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A wierd line from a song I just heard on an episode of the DailySourceCode. It got me thinking about how I've left jobs in the past. Conventional wisdom strongly encourages people to leave jobs on good terms, with the oft used metaphor "don't burn any bridges," implying that you may never know when connections from the past could influence your future.

I've never had the experience where a former co-worker helped me get a new position, either with companies they've moved on to or with the same employer we once shared. Of course, I've kept in touch with select individuals from almost every place I've worked because of the friendships that develop amongst comrades in the same trench. Those guys have also served as professional references, as I've done for some of them.

Where is the line on burning a bridge? Is not informing someone of an impending departure, letting them hear through official channels, considered burning a bridge? Is leaving a candid assessment of the current state of open projects or work you've done, when candor includes assessing strong and weak team players, considered burning a bridge? Or is the best approach for one to just smile, put in the remaining time left, and leave the final day with wishes of the best of luck in the future? I've seen this repeated enough times and by enough people that I knew were not leaving the organization on the best of terms that it usually comes off as phony, especially when it includes a "stay in touch" message to half the organization. Nobody wants that many people to stay in touch.