The call that changed it all
I can still picture the day in my mind:

The grocery-store parking lot in which I curbed my car on a brisk winter day so I could take the introductory call from my Vanguard recruiter. Curious and cautious, I wasn’t sure “the corporate life” was for me. But I’d heard Vanguard’s different—and has been since its inception by John Bogle as a Main Street soul in a Wall Street world.

As you can tell by my writing a #LifeatVanguard blog, the recruiter call that day in the parking lot went well (as did the subsequent phone calls and interviews). One of the main reasons that Vanguard was so attractive to me as a job candidate is that it seemed like a place where I could find the coveted combination of longevity and variety.

I liked that Vanguard seemed to be a company where—with some initiative—I could stay but not get stagnant. I liked that it seemed to be a place that provides the option to cultivate a career comprised of different roles, lasting working relationships, and a strong sense of community. I liked that it seemed to offer chances in the midst of changes.

Thankfully, when I needed all of those perceptions to be true in my debut role at Vanguard, and through some organizational changes, they all were.

The power to steer your career proved to be true
Naturally, organizational change can bring unknowns. Seeing some uncertainty on the horizon but still being certain I wanted a long, vibrant Vanguard career, I seized opportunities to diversify my skills in ways that 1) advanced the value I could add to my teams; and 2) aligned with Vanguard’s implementation of new ways of working in the future.

Thanks to leaders in my subdivision, one such opportunity for diversification was LUMA Institute® Facilitator training. It was increasingly clear in company communications that Vanguard was encouraging more (and better) collaboration and was equipping cohorts of employees to obtain LUMA’s facilitator certification.

With a simpler approach to Human-Centered Design, LUMA facilitator training provided me with powerful tools and proven techniques for fostering collaboration in ways that generate innovative solutions after helping to identify the right problem to solve for in the first place.

I continue to bring that enriched approach to problem-solving to my present role, in addition to ad hoc facilitation opportunities that Vanguard’s LUMA-certified crew can undertake in support of other teams, in or beyond our own divisions.

Considerations for charting your own life at Vanguard
Whether you’re reading this as a fellow crew member currently working at Vanguard, or you’re reading this as a potential hire who’s thinking about applying to Vanguard, I offer these considerations from my own revelations in my first year and a half:

1. Remember that you are the captain of your career.
2. Don’t let your excuses ruin your chances.
3. Challenge your own comfort zone.
4. Look for career advocates to help you navigate.

To be candid, no organization is perfect. But in my overall 15-year career, Vanguard is exceptional in many respects, both past and present. This also makes me hopeful for its future—and mine, too— and shows that a little initiative will continue to go a long way.

-Rebecca H.

At Vanguard, we host an annual event for all crew that focuses on the digital experience and promotes awareness of collaboration practices, tools, and experiences both inside and outside of the company. 2020 marked the fourth year that the Collaboration Summit was held. In prior years, the summit was a full day, in-person conference offering keynote presentations from external speakers, interactive technology-focused sessions and soft skills, an expo hall showcasing internal and external representatives, as well as networking opportunities. In 2020, we moved to a completely virtual event given the majority of crew were working from home. To reduce virtual meeting fatigue, the summit was split into two half days, with a morning agenda for day one and an afternoon agenda for day two.

What was presented at the 2020 event?

The theme of this year’s Collaboration Summit was “Working Together in Times of Uncertainty.” Keynote presentations were provided by executive leaders from Microsoft and Deloitte and focused on Microsoft’s PowerPlatform (low/no code technology) and working remotely in the ‘new normal,’ respectively. Various sessions were held during the two-day event. Topics included:

• Back to basics using Microsoft Office 365
• Using the accessibility options in Microsoft Office 365
• Work-life balance during quarantine
• Identifying your working style to work better with your team
• Disconnecting from technology
• Getting started with no code/low code solutions

Crew were provided with breaks throughout the day where they could participate in instructor-led chair yoga and/or browse our virtual 3D Expo Hall and speak to representatives via Microsoft Teams Meetings. If crew were not able to attend the event, all content and sessions were recorded and provided for them to view after the event was complete.

Crew feedback

Response to this year’s virtual event was overwhelmingly positive. Crew feedback was collected throughout the event for keynotes and sessions. Here are a few highlights:

“Great information, I LOVED the back and forth between the two presenters, as it showed connectedness and wisdom from both. I felt it was balanced in the time spent with the two people talking. The chat interaction was GREAT! I felt engaged and took a lot out of the presentation.”

“This was a great session to remind individuals they need to disconnect. The 100% remote working environment, coupled with the lessened number of activities makes it easy to forget to focus on work/life balance.”

“I thought this was a topic that isn’t covered very often (Accessibility as a Differentiator) and was thrilled to see it here. It was very informative, and I really enjoyed it.”

In late 2019, after working in a multitude of roles across a variety of financial services organizations, I felt it was time for a change and started exploring my next career move. First and foremost, I wanted to join a firm that ‘made sense’: I had to buy into its purpose, conviction and how it benefited society – all these things were vitally important to me. When I started looking a little deeper into Vanguard, its history, direction and people’s experience of working with and within the firm, things started stacking up. The interview process cemented my interest and upon being offered my role, I was excited at the prospect of working with such a highly respected and regarded organization. So, I took the plunge and in February 2020, I joined Vanguard Investments Australia’s Enterprise Risk Management Team.

Upon starting, I was regularly told to “take the opportunity to get to know Vanguard”. I took some time to really appreciate what was being said. Onboarding at Vanguard is more than simply turning up, being shown your seat, receiving a laptop and being told to ‘get on with it’. People are delighted to have you on the team, want to get to know you and help you find your place. From day one, you’re a valued member of the ‘crew’ and with that established, you can take the opportunity to lay the groundwork to build working relationships that are instrumental to your own and the firm’s success. I’d liken it to being welcomed into a family that incorporates Vanguard’s Clients, Community and Crew. It just makes sense.

One thing I wasn’t prepared for were the many challenges that 2020 was going to throw our way. While I’m as anxious as the next person trying to navigate the ‘new normal’, I’ve also been grateful for both the support and opportunities that Vanguard has provided during these times. For example, a little more than a month into my new role, a request came through to assist with our business’s operations dealing with social distancing and unprecedented market turbulence. I answered the call, and while it took me out of my comfort zone, the experience paid-back tenfold as it provided me with real hands-on insight into how Vanguard works.

I completed my LUMA Human-Centered Design practitioner certification, a course that I had commenced within a month of joining Vanguard. Learning new ways of working are now more important than ever and being provided the opportunity to gain and develop such skills, while getting to know my new colleagues was fantastic. It was a great way to introduce myself and learn about the people I’d be working with going forward.

More recently, I’ve stepped into a leadership role, providing me with a chance to manage a team of my risk colleagues. Again, being provided with another opportunity to develop and showcase my skills has been welcomed. My managers and other specialists have been supportive throughout the experience, and I’ve gained an opportunity to learn, influence and deliver upon Vanguard’s mission both here in Australian and abroad.

Presently, like many of my colleagues, I’ve been working remotely at home, away from the office for many months now. The Vanguard family has helped me and everyone else adapt to these necessary changes with a host of resources, including the provision of the latest collaborative technologies, ensuring that that our home office setup is suitable, and regular formal and informal check-ins with crew. Everyone’s looking out for each other and doing the best they can to pull through this period together. It’s during such challenging times that the true character of a firm becomes apparent, and I for one am glad that I’ve joined Vanguard.

– Jason B.

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our Data & Analytics and Information Technology & Security career opportunities.

College to Corporate internships looked different for students joining the crew at Vanguard this year– but the foundation remained the same. Whether it was teamwork, community outreach, or bonding with peers, interns were virtually welcomed into departments across the company, where they made lasting contributions. In this video, a few of our interns share insights from their experiences:

Camila: Hi everyone my name is Camila, I attend the University of Texas at El Paso. I am a College to Corporate Business Intern, and I am currently working with the Vanguard Retirement Plan Access Department this summer.

Alex: Hello everyone, my name is Alex I am a rising junior studying computer science engineering at the University of Michigan and I am a College to Corporate Application Development Intern, working with the Enterprise Advice division at Vanguard.

Natasha: Hi! My name is Natasha and I am C2C Investment Management intern this summer under the Transaction Cost Analysis team. I’m a rising junior at the University of Michigan, pursuing a dual degree in finance and computer science, with a minor in Music.

Camila: And I’m going to show you what a virtual intern does on a day-to-day basis. So since I am a virtual intern I am working remotely from my hometown and I basically made my kitchen into an office. This is my kitchen table.

Natasha: Welcome to my room converted into an office.

Alex: Due to the remote nature of our internship, we use Microsoft Team and Outlook mainly, to stay connected with each other.

Camila: I get to meet with leaders, I get to talk to my managers, really cool things that I didn’t know I was going to be able to do from home.

Natasha: I can still stay fully connected with rest of Vanguard. We have a lot of different events like game shows and community service.

Alex: Even though the internship is remote, the company has also done a great job to make sure we’re still able to network and connect with the other interns. Two weeks ago, we had a virtual team building session where we bonded with all the other interns remotely.

Camila: I have been able to participate in Vanguard events, and trainings, and so many things virtually.

Alex: Later today I have an intern project meeting around lunchtime, to update our technical leads on our progress. I am currently working on a project team with four other interns to develop an internal web application.

Natasha: For some of my project so far, I’ve been working mostly in the FX and Treasury Future space.

Camila: So for my project I am actually working in my department of Vanguard Retirement Plan Access. And I’m helping with the Sales Territory Map Analysis. As you can see I have a lot of meetings so I do my project work in between.

Alex: Vanguard also assigns each of us a buddy and a pod leader that acts as mentors, and we have regular meetings with them as well.

Natasha: As part of the internship, I get two buddies. One of them is on my team, and then the other one is in the rotational program. Having a buddy helps me to get acclimated to both the company as well as my team, and acts as a resource that I can just ask quick questions to.

Alex: Overall, the College to Corporate Internship gives us a view into how Vanguard uses technology to solve business problems, and to help people achieve their financial goals. Right now is also a very interesting time to work for Vanguard, because technology is a key strategic focus for the company. This provides ample opportunities for us to work on cool projects, which will be used by real customers and/or business functions.

Camila: My experience so far has been an amazing one. I have been able to connect with leadership, I’ve been able to connect with my interns that have really enhanced my experience here. I feel so fortunate to be a part of a company that really goes out of their way in making sure that their interns get an amazing virtual experience.

Natasha: As you can see, despite the virtual internship experience, everyone at Vanguard can still stay fully connected with each other. I hope you enjoy this little insight into a Vanguard intern’s life.

Alex: Thanks for watching.

Natasha: Don’t forget to follow @lifeatvanguard.

Camila: On Instagram and all other social media. Thank you.  

At Vanguard, we place a large emphasis on the importance of professional development. Why? We want to ensure our crew and leaders feel empowered to learn and build expertise that will not only contribute to their personal growth, but to the growth of others as well. Although the majority of our crew find themselves working at home these days, many have continued to make time for their personal development. When we asked what they were focusing on and the resources they were exploring, here is what they had to say:

Ashley C.

LinkedIn Learning has been very helpful! The program offers plenty of tutorials where you can either learn something new or expand your existing skillset and become an expert on a topic of your choosing. Further, I have found myself reading several professional development books now that I have fewer distractions to keep me occupied.

Tracy C.

I too am taking advantage of LinkedIn Learning. I just started a Programming Online Foundations course. As an Information Technology (IT) recruiter, I know this will help me in further enhancing my business acumen.

Kim D.

An internal tool Vanguard offers that I have been enjoying is the FYI (For Your Improvement) Skills Suite. This resource has allowed me to take a deeper look at the competencies aligned to my role and suggests trainings for the areas in which I’d like to focus my development.

Jo S.

I am really enjoying podcasts at the moment. Some favorites include: Lewis Howes—The School of Greatness and The Learning Leader. For wellness, I’ve been tuning into Dr. Rangan Chartterjee—Feel Better, Live More.

It’s easy to stay heads down in work all day, every day. We’re all guilty of it, especially in this new environment where we no longer find ourselves in collaborative spaces with colleagues, networking with folks over lunch or maybe even heading to a conference off-site. Just make sure you make time for you and your professional development. It can go a long way.

Vanguard Leadership Performance Consultant Matt P. shares his insight on creating a feedback culture—and as he mentions, it doesn’t need to be scary!

If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a hundred times: “I’m open to feedback. Please share it with me as soon as you have it.” But once there’s something to share, feedback becomes the “gift” everyone wants to return.

For over ten years now, feedback has been an integral part of my professional (and personal) life. As a corporate trainer, leader, and now Leadership Performance Consultant, I recognize that feedback is an essential ingredient in the development and growth of others (myself included). I rely on both dispensing and receiving it. And others rely on my ability to articulate its importance and understand its impact to their career.

It’s normal for our skin to get too “thin” when it comes to feedback. And aside from the good game a person may talk, feedback is generally avoided. You can predict the result: Development stalls, or even halts completely. Feedback doesn’t need to be scary. And although it’s often misunderstood, it isn’t complicated. My advice: Run toward feedback! Dispense it with empathy, and receive it with gratitude.

So what is feedback?

Well, at its most basic, we use feedback to “grow, show, or know.” More specifically, this means providing “developmental” or “evaluative”  (sometimes both) feedback to help someone. And that someone shouldn’t necessarily be an employee who is getting a message from a leader. Feedback works best when it’s given peer-to-peer, leader-to-direct, and direct-to-leader. We’re all in this together. So what are the nuances between developmental and evaluative?

At the highest level, developmental feedback is based on a desire to grow or develop someone at an individual level. It provides detailed information on how behavior or performance can be changed or maintained. It also gives minimal indication or performance relative to others. In contrast, evaluative feedback is usually for a defined period of time and aligned to a specific competency. It’s often tied to specific rewards or compensation, and focuses on outcomes or relative impact to others. Lastly, feedback is not coaching. But feedback informs and drives coaching. Feedback is factually based and past tense. “In yesterday’s meeting, you did XYZ. Here was the impact.” Coaching gets into where you go from here.

Often times, people give compliments in lieu of feedback. “Great job in today’s meeting!” Thanks. But what was so great? This is a prime opportunity for specifics. “Great job” is more of an opinion—a compliment at its best (at its worst, it avoids giving detail and thoughtful insight). Instead, try linking what someone did to the expected results of the job, or something the recipient is working to improve. And don’t worry; you can still be complimentary: “Great job instilling confidence in your stakeholders yesterday. During the meeting, you answered every question with detail, affirmed next steps, and assigned deadlines appropriately. As a result, everyone left with a better understanding of his or her responsibilities, as well as where the project is going.” See the difference?

Find your approach

In order to be truly effective, feedback needs to become habitual—think brushing your teeth or going to the gym. Each of us should be looking for opportunities, regardless of role or level, to make feedback more deliberate and disciplined. If you’re asking for it, reflect on what you can do to solicit for it, and make it safe and easy for others to provide it. Don’t get defensive. Seek to understand, thank the messenger, and reflect on what you heard. If you’re giving it, be thoughtful and specific with the message, and show that you’re invested in someone’s growth, not looking to nit-pick. Provide it often so it becomes routine and is expected by others.

So often what I observe is that feedback is only given when someone does something that falls on the furthest ends of what I call the “Nailed it! Failed it!” spectrum. If Cynthia does a “great job” in a meeting (Nailed it!), she gets a compliment (again, not feedback). If Cynthia messes up (Failed it!), she gets feedback about what she did “wrong” (and coaching may or may not accompany it). Resist the temptation to live on the fringe. Most of what we do in our careers are neither “Nailed it” nor “Failed it” case studies. We live in the “in-between”. And here lies the greatest room for feedback to work its magic.

Here’s an example: “Matt, I appreciated your participation and insight in yesterday’s staff meeting. Can I offer you some feedback? I noticed a few times throughout the meeting you were checking your phone. During one of these instances, you weren’t able to notice the non-verbal reaction several teammates had to something you said. Keep in mind that looking down at your phone instead of reading the room may serve as an impediment to your ability to counter resistance, read the room, convey commitment, and or effectively influence others.” This is an instance of where giving a precise and meaningful piece of feedback can help a teammate understand the impact of his behavior. And, should he chose to act on it, get better!

Make feedback more habitual by carving out time in one-on-ones, team meetings, and/or coffee chats with colleagues. After a while, others will see feedback for what it is—a conduit for insight and development, not penalization. The more people understand that it’s being given not only to address large skill gaps (appropriate, though not the norm), but to reinforce positive behavior and improve performance and overall development, the more people will seek it out—even expect and appreciate it! Create a safe, empathetic environment for giving and receiving feedback, and strive to make feedback more expected, so it’s accepted. Only then will it truly be the “gift” that everyone wants to receive.

— Matt P.

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I have always been the kid who loves school. I never balked at a summer reading list, and after about three weeks of summer break, I was ready to go back. Even while completing my undergraduate degree at James Madison University (Go Dukes!), I had a strong feeling that I would head back to school some day for an advanced degree. I wasn’t sure what my area of focus would be or when I would start, but I knew it would happen.

Before I could make these choices, I wanted real-world experience. I joined Vanguard in 2014 as a Client Relationship Associate in our Charlotte, North Carolina office, serving our personal investors. I supported a few teams within our Retail Investor Group, where I was responsible for helping new clients meet their investment needs and continuing to deepen current client relationships. From there, I transitioned to the social media team in the summer of 2017 to focus on community building and social care. If you’ve ever seen a post signed with “—Emily” on our Facebook page, that’s me!

It was a few months into my new position when I felt ready to continue my education journey. Work was going well for me and I was getting the hang of how marketing works outside of the classroom (I took a few marketing classes as an undergraduate, but everything is different in practice than in theory). I wanted to learn more about not only marketing, but business as a whole, and decided to begin looking for an MBA program.

Charlotte is a hub for many financial companies, so I had multiple programs available to me. I needed a program that would allow me to continue working full-time, since I would be paying for this on my own. I also wanted a program that was cost-effective (as a Vanguard crewmember, I think about costs more than the average person), and flexible in case I needed to take time off. The Professional MBA (PMBA) program through the University of South Carolina is what I ultimately chose, and two years in, I’m so glad I did.

Posing with Cocky, the University of South Carolina’s Gamecocks, at the Charlotte USC campus

Because I would be paying for school on my own, I was nervous about how I was going to make this work financially. I’m fortunate to not have any undergraduate debt (thanks Mom and Dad!), and did not want to be buried in debt as a result of obtaining a graduate degree. When discussing my education goals with my manager, he mentioned Vanguard’s Academic Assistance Plan. Once I researched this further, I became even more excited to start my studies.

The Vanguard Academic Assistance Plan offers a generous tuition reimbursement each calendar year for full-time crewmembers. There’s no minimum time-in-job requirement, so even as a relatively new employee, I could still take full advantage of this benefit. Based on the cost of my specific program, the plan covers the cost of tuition for four classes per calendar year. School is stressful enough, so not having to worry about how to pay for it is a huge weight off my shoulders. I’m able to focus more on my studies and build relationships with fellow students because I don’t have to fret about how I’m going to afford everything.

I plan to graduate from my MBA program in December 2020 and will genuinely miss working with the professors and other students. Having the opportunity to get the perspective of other professionals, both inside and outside of the financial services industry, has helped me provide more well-rounded input and insights in my current role and better understand Vanguard’s place in the business world at large. Vanguard’s Academic Assistance Plan is allowing me to accomplish one of my dreams (getting an advanced degree), while working at a great company.

—Emily A.

Please note: All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.

The end of the year is often a time to reflect on all that’s been accomplished in the last twelve months. We pulled together the top four career stories from 2019. Whether it’s your first read or you’re revisiting a favorite, we hope you enjoy!

12 Vanguard interview tips for experienced professionals

We sat down with five Vanguard recruiters to hear how they coach candidates through the interview process. In this blog, we share 12 ways that experienced professionals can prepare for a Vanguard interview—whether in person or over the phone.

When working in finance isn’t always for finance majors

Annsley opens up about her voyage to Vanguard after college. “To say I was hesitant to join the finance industry is an understatement. Much of my college education was focused on classes like organic chemistry and biomechanics. But my friend assured me that my passion to help people live a better life directly aligned with Vanguard’s mission. With his support along with my family, I took a giant leap of faith, and I couldn’t be happier that I did.”

What a career as a financial advisor looks like at Vanguard

Vanguard’s financial advisors are using time-proven investment methodology to offer investment solutions that lead our clients confidently toward their business or personal financial goals. In this series, our financial advisors share their personal experiences in pursuing a career in this field and the impact they’ve had in driving successful investment results for clients.

Family comes first

Kristen shares a personal story about how Vanguard allowed her to focus on family during a difficult time. “While my personal life was turned on its head, a new leader was assigned to my team. I was experiencing changes both at Vanguard and in my personal life. My first one-on-one was conducted through video conference from my parent’s house. It was during that conversation I finally said the words out loud…my mom had cancer. Not knowing how my new leader would respond, I waited. He took a moment and said, “Family comes first,” a concept I heard Vanguard was known for but never experienced firsthand.”

Inspired? Make your career count—search our opportunities.

In this blog, we sit down with Kelly M. and Elisha V., two crew members who serve different areas of the Vanguard business and received a professional development opportunity through one of our employee resource groups. Kelly is a Senior Research Associate in our Fixed Income Group, where she analyzes municipal bonds and works with the trading and portfolio management teams. Elisha is an IT Delivery Manager within our 401(k) Institutional Systems division, where she leads IT teams across our Pennsylvania and North Carolina offices. This is their story:

When thinking about where you want to launch or continue your career, you can be assured that at Vanguard, an emphasis is placed on professional development. Combined, we have been at Vanguard for nearly twenty years. During our tenure, we have both received support in various ways to help further advance our skill set. There is one development opportunity that we pursued, however, that stands out from all the rest. Through the Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success (WILS), one of our five Crew Resource Groups, we applied and were selected to participate in an advanced leadership development program for women. In addition to collaborating with female talent from across the enterprise and having a dedicated leadership coach consultant, the program presented us with several frameworks and tools that prepared us to handle a number of scenarios that we could potentially face throughout our careers. Examples include shaping the way we make decisions, preparing and executing courageous conversations with crew, reframing the dialogue of our inner critic, and recognizing unconscious biases.

The experience couldn’t have come at a better time in our professions. Elisha had just started a new managerial position and Kelly, who had always been an individual contributor, aspired to obtain a formal leadership role. Although we support different business areas in unique fields, we are both women within male-dominated industries. We were both successful within our careers at this point and were excited to learn ways in which we could enhance our skills and achieve professional goals going forward. We also quickly realized during the program that what got us here would not get us there, with there being where we envisioned our careers going and how we saw ourselves reaching our full potential. This specific program changed our perspectives on what that means and gave us the resources to clearly define who we are and what we stand for.

Identifying the direction we wanted to steer our careers, in addition to using learnings centered on how to plan and execute courageous conversations, continue to stand out as key takeaways from the program. We had the chance to practice these exchanges, and the more we practiced, the more we realized how impactful it was when developing others. Moreover, taking on courageous conversations is so imperative to improving a challenging situation, and we are now better equipped to handle them. Lastly, we received helpful reminders that something as simple as making the invisible, visible, can be a powerful mind shift that will lead you to a more successful outcome.

The advanced leadership development program for women has provided us with more than either of us expected. We are more prepared and confident in navigating our careers for having taken part in this initiative. Again, this is just one example of the many development opportunities offered at Vanguard.

More about the authors:

Kelly joined Vanguard directly out of college in 2007 and has been working in the Investment Management Group for the past three years. Kelly graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Elisha has been at Vanguard since 2012. She launched her career as a developer and shortly after moved into a technical lead role. Following these experiences, she transitioned to a project management position that gave her the opportunity to be a technical relationship manager for a large 401(k) client and now as a delivery manager, supporting cross-divisional capabilities and relationships for Vanguard Advice for Institutional. Prior to joining Vanguard, Elisha worked at various startups and financial companies also within the engineering and technology capacity for four years.

Congrats, you got the job! After weeks of interviewing, prepping, and anticipating, the long wait is finally over. You’ve given notice at your current job, you’ve accepted your new job offer, and set a start date.

Now what?

Wrap up. Whether you disliked your old job or are just moving to a new opportunity, make sure to leave on good terms and help to wrap up loose ends. Make a plan with your leader on what you should tackle before you go and what needs to be deferred for your successor. A good task to complete before you go? Collect procedures, resources, projects, and tasks that can help new hires get a handle on their new position. A few examples: What meetings should they attend? What are all the projects and tasks they’re responsible for? How will they be measured?

Communicate. Let your direct manager take the lead on the plan, just make sure the right stakeholders are aware that you are exiting your role and when. Let everyone know your goals for your remaining time in job and indicate any contingency plans.

Manage expectations. On that note, accept that you simply cannot get to everything in two weeks. Some projects and tasks will not be completed and will have to wait for the next person to fill your role or a current peer to take them on. Do your best, but don’t overexert yourself. There’s a new challenge on the horizon!

Address the administrative stuff. Don’t forget the odds and ends like turning in keys, cleaning out your desk, returning your laptop, or filling out paperwork. Contact your HR department to see if they have a checklist for those vacating a position or leaving the company.

Say goodbye. This is a little different from the communication piece because this step is less about setting timelines and more about saying farewell to your beloved co-workers. Want to take it a step further? Send an email or handwritten note to those who have influenced your career or made a difference in your life. Add them on LinkedIn to stay in touch.

As a final caution, avoid taking your last two weeks as a vacation. Chances are, you’ll just be hurting a valued peer or damaging your own reputation. And you never know when you’ll encounter a former colleague or leader in the future.

Stay tuned for our blog on Kicking off your new role.

Curious about our career opportunities? We’ve got you covered.