
✅ What to do: Say farewell, thank mentors, and connect on LinkedIn

🔗 Networking Wisdom: Those last messages cement relationships and often lead to future opportunities.

🎨 Thumbnail Ideas

• 💼 Half-packed office desk with text overlay: “Quitting? Don’t Do This!”
• 🚪Open door with footprints and a “Thank You” card
• 🧠 Emoji face split between angry (red) and calm (blue) showing emotional vs. thoughtful exits

🧵 Hashtags for Social Media

#CareerTips #JobExitEtiquette #ProfessionalGrowth #QuitSmart #ResignationTips #OfficeLife #WorkplaceWisdom #LeadershipSkills #SoftSkills #MindfulExit

💡 Final Thought

Leaving a company isn’t the end—it’s part of your long-term brand.

Treat your resignation with as much care as you treated your first day on the job. Your future employers—and your future self—will thank you.