Informing business contacts about you leaving company X 3

[foxbat1979]

Hi all,

As of november 1st, I will be leaving my current job. My question is whether any of you have informed customers, suppliers and other external people.

In my position (Sr. Engineer) I have a lot of dealings with both customers and suppliers. In my opinion it would be the right thing to inform them by e-mail (just a couple of polite lines) when I still have a few weeks to go in my current job. That moment would be around the end of this week I would think.

Anyone had any similar experiences?

Solidworks 2006/DBWorks 2006 user

 

[bridgebuster]

What is the office procedure?

Where I work, the company policy requires that the person above the project manager notify the client within 24 hours of the PM giving notice. Of course, this typically doesn't happen; then the management gets bent out of shape when the PM notifies the client.

 

[foxbat1979]

Well, we're probably getting right down to the reason of me posting this here: the lack of procedure at my current employer....

Furthermore, it's been years and years since any of the senior staff has left the company. I'm actually the first senior staff member in six years (the time that I've worked at the company) to leave.

Anyhow, my current intention is to inform the people I regulary communicate with by means of a short e-mail. The fact that everyone reacted in a disappointed but positive manner, is an indication to me that such an e-mail communication will not offend my boss. Well, that's what I'm hoping anyhow.

Solidworks 2006/DBWorks 2006 user

 

[greenone]

I would think employers would take the lead, to assure clients that their project will still be handled by someone competent on a timely basis. I think that is mgt's responsibility.
On the other hand, on a personal level, I would on my last day, send an email from a personal email address to all my contacts letting them know you were leaving. If they want to know where you are going, they can email you at your personal address.

 

[MadMango]

When I left my company, I sent a mass email (remember to bcc everyone) informing clients, vendors, etc of my departure. I wrote to them to let them know who they should contact in my absence, not just to tell them I was leaving. If you are going to do this, you do not have to explain why you are leaving. If you decide to do so, make it sound positive. There's no use in burning bridges.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[jmw]

Interesting.
This is of such importance to the company that it ought to be a priority action on the HR and Management check lists when they dump someone or they jump ship.

The more important the position vacated the more important to the company that all contacts are given the appropriate company line which would usually be "Please be aware "X" no longer works for us (no reasons) and "Y" has assumed his responsibilities" and some business as usual blurb.

OK, you can download Outlook back-up from MS to save your entire outlook applications, mails, contacts and all).

But, when I have left my last company, I didn't take my Outlook contacts (I felt that they belonged to the company) and I sent only one circular email to fellow direct employees and just a few personal emails to selected others but I did not send any to clients about my leaving.

The usual outcome is that whenever a client contacts the company the receptionist will say "I'm sorry, "X" no longer works for the company. Can anyone else help you?"

The receptionist will feel frustrated because no one bothered to tell her (a) that you'd gone or (b) who to direct all calls to.

Of course, this is the first any client will know of it.
If it is an automated switchboard or they have a direct line they will probably only ever get an unanswered phone.

If these are simply business contacts then they are the companies responsibility (property?) and none of them will expect to receive any kind of personal email from you, except in special instances as suggested above such as in active projects, and no matter how you word it the impression taken from you emailing anyone other than related to an active project will be to look for a sub-text damaging to either you or the company.

If it was your company and someone was leaving, what would you expect or require to happen? The absence of a formal company policy is not an excuse to do what you'd like.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[foxbat1979]

The contents of the e-mail would be like this:
***
I will be leaving company X as of.... Thank you all for the
pleasant working relationship, maybe we will meet again in the future.

After my departure, you will be left in the capable hands of person X who will be assuming responsibility for my projects.
***

One reason that I think this is the right thing to do is the fact that I've been working with some of these business contacts for a number of years on current projects.

Also due to the lack of procedure (and thus lack of management interest?), I consider it partly my responsibility to make sure that peope are being made aware of my departure in a timely fashion and that they will know who is stepping in to take care of business.

@MadMango : I am aware of the BCC-trick, thanks anyhow. Also, I intend to make it sound positive, no mud-throwing. I'm leaving this company a good way, I had a really nice time in my current job. Burning bridges is not the right way to go about things, it's a (really) small world

Solidworks 2006/DBWorks 2006 user

 

[jmw]

Of course, you could just check with your boss, he might appreciate the question and especially if you intend to burn no boats.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[SylvestreW]

Did this a few months ago. My old employer was supposed to contact everyone and inform them. Long story short, it didn't happen and the few that knew my other contact info were not impressed.
I personally feel that even though the company is responsible, there's nothing wrong with taking care of that yourself.
Just ensure you do not mention where you are going (as that can be interpreted as soliciation).

-
Aercoustics.com

 

[foxbat1979]

@SylvestreW:

Just about the same story here. Some of these contacts, I will meet again in my new job even though I'm not moving to a direct competitor or anything.
As for the the company being responsible for taking car of this, they've had 1.5 months to do so. With 3 weeks to go, I feel it is time to do it by myself. IMHO it's also to do with respect towards your business contacts. They deserve to be informed in a timely fashion about senior staff moving elsewhere.

No hard feelings though, I have a great working relationship with my current boss and wish him/them all the best for the future. Hell, I was even consulted about who to pick as my successor

@JMW:
I've asked a couple of people (senior staff) I trust about their opinion on the matter. They generally feel the same as I do. I don't know your location, but here in western Europe the company-cultures are known to be (a lot) less strict than in other parts of the world.

Solidworks 2006/DBWorks 2006 user

 

[epoisses]

***
I will be leaving company X as of.... Thank you all for the
pleasant working relationship, maybe we will meet again in the future.

After my departure, you will be left in the capable hands of person X who will be assuming responsibility for my projects.
***

Sounds like totally acceptable and appropriate to me. Anyone who takes their contacts seriously (after all they are human beings on the other side of the phone line or network cable) tells them goodbye and does not sneak out like a thief.

 

[EddyC]

A friend of mine found out after he gave his 2 weeks notice that the company owner intended to use him as a scapegoat for all the problems that occured on the projects that he was working on (problems that he did not cause). He proceeded to call up the customer and let them know that they could contact him directly with any questions. He told his soon to be ex-employer that he wasn't going to let them tarnish his good reputation.

 

[Ashereng]

Usually, the company takes care of informing clients that you left.

In some instances, the legal department may object to you informing the clients that you are leaving (as they are acutally the "company's" clients, and not yours).

For friends and colleagues, I just email them from my personal email account, outside of work.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[epoisses]

Ashereng, I don't see how this message could be any less professional or any less part of his job than telling his contacts he will be out of office during x days and giving them an alternate contact name. After all he works with the company until his last working day.

 

[kchayfie]

Where time and workload allow, I have often seen leavers taking their successors to meetings to introduce them as the person taking over. In the absence of opportunity for such introductions, the e-mail suggested would be an appropriate way to effect the handover.

 

[Ashereng]

epoisses,

If that is the way your company works, then that is the way to do it.

Other companies, may have different policies.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[jmw]

When you go on holiday, you are expected to come back and no one will think twice about it.
When you are leaving, because of the various legal conundrums, no one will make any adverse written/email comment that could be actionable. So these messages aren't going to mean anything much nor would the absence of such messages. Your personal message might be sufficiently unexpected that whatever you say you will excite speculation.

Much might depend on your last contact or action. Suppose it was a problem that you would have fixed but now someone else will (or not) fix. The inference might be drawn that you have been pushed. Or maybe you said something innocent enough about some work or persona;l problem or project problem with the employing company. They might "guess" you jumped.
Your message and/or the companies can be written as carefully as possible and still fail to do what it is intended to do. Yours more than the companies.
If you expect to deal with any of the clients again in your new role, then you might be better to contact them after you have left than before.
If not, then let it go. Your responsibilities to the companies clients end when your responsibilities to your employer end.
Your leaving is not a unique event. It happens all the time and letting it go is probably the best you can do.
If there is a problem that needs you then you can be sure the client or your ex-employer will soon make you wish you were ex-directory.


JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[MedicineEng]

I did that one month ago. I sent an email to all my professional contacts saying more or less this:

"After more than 5 years as XXX, I would like to inform that I will leave Company X on YYY day. My replacement will be ZZZ that most of you already had contact in the past. Either way, please find his contacts below for your reference.
I would like to thank you for all the help and support in these past years and I trust that you will extend it to ZZZ in the coming future.
Best Regards,

MedicineEng.

It worked fine for me.

 

[HgTX]

I just got an email today which before reading this thread I would have thought completely unremarkable:

To all:

Today is my last day at [company X]; I will be starting a new job on Monday (10/22) with [company Y] here in [city Z]. I will be [doing ABC]. My contact information at [company Y] is below:

Come to think of it, it still seems completely unremarkable.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[SylvestreW]

I'd think that mentioning your new company and your new responsibilities is risky.

-
Aercoustics.com