Yet again I am referencing a newspaper article for my blog. Although this could pertain to an internship, I think it's more appropriate for people who are working full time. It's an article about the right way to resign from a company. Written by Judi Perkins, the article lists the dos and don'ts of letter-of-resignation writing.

Perkins says the letter should be brief, stating only that you are leaving the company and when. She says it's okay to write a line or two about what a pleasant experience you had working for the company, if this is true, but advises against writing anything that indicates how glad you are to be hitting the bricks. She also advises against saying why you're leaving, where you're headed or what your new salary will be. In keeping with not crowing with joy about leaving the company, Perkins also says you should refrain from saying how sorry you are to be leaving, too.

Perkins goes on to say that the letter should be hand delivered and that you should make a special appointment with your boss to do so. She says that you should shake hands and briefly reiterate verbally what your boss will be reading in your letter.

Finally, she says resist any offers made by your employer to keep you there. Perkins says, it's unprofessional for the employer to make a counter offer and, it's equally unprofessional for you to accept. Besides, it's only a ploy to keep you around until a replacement can be found, Perkins continues. She says it's better to repeat that you will be leaving the company and on what date. This way, you leave on your terms and still on good terms.

With 25 years of recruiting under her belt, I think it's safe to take it on faith that this woman knows what she's talking about. In all those years, she says, "I have never seen an accepted counter offer work in favor of the individual. It might be a month, or six months, but eventually, your next departure from the company will be on their terms, not yours."

Whether you're a college student doing an internship or a recent college graduate looking for entry level employment in your chosen major, it's a good idea to keep Judi Perkins' advice in mind. You never know when you might need or want to leave a company.