It’s time for me to resign. I’ve accepted a new position and want to be up front about my reasons, but want to leave on a pleasant, professional note. How should I handle this?

— Richard G.

Resign in the same way you’d want someone who is working for you to resign—with politeness, honesty, respect, and class. There’s a rich source of information on this topic at i-resign.com. It’s packed with solid advice—from job-hunting to a recommended process for resigning to template resignation letters you can customize. Here’s just some of the advice I found helpful, from Kauser Kanji, one of the site’s owners:

There are right and wrong ways of resigning from your job. Doing it the wrong way can lead to bad feelings between you and your employer, recriminations or even a bad reference.

Resigning Face-to-Face

You resign personally, face to face with your boss, or with a letter—probably both. Usually, the best way is to set up a private meeting with your boss.

Plan Your Message.

Work out what you're going to say and then stick to it. The boss will probably ask you for more information – details that you may not want to give at this stage. Be cooperative, but keep control of what you say—and don’t say.

Emphasize the positives:

You never know when your career will cross paths with your former employers, so don’t dwell on the negative aspects of your time at the firm.

Expect a reaction:

Unless your boss is expecting you to resign, your decision may come as a surprise. The boss may get emotional or even confrontational. If that happens, stick to your prepared comments.

Stay Calm.

The boss may now no longer see you as a team player and may even feel betrayed. So don’t’ rise to the challenge. Speak in calm measured tones and take deep breaths often.

Leave on a good note,

and be as co-operative as possible. Emphasize that you will gladly hand over any uncompleted work to the best of your ability. Make sure the last impression you make at with your boss at this meeting is positive, professional, and helpful.

Resigning in a Letter

A written letter of resignation always gives you more time to prepare what you want to say and gives you greater control of your message. Use this opportunity constructively.

Include the basics.

Your resignation letter should include the following information: name, date, the person it is addressed to, your notice of termination of employment, the date this is effective and, finally, your signature.

Emphasize the positive.

If you're leaving in good circumstances and feel that you want to say a little more, fine. You might thank the boss for the opportunities he/she gave you – the growth you experienced; the results you contributed to the firm.

Never badmouth.

If, however, you're leaving in strained or bad circumstances, resist the temptation to speak badly of the boss or the company (not just in the letter, but also in all your contacts before you leave. Your letter of resignation may be used as a reason to hire you back—or a stick to bash you with later on. It is never polite—or smart— to include personal remarks in a resignation letter. If you genuinely have differences of opinion with your boss, save them for another time and place. Never commit these thoughts to paper – your comments will remain in your personnel file forever.

Beware A Counter-Offer

Consider any counter-offers seriously. Are you being offered a higher salary, a move to another location, a step up the career ladder? But be careful. Some counter-offers are made just to keep you until they find a replacement, even as they’re planning to boot you out because of your “disloyalty.” Ask yourself some key questions:

• Is the counter-offer what you really want? Has anything changed? Why did you make the decision to resign in the first place? Have these factors been effectively addressed in the counter offer?

• Will you still have the same standing within the company? The boss may now be doubtful of your 100% commitment to the firm. That’s why it may be better to move on.

• How will the acceptance of a counter-offer affect your reputation with your would-be-employers? You never know when you may cross paths with them again.

Leave on the Right Note

Make sure that you’ve given ample notice of your intention to leave—usually two to four weeks—so that handover of work can take place smoothly. Make sure that you’ve completed any outstanding tasks and help everyone in the smooth handover of any unfinished work. (Make sure your boss knows that you’ve actively participated in this process and that you have been as co-operative as possible. A weekly progress report, in writing, is a good idea.) Take time to speak to all of your co-workers. Give them support and make positive comments about their contribution to your time at the firm. Try to remain in touch; you never know when you’ll want their help later on.

Finally, make sure you negotiate a fair settlement for any outstanding salary, holiday or vacation entitlement, benefits and commission payments that are due to you. Sometimes these are overlooked in the strong emotions of a termination. Once you leave, it’s almost impossible to go back and ask for entitlements you forgot. Best wishes!