Leave in good-humour with your work colleagues, as you never know when this might come in handy. Not only does it make you a good person (provided your work colleagues were good to you), it could also open up opportunities in the future. You never know who will be in certain positions in other companies in the future. And while this doesn’t need to be about career progression necessarily, you might want to retain good relationships as your ex- work colleagues might even might put a good word in someone’s ear about you.

This is important if you want to be in your ex-employers good books. It will also mean that they will be much more likely to respect your decision to leave your job. Following the correct protocols means that your company has the necessary time to find a replacement or give your colleagues notice about a larger workload, which is vital. This will leave you and your employer feeling much more at ease with your decision to move on.

Don’t just hand in your notice and walk out the door. Explain that you are interested in progressing in your career and that the your newly-found employment offers new and exciting opportunities. Again, they will likely respect your decision, as deciding to seek a new challenge in a new environment is an admirable and brave decision – just make sure your employer knows your reasons.

If you speak negatively about your previous employers or co-workers, it says more about you  than them. Even if you have a good reason to give out about aspects of your previous job, it is a good idea to refrain from doing so. This is especially true in an interview situation. Your potential new employer won’t know the ins and outs of your previous job and will likely be scared that you’ll talk negatively about them in the same way in the future.

Don’t slack. Not only is this unfair on your co-workers, it will also negatively impact your reference from your employer. Instead, work hard until the moment you walk out the door. Don’t leave work behind for others to pick up either – as mentioned above, always keep your co-workers on your side, as you ever know when you might need them.

Finally, show gratitude. A simple thank you to your employer will let him or her know that you appreciate all that they have done for you. After all, unless you are changing direction completely, it might be because of them that you have been offered a new position.

7. Ask for a reference before you leave