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HERBERT MINES ASSOCIATES OFFERS TIPS FOR RESIGNING IN 2005

New York, NY – January 5, 2005 – As the new year rings in with resolutions for both personal and professional improvement, Herbert Mines Associates, a leading executive search firm providing senior-level services to the retail, fashion and consumer products industries, offers tips for resigning effectively and positively in 2005.

“Resigning can be one of the most stressful or exciting times in a career,” said Dave Hardie, the Managing Director for consumer products at Herbert Mines Associates. “And while it’s not something most people do often, the tenets were learned in kindergarten – use common sense, be honest, and treat others the way you want to be treated.”

To follow are some simple tips to resign effectively and positively in the New Year:

• Resign in person to your boss – This is an important and sensitive issue and should not be handled via voicemail or email. It is probably best to resign in the morning, as it is inappropriate to be a surprise at the end of a long day.

• Put it in writing –Have a brief, signed letter of resignation to hand to your boss after your discussion. Although it is the least important piece of the process, it establishes your end date, and it remains in your personnel record.
• Be positive, professional, and definitive in your discussion – Plan what you want to say, and stay calm and composed even if your boss gets confrontational. Focus on what’s exciting about the new opportunity, and emphasize your intent to facilitate a smooth transition. Be sure to end the meeting on a positive note.
• Beware of the counteroffer – It is rarely in your best interest to accept a counteroffer. The flattery/promotion/monetary supplement weren’t there before, and they won’t last. You’ve now demonstrated a lack of loyalty and will be watched more suspiciously. There’s a reason you were attracted to the new opportunity, and it isn’t going to go away. The best approach is to pass on the counteroffer.
• Be prepared to leave immediately … or to work hard after giving notice – Make your resignation effective at least two weeks in the future. During the “notice” period, devote your full energies to the job. At the other extreme, prepare to be escorted to the door immediately or asked to leave that evening. Remove personal items from your computer and your files in advance, but wait to pack personal pictures and belongings – it’s obvious and tacky.
• Stick to your story and keep it positive – Don’t tell your colleagues you were miserable if you told your boss the new opportunity was too good to pass up. At the exit interview, you can suggest ways to improve, but keep it professional. Don’t burn bridges.
• Take the time to say goodbye – You’ve shared many experiences with people in your old company. Let them know where you’re going, mention your good memories, and say thank you. You may work with some of them again, and you may want them to be references for you in the future.
• Don’t take anything that isn’t yours – Leave the paperweight and customer list if they belong to the company. Don’t do anything that you’d be ashamed to tell your mother about.

About Herbert Mines Associates

Founded in 1981, Herbert Mines Associates is the leading executive search firm focused exclusively on the retail, fashion, and consumer products industries. Operating as a boutique firm, the company provides senior-level attention and expertise to leading companies such as Kimberly-Clark, Abbott Laboratories, Neiman Marcus, Federated Department Stores and Home Depot. Over the past five years, Herbert Mines Associates has experienced significant growth by recruiting executives from outside the fashion and apparel industries and expanding into new sectors such as consumer packaged goods. For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.herbertmines.com.

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