Leaving a company and job is often bittersweet. On one hand, you may be excited for new opportunities and adventures that lie ahead. But it also means saying goodbye to coworkers, projects, and routines that have become familiar. When you decide today is your last day at a job, it inevitably brings up many questions and emotions.
Posting about your departure on LinkedIn elicits mixed reactions. Some say it comes across as unprofessional to broadcast what may be sensitive internal information. Others see it as a chance to control the narrative, thank colleagues, and announce their next move. Before proclaiming your last day, consider the best timing and approach.
Should you post about leaving a job on LinkedIn?
There are a few factors to weigh when deciding whether or not to share your departure on LinkedIn:
- Your relationship with your employer. If you are leaving a job amicably, a post can be a nice closing gesture. But if there are tensions or legal matters involved, it may be wiser to refrain.
- How publicly known your departure is. If it is already widely known you are leaving through team emails or an announcement, a post likely will not break significant new ground.
- Your goals and priorities. Do you want to notify your network, thank colleagues, or announce next steps? Or would you prefer a lower-key transition?
- How your industry views exit posts. Some fields like tech embrace these open updates. Others may consider them taboo.
Take time to reflect on your specific circumstances and objectives. For many, a simple update post can be constructive. For others, restraint may be advisable. There is no one right or wrong answer that applies universally.
Best practices for announcing your last day
If you do decide to share your departure from a company on LinkedIn, keep these best practices in mind:
- Inform your employer first. As a courtesy, let your manager or HR know about your post before publishing it more widely. Sudden public posts can damage relationships.
- Maintain discretion. Do not share confidential business details. And avoid venting frustrations or negativity.
- Craft your narrative thoughtfully. Spin the story in your favor, focusing on positive framing like pursuing new growth opportunities.
- Proofread carefully. Double check for typos, errors, or unintended tones. The post will live on.
- Time it strategically. If your last day is already public knowledge, posting a week or so before your end date can be ideal timing.
- Thank colleagues, clients, etc. Express gratitude and well wishes without overdoing it.
- Announce next steps if desired. Share news of your new role or company if it is already public and will not compromise your current employer.
Following these tips helps maintain your professional reputation during a transition. By being selective, preparing properly, and focusing the message on the future, your post can build goodwill rather than stir up trouble.
Sample last day announcement post
Here is an example of a simple, effective LinkedIn update announcing your last day at a company:
After 5 years at [Company Name], today is my last day. What an amazing experience it has been helping drive [insert key achievements here like product launches, revenue growth, etc.]. I’m so grateful to have worked with our world-class team and served our inspiring customers. The opportunity for growth here is exceptional. I’m sad to say goodbye but feel empowered taking the leap to my next challenge. Excited to start Monday as the new [Job Title] at [New Company]! If your path crosses with [Company Name] down the road, you’ll be in great hands.
This sample hits all the right notes. It shares appreciation, highlights accomplishments, announces the next gig, and encourages connections with the former employer in the future. The tone is positive and focused on the future.
Alternatives to a last day post
Some alternatives to consider instead of a LinkedIn last day post include:
- Email colleagues directly to thank them and say goodbye
- Make phone calls to key contacts and clients to let them know
- Host a small offline gathering to celebrate your time at the company
- Send a parting email to your team alone rather than the entire network
- Share the news only after starting your new role instead of on the last day
- Simply update your employment status and job title on your LinkedIn profile
Not every transition needs a public post. More private, personal outreach is often just as meaningful. And if you would rather not broadcast your departure, you can just silently update your profile when the time comes.
What to do if your employer frowns on last day posts
Some companies have policies discouraging employees from announcing their departures online. Reasons may include:
- Concerns about sharing confidential business information
- Not wanting competitors to easily identify employee turnover
- Preferring to control internal HR narratives themselves
- Worries about former employees speaking critically of the company publicly
If your employer falls in this camp, tread carefully. The best approach is to have an open conversation and understand their concerns. Rather than posting, you may be able to find compromises like:
- Waiting to announce your new role until after your last day
- Letting your manager review the post before publishing it
- Only notifying fellow employees rather than your whole network
- Simply updating your LinkedIn profile and letting that speak for itself
Handling social media when leaving a job requires thoughtfulness. But in most cases, a constructive announcement post is perfectly appropriate if handled maturely.
Accepting connection requests when leaving
As word spreads about your impending departure, you may notice an influx of LinkedIn connection requests. Deciding how to manage these can be tricky:
- Accepting them can be an opportunity to grow your network and maintain valuable relationships.
- But blindly approving everyone may result in lots of spam and irrelevant contacts.
Some tips on evaluating connection requests as you transition out include:
- Quickly accepting requests from current close colleagues to keep those relationships intact.
- Being more selective and looking at backgrounds before approving requests from more distant contacts.
- Politely ignoring requests from solicitors and recruiters unrelated to your goals.
- Using LinkedIn filters to better sort incoming requests and automate actions.
Growing your network can accelerate career growth. But quality is also important. Be choosy about who you connect with to maintain a focused, valuable group of contacts.
Updating profile and settings when leaving
On your last day, be sure to update your LinkedIn profile and related account settings:
- Edit your employment. Switch your current position to past tense with accurate dates.
- Modify your headline and summary. Remove any outdated company information.
- Turn off notifications like emails to avoid unwanted contact from your past employer.
- Double check your visibility settings if you only want your network seeing profile changes for a period.
- Revise featured skills and projects to align with your new role and goals.
Keeping your profile current is crucial. It ensures your employment history remains accurate and skills are tailored for new opportunities ahead.
Restricting past company access to your profile
Upon your departure, you may wish to limit your former employer’s access to your profile. Reasons might include:
- Reducing unsolicited contact from colleagues you no longer work with daily.
- Preventing competitor information being visible if you are joining one.
- Feeling micromanaged or watched by your past company.
You have a few options to restrict access:
- Adjust your visibility settings so only 1st degree connections see your full profile.
- Remove specific coworkers from your connections.
- Block certain employees from viewing your profile.
However, use caution taking these steps as they can cause offense or burning bridges. Maintaining positive relationships with coworkers is ideal even after moving on.
Saying goodbye and leaving groups
To wrap up your tenure at a company on LinkedIn:
- Post a goodbye message to relevant internal groups you are a member of.
- Thank group members who have been especially helpful.
- Remove yourself from groups that are only employer-specific.
- Stay in groups that align with your industry interests and future career.
Transitioning your group memberships keeps your feed productive while preserving valued connections.
Exporting contacts and data
Before your last day, be sure to:
- Export connections to a CSV file to retain that contact information.
- Download a copy of your profile and activity using LinkedIn settings.
- Save offline any conversations, posts, or other data you may want to reference later.
You likely won’t lose access to your network after leaving an employer. But exporting key pieces of data provides helpful backups.
Reviewing recommendations
Recommendations can powerfully reinforce your brand on LinkedIn. As you prepare to depart:
- Proactively ask colleagues for recommendations before losing touch with them daily.
- Offer thoughtful recommendations for coworkers in return.
- Evaluate existing recommendations. Remove any from contacts no longer relevant.
- Revise recommendations you’ve written for others if your original employer is mentioned.
Mutually beneficial recommendations remind future employers of your talents and leadership.
Wrapping up cleanly and gracefully
No matter how rocky a job may have been, maintaining grace and positivity when moving on is crucial. Other aspects to consider as you wrap up your time gracefully:
- Delete or remove any company information, documents, or contacts from your personal accounts and devices.
- Provide thorough handover notes to assist the transition for your successor.
- Offer to be available for occasional questions by email or phone during the transition if willing.
- Send final invoices or expense reports promptly to conclude compensation matters.
- Ensure you receive any needed experience letters or relieving documents from HR for future verification.
Tying up loose ends thoroughly benefits you and your former employer. Strive to exit without leaving a mess behind for others.
Preserving social capital when moving on
Beyond your current employer, also consider your broader professional social capital on LinkedIn:
- Keep interacting with your wider network by commenting on posts, sharing content, etc.
- Strengthen dormant connections by proactively reaching out and catching up.
- Continue building visibility by publishing new posts and articles.
- Seek referrals to new roles through your trusted contacts.
Nurturing all your professional relationships, not just current coworkers, will propel your next chapter.
The future is bright
While bittersweet, departing a company also opens new possibilities. Some parting thoughts:
- Savor the moment, reflect on accomplishments, and celebrate memories.
- Seize the clean slate to grow in new directions aligned with your strengths and interests.
- Stay connected via LinkedIn with colleagues who enriched your life.
- Welcome the unknown, take smart risks, and enjoy the journey.
The day you log out one last time can be the first day of an inspiring new adventure. Wherever you are headed, the future is bright!