Whether you’re changing industries, going back to school, or just plain fed up with your boss, the day will come when you decide to leave your job.  When you do decide it’s time for a change, you should make sure you don’t burn any bridges, because one day you’ll need to reference your old employer, and the last thing you want them to remember about you is that you took your 20″ LCD monitor home with you on your last day.

Here are 7 steps on how to properly leave your job:

1. Transition your work early: If you’re good, your employer is losing a lot in you.  Don’t make it worse for them by waiting until your last day to finish that major work and move all of your responsibilities to your replacement.  Start transitioning your smaller duties as early as you can, and make sure you’ve transitioned everything over by your last week.
2. A two week notice isn’t good enough: Yes, it’s true that industry standards dictate for a two week notice before you leave your job.  That’s exactly why you should give at least three or four weeks advanced notice when you decide to leave.  You want your boss to remember just how considerate you were when you decided to move on.  By giving more than the standard two week notice, you’re showing how much better you are than everyone else.  This also goes for those of you that hate your current workplace.  No matter how much you dislike your current position, don’t just get up and leave, it will come back to bite you, and you’re not spiting anyone except yourself.Of course, the exception here is if you don’t have more than two weeks to give.  If that’s the case, tell your employer as soon as you know you’ll be leaving.
3. Write a great resignation letter: Your resignation letter becomes a part of your permanent file with your company.  If you feel like returning to them in the future, you better believe they’ll take a look at how you left them the first time.  Make sure to mention how much you appreciated the chance to work there, and leave them with a good feeling.
4. Write a great farewell email: A resignation letter is oftentimes only seen by your HR representative and your boss.  You want to make sure that everyone you worked with throughout your career at your company knows how grateful you are to have had the chance to work with them.  A day or two before you leave, send out an email to everyone you’ve worked with in the past and let them know that you’ve enjoyed your time with them and that you want to thank them for all the support they’ve provided.  If you’re interested in staying in touch with them, make sure to provide your personal contact information (cell phone number and personal email).
5. Make your rounds: On your last day at work, go around the office and personally meet with everyone you’ve worked with.  Talk to them for a few minutes and tell them how much you appreciated their help.  They’ll remember that final meeting for a long time, and you never know when you’ll have to work with them again.