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I am currently the only IT person for my company. However, I will be turning in my two week notice to the boss tomorrow, I was offered a job as a network admin for the state. I want to make this transition as smooth as possible for my current employer. I have started a to-do list of things but would really appreciate any advice as to what types of things need to be done before my departure. Example, change admin passwords on server, firewall, scheduled tasks etc. Also I am looking for advice as how to best handle the fact that I will be leaving them with no IT presence.

I look forward to your responses and thank you in advance for any ideas and thoughts you are willing to share with me.

24 Spice ups
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Document, document, document as much as possible. Look at each device on your network that you administer, document information on it. If there are automated tasks/processes that run, document those. Passwords, document those, etc.

Its all about just looking at everything you do on regular and irregular days (its those irregular days documentation stuff that falls through the cracks) and documenting it.

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If you have consultants you work with or know any consultants, you might want to recommend them. If you do go the consultant route you might want to schedule a meeting and show them around, give them documentation, and let them know any troubles.

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This is one thing I worry about as well. In the end “it’s their problem” but you do want to leave without burning any bridges and helping out as much as you can. I would definitely write up a big list of what you think needs to be done, have them look it over and add/change anything and sign off on it. Then get to work. Of course, someone else will have to change the passwords and that should be done the day you’re leaving, so as not to hinder your last couple weeks of employment. Everything else: double checking documentation, reviewing inventory and asset lists, clean up, get all your toys out, that can be done in the last couple weeks.

Documentation is number one during this transition but can be the hardest to do. Do you write out how to do everything from change an AD password to resetting a Zyxel modem, or do you just write on a sheet of paper “google it!”? In reality, nobody can expect to replace you and your knowledge except another knowledgeable IT person. It’s not your job to train up a receptionist by leaving them a “bible” of everything IT. That, and things change, it becomes outdated, they rely on it too much and problems start occuring.

They really need to look at replacing you with something IT related, either another person or outsourcing. But communication between you and whoever replaces you will be paramount to an easy transition.

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If you are going to be leaving him with no IT support at all, I would at least make myself available (as a contractor) to help out with any Major IT issues. I would also start calling around and find him a good MSP that might be in the area that could be able to help him with some of his day to day needs.

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Also let them know if they need your help after you start your new job, they will be billed for your time.

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What your Employer or the next IT guy would appreciate is that you have documented the complete network topology. Daily/weekly/Monthly processes could be noted down for future reference. Definitely all the passwords (for networking equipments/cloud services/offsite storage, if any). Scheduled tasks for backups, reboots, software updates, etc. Automated reports need to be forwarded to the next IT guy, so update those email addresses.

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Leave copies of all of your notes that are relevant to that particular company. Make sure that you are available for calls for help, but in emergency cases only. leave your email address.

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I agree with everything that Mel9484 said. A map or at least a very basic drawing of what is what, would be very helpful. List of IPs if your equipment is not labelled. Contacts for providers (say ISP, phone company, whoever else), license information for anything licensed. Software keys. I wouldn’t go through the trouble of changing the passwords to anything. What would be the point of this? You’d waste precious time doing this when you could use it to document things. Contact your vendors and let them know you are moving on, provide them with your new info if you can.

And, congrats on the new job! You must be pretty happy.

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I am very excited for this new opportunity. I have been trying for over a year to get this new position so I am very hopeful that all of the time is worth it.

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What is an appropriate amount to bill them for services? Is there a guideline for something like this?

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I know that most things will fall to our sales assistant who is more than happy to take on the extra tasks but how far do you go in training them and how much access to the network do you really want to give someone that has no experience?

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There isn’t a said guideline but techs usually bill by hourly rates anywhere between $50 - $100 would be a good number depending on the job but you can negotiate. Also considering that fact that this would probably be after-hours as your new job gets priority, you are willing to put in some time to sort out issues they are not able to figure out, feel free to bring up these facts in a subtle way so that they get a feeling that they are not being left high and dry.

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What a lovely thing for you to do!

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Suggestions have been made as to the documentation, etc. that they will need.

All good advice.

While you are working for them you need to be working for them - and it sounds like you are doing that. The intent to not leave them in a lurch is admirable, and good use of their money.

Once you leave, you will owe allegiance to someone else.

It’s not your job maintain the burden of support for your current employer - sounds like you like them but once you leave you answer to someone else and will be on someone else’s payroll.

Try and keep everything on the up and up and you’ll be fine.

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Don’t go any less than $250 an hour in a situation like this. Issues they may encounter could potentially take someone new to the environment hours or even days to solve, when you may have a solution in 30 minutes because you know how things are setup (and maybe even set them up). Contractors are very highly paid because they have to report their own taxes, provide their own tools, use their own vehicle. “Techs” that charge $100 an hour are the ones like GeekSquad or NerdsOnSite.

Any company would choose the expert they know, rather than dealing with someone they don’t know at a reduced rate, because the new person could take 23645783 times as long to find/fix the problem they may have been having.

(my .02 cents)

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Ok. Maybe I suggested a low number there but $250 would be rather high unless it is something only you can fix in that time frame but then again if its after-hours support you can always charge on the higher side but be open to negotiate and hear out their offer.

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Well $250 really isn’t high at all for a company to pay for a consultant/contractor for short term work… or you coudl do something like $250/hour up to $1200/day… that’s not an unusual rate at all (depending on area I suppose). I’ve known small-town school boards to pay that $1200/day without batting an eyelash though.

Just don’t short change yourself is all… it sets a terrible precedent. Have you ever called a plumber… ? I was on-site at a clients once, billing $100 and hour… in the time I was there, a plumber came and fixed a sink, he arrived after me, left before me, and the bill for labor was $1400! Working networks/computers/servers are more important to businesses than sinks…

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I admire your attitude, but be aware that maybe when you tell them you’re leaving, they may entering in panic mode, who knows they may even become less friendly toward you. Heck, they may even be plain hostile.

Still be professional and document as much as you can, and don’t be shy and billed them if they call you for help. Don’t let it bother you more than that. This business as usual.

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I would offer to consult for them after business hours as they are no-doubt going to need your assistance until they get someone into the position. Make sure that they understand that you will bill them and also note that this work will likely need to be cleared by your new employer.

And welcome to the dark side known as state government. Muahahahaha

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