The ultimate checklist for your last day at a company

The ultimate checklist for your last day at a companyThe ultimate checklist for your last day at a companyTheres something nostalgic - yet bittersweet - about leaving a job that has fundamentally changed your career for the better.We often tie our identities to our careers, so when your last day at a company comes around, its possible to feel like youre losing part of who youve become.But leaving on a high notereallycomes down to staying organized in the weeks leading up to your end date.So in the spirit of my last day here as a Ladders News reporter, I wanted toshare a checklist with you that might be useful for your final day at a company.Start by making sure youre well restedThis can make all the difference, especially when you have a lot on your plate.Instead of overcompensating for exhaustion bygetting just enough sleep the night before your final day, aim toget a solid eight hours for several nights in a row.Youll enjoy feeling more alert than usual.Wear something you adoreTh is will give you the extra confidence you need to get through your last day. Itll also feel like more of an occasion.Wearing something you love can also impact how youre feeling and how well you perform at work, so why not platzdeckchen yourself up for success?Give yourself more than enough time to get to the officeTheres nothing worse than rushing to work before the day even begins.So give yourself the gift of time - and lots of it. Youll feel a whole lot better on your commute if delays pop up, but youre already running early. Having an external charger, water, and a snack in your bag can also be a big help.Begin clearing out your desk in advanceYour last day at a company should be all about sailing through your remaining workload and leaving on great terms with your team - not shoving books, folders, and papers into an extra bag at high speed.If you start clearing your desk the week before your last day, youll give yourself more time to tote fewer things home over a multi-day p eriod. This way, youll also be less mentally and physically weighed down on your commute, and can carry a lighter, smaller bag to work on your last day.If possible, set a goal of totally clearing out your workspace by the day before your exit.Save your workWhatever you do, save your work.After all, the world wide web might not actually be forever Work hosted online can evaporate into thin air, leaving you without anything to show for the time you put in at work.If you have to bring in your hard drive to save a bunch of files, do it. If youd rather save digital copies on the Google Drive linked to your personal Gmail account, do it. Youll quickly find out that PDFs are your best friend.Trust me, its worth the effort - even if you have to start well before your last few days.Make sure youve already spoken to HR about tying up loose endsMaybe you have questions about your existing 401(K) plan, or how long you have until your company insurance plan cuts off.Its super important to hav e HR fill you in on specifics like these before youre out the door for the last time.Also, hold onto any important documents you might need in the future.Pay attention to the feedback you get in your exit interviewWhether its good or bad, you can use it as a springboard for the next chapter in your career.As you continue to develop your strengths, really hone in on your weaknesses and see how much you grow professionally over time.Your manager might even be willing to give you a recommendation down the line, so dont burn any bridges with them at the end of your time working together.Let your colleagues know how they can reach youWhether you make your general announcement to the company via email, on Slack, or using another method, saying goodbye to your coworkers makes it clear that you appreciate the time you spent working with them.Its also a reminder that even after youre gone, youll still be someone who they can reach out to. So be sure to save the contact information of coworke rs youve become close with.Celebrating with your team over an in-office treator going out for drinks with them can also help create positive, lasting memories.Hand in your work ID card and other materialsDepending on where you work, you might have to flosse in your ID badge, and/or laptop if you use one. Be sure to follow any instructions you receive from your manager, or from your HR department.Wishing you the best of luck in the next stage in your career

Learn how to love those on-the-job haters in the office

Learn how to love those on-the-job haters in the officeLearn how to love those on-the-job haters in the officeSelf-Assessment Quiz True or FalseI am a genuine person at work.I give praise where praise is due, and I dont try to steal others thunder.I listen more than I talk.I am engaging and open with my co-workers.Last week I talked about how important it is for you to love what you do. Well, that got me to thinkin about on-the-job haters because haters could be a for-sure deterrent that keeps you from loving where you work.Ive had some amazing jobs that could have been ruined by a hater or two had I let them. And no matter how much I may have answered TRUE to the questions above, there were totenstill people who didnt like me (Gasp IKR? Unthinkable) But, one thing I know for sureAnd its only a matter of time, if youve avoided them thus far in your career, before you run into one. So its better I send you out into the world prepped to handle them with aplomb. (Yes, as always, you ca n thank me later).Youre going to have haters at work either because youre new, youre old, or you do too good a job. These are silly reasons, but NOT to the hater. Also, these are reasons that are really out of your control, right? I mean the crux of the matter is that haters hating on you is rarely about you, and often about them and their insecurities. You cant help being the new person. You cant help having been kept on for the long haul because youre fabulous. And you certainly wont stop doing great, praise-worthy work. What you can do is be aware of the flavor of hater-ade your hater is sipping on.Do your homework. Does the hater give everyone a huff and a side eye, or is the venom laser focused on just you? If its everyone, then the hater could be suffering from one of two maladies they arent quite comfortable in their own skin, doing what they do, so like a drowning man they want to pull you under with them by criticizing everything you do. Or, they are just unhappy in their w ork environment. (Read last weeks post on not loving what you do If you stay around too long in a job you hate, YOU could become this type of hater. So GET OUT)If shes only throwing shade your way, you have to up your wattage in her direction.Take some extra time to talk to her, like while getting coffee in the break room together or before that conference call starts. Yes, I said TALK TO THE HATER Genuinely. Get to know who she is. What her likes are. What she does outside the office. How she spends her free time. How she got started. So that she, in turn, can get to know you, too. She may see that youre not the haughty know-it-all that shes pegged you to be, but rather a kind, strong, and smart person. And you might learn that she was passed over for your job THREE times. So its not you per se shes hating on, just the fact that you got the job shes been hankering for.Inclusion also works well for dealing with certain haters. If youre used to batting things out of the park solo, ma ybe take a few side steps to allow him in by seeking him out specifically for his opinion or direction. Free up your thinking. Haters have good ideas, too, but you have to be open and receptive to hearing them. Up your team-player skills just a notch. That may be enough for this hater to really start lovin some you. (Or at least, hating you a bit less.)The jealous-monger haters are the worst kind of haters. They want to be YOU. But they dont have the skill set, tenacity, charisma, or capacity TO BE you. And even worse, they dont have the desire to put in the work thats needed to be you. So, they try to take shortcut claims to your fame, like taking your ideas and announcing them as their own or attaching their name (and sometimes photo) to work that youve done. They get the acclaim without having put in the sweat equity that you and your team put in.Like body snatchers, these smile-in-your-face haters may fool some of the people some of the time with their clone-like behavior, but n ot for long. When things youve handled smoothly suddenly start falling through the cracks, when deadlines are constantly missed, when your hater goes MIA for undefined periods of time, people will notice. And the beauty of dealing with haters like this? You often wont have to say a word. Others will out them for you So, if your haters are just hating because they arent, well you, do NOT ever hide your shine so they can feel better about themselves. You just keep being you.Always be kind. Always be helpful. And always keep loving what you do. No hater can take that away from you unless you allow them to.Cheryl Grace is the sassy aunt, best friend, and mentor youve always needed in your life. The successful jet-setting, global corporate executive founded the aspirational lifestyle brand Powerful Penny LLC. Her products, workshops and speeches probe, inspire and empower to ensure those who really want to can get to their next level of best. Her blogs on careers, prosperity, relationsh ips, family, looking and living fabulously, and living a five-star life can be found atwww.powerfulpenny.com.

WeWork cuts off Manchester taps for abusing its free beer policy

WeWork cuts off Manchester taps for abusing its free beer policyWeWork cuts off Manchester taps for abusing its free beer policyA much-touted feature of coworking giant WeWork includes complimentary beer on tap. (Well, you or your company is technically paying for it in some way). WeWorkers in Manchester, England, were recently outraged to find their taps cut off, apparently because of overuse and general noisiness,The Outline reported.The suds stopped flowing Monday through Wednesday, and workers gathered in an verbunden forum that connects WeWorkers to hash it out.Judging by the conversations Ive heard today about it, the resounding answer is there is about to be uproar apparently (so Im told) they will only be open 5-7pm Thurs/Fri, on WeWorker posted, according to the Outline. The taps had previously opened every open day at 2 p.m.This is bang out of order posted another angry Brit.Finally, an admin stepped into the forum.I cannot deny that there have been concerns raised regardi ng the drinking culture in our office and striking the balance between being a professional working environment and one that is relaxed is very difficult, the admin posted on behalf of WeWork.There was a similar struggle over beer in New York City that began last October, when WeWork amended its unlimited beer-on-tap policy to a not-so-paltry four drinks per person, per day. Members had to swipe their key cards to access the taps, and were cut off after four 12-ounce drinks. The taps did not work all hours of the day, as they did previously, and were restricted from 12 p.m. til 8 p.m. New York City WeWorks change in drinking policy dovetailed with a sexual harassment lawsuit from a woman citing she was assaulted at two company events at WeWork.The Outline, who makes their office home in an NYC WeWork themselves, noted that the taps are flowly freely again, and the long, hard experiment with beer privation seems to be over.In the words of H.L. Mencken, 24 hours in a day. 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not.