Today, we follow-up with part 2 of our 3-part series on Resigning. Usually not a lot of fun contemplating, and certainly no more fun executing. However, IF you have to do it, there IS a professional way to resign. You CAN leave your job and feel good about HOW you did it, AND leave a great impression on the way out. Now, how often does that happen in your workplace today?

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Today's show is an interesting one ... At least once in your career, and perhaps as many as five times, you're going to have to resign from a position. And this is another one of those tasks or responsibilities that no one talks about, no one knows how to do, and therefore many do it poorly.

It's not hard to do well, and in this series of casts, we make it a simple step by step process. If you're thinking that you already know how, consider that we recommend you need SIX WEEKS to do it well.

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Today we cover the second in our 2-part series on mentoring. As a reminder, our 7 simple guidelines for mentoring are:

1. Whom Should I Ask?
2. How Long Should It Last?
3. You Make the Ask
4. How Does It Work?
5. You Run It
6. The First Meeting is Critical - Script It
7. Be Ready For Feedback

Also, June 26th represents the 1-year Anniversary of Manager Tools.

Every week, we get questions about people's resumes on the discussion boards. Our resume casts are some of the most wanted of all our work. It's pretty obvious that more and more folks are tuned into their own careers, and how to manage them. That's a good thing, as we've said before, because no one else is managing it for you. And, because so few people manage their careers at all, it only takes a little to get a competitive advantage.

We thought we'd address a career management topic that also leverages our recent cast about building your network.

If you're a manager, don't think for a moment that someone else is managing your career. Those days are long gone. YOU are managing your career. What you do - not only in job skills, but also in what we call "Transition Skills" - will be the primary determinant of your career success. You're not going to have the richest, most rewarding series of roles and opportunities by allowing someone in HR to know enough about you to get you where you need to be. And succession planning won't save you either.

And one of the most important of the Transition Skills is Building And Maintaining Your Network. Most people are terrible at it. We know this because they have no network.

Now, notice that we did NOT say that the skill was "networking". That term conjures up schmoozing, and cocktail parties, and too many people don't like it. So, we're not suggesting you do that.

We're suggesting you Build and Maintain Your Network. It only takes THREE SIMPLE SKILLS, and we'll walk through them.

Oh, yeah ... and there's a blooper in the show. Did you catch it?

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The hand shake is the most important professional greetings in the world today. There are many cultures in the world, and there are places to bow, and places to hug, and places where cheek-kissing is perfectly appropriate. The handshake, though is the preferred greeting for most of our audience.

If you're going to do business in the world, or if you're a manager at a multi-national corporation, you need to know how to shake hands. This cast will teach you in excruciating (grin) detail.

The Ten Steps to a Great Handshake

• Make Eye Contact
• Smile
• Move Forward
• Left Foot Forward
• Elbow IN!
• Web to Web
• Push Them Back
• Grip the Bat
• 1-2 Pumps Only
• Let Go

Some No-Nos

• No double handed grips
• No shoulder clasp
• Do NOT move your hand side to side in any way
• No pulling

I am sure it makes me seem terribly nerdy to break a handshake down this way... but it works, and we know lots of folks want to know, but don't know where to go. This is one case where if you go to the world wide web, you'll be reminded of why we started Manager Tools. What passes for training or guidance is almost always irreproducible.

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Last week, we discussed some basic things you need to know about recruiters and specifically how to handle the first call from the recruiter. Today, we discuss the key questions to ask them, as well as how to address their specific request. Additionally, we discuss what you can do to maintain a good relationship with them going forward. Would it surprise you that it looks a lot like maintaining ANY relationship?

We've also included on the website an Executive Recruiter Cheat Sheet. Print this sheet out and keep it handy in your desk ... it will help you remember how to handle that initial call (what to say, what to ask) and assist you in ensuring that the first call from the recruiter isn't the LAST call. You'll find the cheat sheet here.

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We hate to use the name headhunters rather than recruiters, because Mark never liked that term when it was applied to him. But it's a pretty common nickname for a group that is playing an increasingly important role in career management today. The World is Flat has taught us that no job is safe (note even fast food order takers!). Companies are no longer taking responsibility for your career. Tom Peters believes in a Brand Called "You". Your career and its transitions are IN YOUR HANDS. You can't call yourself a smart manager if you don't know how to create the right relationship with recruiters in your industry.

Over the next two shows, we'll tell you EXACTLY how to handle it when a recruiter calls you. There's a right way to do this, and over NINETY PERCENT of managers fail at miserably. It's not hard, and we lay it all out here. We'll tell you some basic things you need to know about recruiters, the guidelines for the first call, and the key questions to ask THEM. As well, we share how to actually address their specific request, and then how to maintain a relationship with them after the call if you care to.

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How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie