Do you tell your employer or colleagues where you are going after resigning?

[Anonymous]

I went to a niche start-up, I did share the company name and no one has ever heard of it.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t because 1) I didn’t really like my coworkers and didn’t want to share any personal info with them and 2) my boss was trying to get me to stay and I didn’t want to give her any more talking points (e.g. “I heard new company isn’t doing well…”)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A normal person makes up something to say in response to the obvious question everone will ask. It doesn't have to be true. "I'm going to spend a few weeks thinking about what I want to do next" or "My mom needs some help for a bit" or "I'm superstitious and I want to wait until I start my new job to say anything."

Literally anything except "Nunya." Being weird about leaving means the last thing they'll remember about you is how weird you were.

Oh, no -- People I'm never going to see again will think I'm weird? What ever will I do?

Well, everyone badgered me when I resigned, and I never told a soul. They had a goodbye lunch for me, and for a full hour, people tried to guess where I was going and what I was doing. No one was even close.

Anyhoo, years later when I decided to go back to "the real world," those same people were my reference. I didn't hesitate to serve up their names, and I didn't even think to give them a heads-up. Yeppers, I was hired. I'm weird? That's obvious to everyone.

[Anonymous]

I work in a job that is very ideological and when people do this (rare) they are usually switching sides.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s weird to be secretive. What is the reason? Sounds like drama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It can be awkward not to share where you are going, but sometimes it's for the best. However, when not sharing where you are headed, it's a good idea to provide bosses/coworkers with goodbye gifts. Nothing too elaborate: selection of homemade jams and preserves (maybe in a small hamper if you're feeling generous), gourmet cheese wheels, etc.

lol no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My last employer required it. That’s because they wanted to sue anyone who went to a competitor or someone in the same space. Apparently when that company acquired my original employer, the new employment agreement they made us sign included that requirement. Fortunately I was not going to a company in the same space, but I heard they had gone after a low-level marketing person who did, and her new employer as well. Needless to say, they were a-holes.

What document did you sign agreeing to this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also find it super awkward when people don't share. I am not entirely sure about the logic but I think people want to avoid having their current colleagues say negative things about them to the new employer, and I guess they're hoping they'll just be forgotten when they leave and people won't bother to track down where they've gone.

SuPer!