Although the laptop was for work purposes, chances are that you did some personal things on the computer, and you need to clear that data before returning it. Here are the steps you should take before returning your work computer.
1. Back Up Your Documents
The first step you should take is going through your computer and deleting the files you no longer need. Once you’ve purged unnecessary files from the computer, you should organize the remaining files according to who needs them. If there are files you need for yourself, then you should back up the files on a USB drive or use cloud storage.
For the files that coworkers need access to after you leave, you should back them up on a shared drive for easy access. If you’re unsure about doing a backup, you might be interested in learning about third-party tools you must try to back up your Windows data.
2. Keep Helpful Programs
Perhaps you’ve read or been introduced to some programs that have proved useful to you. If the job you’re moving on to is similar to your current one, some of the programs may be valuable to you in the future.
It’s an excellent idea to download the programs on a USB drive or the cloud, so you can have access to them when you need them. If you’re looking for a planner app, you might want to check out these free weekly planners to organize your productive tasks.
3. Save Contacts and Emails
Access to old emails may be beneficial in the future when looking up references, information, and networking purposes. If your company is using Microsoft Outlook, there are two ways to save your emails and contracts:
Manually drag and drop each email or contact information into a new folder. Export the contact information using the Open & Export function under File and export the file as a CSV file. You want to ensure you check the Include subfolders box to copy all your data into the folder you selected.
4. Save Your Login Information
Many of us have picked up the habit of saving our passwords on the browser we use most often because it makes accessing our accounts easier. It’s an easy and efficient way to access your accounts until you need to access them from a different computer.
Make a note of your usernames and passwords and save the information somewhere safe where you can easily access them. You may be interested in learning how to manage saved passwords on Android with Google Password Manager.
5. Clear Your Browser History
You should delete your cache, bookmarks, cookies, internet history, and passwords. Passwords are particularly critical to delete, since forgetting to erase them can give whoever gets the computer access to your accounts.
Most browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Firefox, make deleting data easy since you can access the tool in your browser settings.
6. Delete Personal Programs and Files
Search your computer for personal files, including photos, videos, and audio files. You may want to look in familiar places where you save files, such as Downloads, My Documents, the Desktop, and other folders you have created.
You can use Window’s search feature to locate the video, audio, image files, and any PDFs you may have saved. Furthermore, there are several ways you can uninstall programs from Windows. Ensure you’ve deleted all personal emails you have sent from your work email and delete apps you’ve downloaded for personal use, such as Netflix or Spotify.
7. Empty the Recycle Bin
After deleting your personal files, the last thing you want to do is to forget to empty the recycle bin, and leave all the files you didn’t want anyone to access sitting in one spot. Your files aren’t gone from the device until you empty the recycle bin.
If it’s been a while since you emptied the bin, you may notice an increase in the computer’s speed once you do it. To empty your recycle bin, right-click on the bin, and choose Empty Bin.
8. Clean the Computer
Some of us are guilty of eating and drinking around our computers, which can lead to spills and crumbs. Before returning your computer, you may want to use compressed air to clean the keyboard and a microfiber cloth or wipes to clean the computer, its screen or monitor, and the trackpad.
If you’re looking for some tips on cleaning your computer, you may want to learn cleaning tricks to make your laptop look like new.
Don’t Forget Your Company Phone, Too!
In addition to returning your computer, your employer will ask you to return your company phone if they have provided you with one. The steps are similar to those you take to clear your computer.
Deleting data from your phone may be more critical when you consider the personal nature of phones. You want to ensure you’ve deleted any private messages and apps you downloaded for personal use.
Leave Your Job on a Positive Note
Regardless of why you’re leaving your current job, it’s essential not to burn bridges on your departure. You want to make the transition as smooth as possible, ensuring that your coworkers can access the work you completed while you were on the job. Ensure that everyone you are working with is aware of the project’s status before you leave, and tie up as many loose ends as possible.
You want to leave your job positively, so you can carry it into your next position. If you leave your previous job negatively, it might affect how you enter your new position. You may be interested in learning what you should avoid doing in your new career.
