Last Day of a Colleague

When I first started working, I was often saddened when colleagues left the company. It was like seeing your comrade - someone who 'fought through the battles' with you and someone who spent more time hearing you laugh and complain than your family, left. It often took me a while to get used to the replacement.


After 6 years in the corporate world, I became increasingly jaded towards departures of colleagues. Colleagues' last days are no longer tear-jerking moments. I learn to be happy for those who have found a greener pasture. I learn that the transitional moments for both myself and the replacement are often trying but it is a matter of time when both of us will get used to the each other's working style. Departures of colleagues become a matter of life that we need to live with, especially in a prosperous economy where opportunities are many. In the past, we face with departures every 2 to 3 years but in today's economy, colleagues come and go within months.


This latest 'casualty' has been with the company only for 7 months before he decides to seek greener pasture. 7 months, to me, seem to be an extremely short time for himself to understand if the job and the culture is for him and for the company to recognise his talent. Nevertheless, there is never a standard time or period to decide if one should continue staying or should make a move soon. Moreover, everyone has a different yardstick on whether they should continue staying in a company.


Well, best wishes to the departing colleague.