Hi, I'm about to leave my current job (transitioning from one big tech company to another in a completely different domain). I have a great relationship with my current manager and expect to leave on good terms, planning to give the standard two-week notice. There’s still over a month before my departure, and I’m not currently involved in any high-priority projects, nor do I expect to be in the near future. My schedule is fairly flexible, so I’d like to make the most of this time. How should I best utilize the time before I leave? Here are a few ideas I’ve come up with: Look for some mentees? It could be short sessions or long term. I've been in the company for 3+ years. I think I'm good at talking to people and help others. Have my personal wiki page of tips and tricks. My suggestions on internal communication tools sometimes receive a lot of positive feedback, so it could be a helpful resource. Set up some personal 1-1 session with my teammates. Just to chat. build rapport. Catch up with some college friends who are in the same company but we never really connected Write my work summary and move it to an internal wiki page so if I ever want to return to the company, hiring managers could use it as a reference. Write a journal for myself. It's a wild ride. Any comments, thoughts or suggestions?

ooh, I love all these ideas. I especially like #3: Set up some personal 1-1 session with my teammates. Just to chat. build rapport. Some of the most honest conversations I had with colleagues was when I announced that I was leaving the company, and did a final 1:1 with each teammate. Remember to exchange emails/LinkedIns so you can keep in touch when your corp account gets deactivated. I also like #6, journaling is a powerful way to reflect and get excited about what you're doing. The idea I'm not bullish on is having an internal wiki page that you update and present -- too much will change between now and when/if you decide to come back to the company. Even if you do decide to come back to the company within 1-2 years, it's a bit odd to tell a potential hiring manager look up my name in the internal wiki, I left you a message from the past 😅 The personal wiki page of tips and tricks could be interesting, but I wonder if you could fold it into an existing wiki page so it could get more distribution.

What to do 1 month before your leave for the next job?

Mid-Level Software Engineer at Taro Communitya month ago

Mid-level Engineer

Hi, I'm about to leave my current job (transitioning from one big tech company to another in a completely different domain). I have a great relationship with my current manager and expect to leave on good terms, planning to give the standard two-week notice.

There’s still over a month before my departure, and I’m not currently involved in any high-priority projects, nor do I expect to be in the near future. My schedule is fairly flexible, so I’d like to make the most of this time. How should I best utilize the time before I leave? Here are a few ideas I’ve come up with:

Look for some mentees? It could be short sessions or long term. I've been in the company for 3+ years. I think I'm good at talking to people and help others.
Have my personal wiki page of tips and tricks. My suggestions on internal communication tools sometimes receive a lot of positive feedback, so it could be a helpful resource.
Set up some personal 1-1 session with my teammates. Just to chat. build rapport.
Catch up with some college friends who are in the same company but we never really connected
Write my work summary and move it to an internal wiki page so if I ever want to return to the company, hiring managers could use it as a reference.
Write a journal for myself. It's a wild ride.

Any comments, thoughts or suggestions?

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Discussion

(4 comments)

1
Rahul Pandey
•Tech Lead/Manager at Meta, Pinterest, Kosei
a month ago
ooh, I love all these ideas. I especially like #3: "Set up some personal 1-1 session with my teammates. Just to chat. build rapport."

Some of the most honest conversations I had with colleagues was when I announced that I was leaving the company, and did a final 1:1 with each teammate. Remember to exchange emails/LinkedIns so you can keep in touch when your corp account gets deactivated.

I also like #6, journaling is a powerful way to reflect and get excited about what you're doing.

The idea I'm not bullish on is having an internal wiki page that you update and present -- too much will change between now and when/if you decide to come back to the company. Even if you do decide to come back to the company within 1-2 years, it's a bit odd to tell a potential hiring manager "look up my name in the internal wiki, I left you a message from the past 😅"

The personal wiki page of tips and tricks could be interesting, but I wonder if you could fold it into an existing wiki page so it could get more distribution.
1
Alex Chiou
•Tech Lead @ Robinhood, Meta, Course Hero
a month ago
#3, #4, and #6 seem the best to me, especially #3 which feels table-stakes. The main resource you cultivate at any job, especially at more senior levels, is the relationships.

Finding mentees seems awkward as you are on your way out.

Congrats on the new job!
1
Charlie Vuong
•Eng @ Taro
a month ago
I would focus on #3 and #4. it's just a nice practice to let people know that you are leaving so they don't get caught off guard. Another benefit is that they might be thinking about the same thing, so you might have the opportunity to work with them in the future.

As part of your offboarding process, I would sync with your manager to make sure all of your previous work has a new point of contact that can drive the project forward. Also, make sure you also sync up with all of the points of contact so they aren't lost after you've left the company. When you meet with them, I would walk through a wiki or add notes to a new wiki while you are giving them the rundown of your work.

Basically, brainstorm ways to make your transition as seamless as possible.
1
Elliot Kang
•AI/ML Eng @ Series C startup
a month ago
If you have the flexibility to, travel. I'm on my third trip in 3 months and it's been so helpful in resetting + building new work habits.

It can be difficult to break out of bad habits sometimes, so physically relocating even for a few days can make your brain flow differently