Writing Your Resignation Letter
Is a letter of resignation necessary? It depends. Many jobseekers simply tell their boss verbally that they are leaving — but there are several advantages to actually writing a resignation letter.
- It can help start the conversation about you leaving the company. You can simply give it to your boss and say, “I am submitting my letter of resignation because I must let you know I will no longer be a part of our team here.”
- A resignation letter can provide you with an outline to discuss all matters related to your departure from the company (timing, unused vacation, sick leave, 401K, etc.)
- It can help you quit your job professionally on the right foot — without burning bridges, and leaving the door open for future opportunities, should they arise.
The structure of a Letter of Resignation
Letters of resignation should be positive in tone. This is not the time to air your grievances. Your resignation letter will likely become a part of your permanent file, so choose your words carefully. If at all possible, hand-deliver (don’t email) your letter of resignation.
In the future, the person verifying your employment with the company might not be someone you worked with previously. They may review your file and what you write in your letter of resignation might be important. A strong recommendation can be important — and it’s appropriate to reiterate your contributions in the resignation letter so that information is in your file. Just don’t go overboard; this is about you leaving the company, not negotiating a raise or a promotion.
In your letter, be sure to thank your employer for the opportunities you had. You can also reiterate valued personal relationships in your resignation letter — acknowledging your work with your coworkers and supervisors.
What to include in your letter of resignation:
- The date you are leaving (if at all possible, give at least two week’s notice).
- Include a forwarding address for mail and correspondence. Also include an email address where you can be reached.
Sample Resignation Letter
Here is an example letter of resignation:
Dear (Supervisor Name):
This letter is to inform you that I am resigning from my position as (job title) with (company name), effective (date). I am willing to stay on for two weeks — until (date) — in order to provide a seamless transition for my replacement.
I have appreciated the opportunity to learn from you and contribute to the company in this role. Being able to be a part of the team that launched the (name of project) that sparked the division to its highest revenues ever is something that I will always remember.
One of the most difficult things about moving on is the loss of your guidance. I have greatly benefited from your leadership and mentoring, and I would welcome the opportunity to keep in contact in the future, as I sincerely value your knowledge and experience.
We will need to work out my final work schedule as well as disposition of my accrued vacation/leave time and employee benefits; I will await your guidance on how to handle these matters.
Personal correspondence can be sent to me at my home address (list address), or via email at (personal e-mail address).
I wish you — and the company — all the best.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
(Your contact information)
►► Below is a Template for a DIFFERENT resignation letter ◄◄
- A Template for a DIFFERENT resignation letter: Template For Resignation Letter
- An Example resignation letter based on the Template above: Example Resignation Letter
►► Below are one (1) more Template + one (1) more Example ◄◄
Important: A “Resignation Letter” is also known as a “Two Weeks Notice“
- A Template for a DIFFERENT resignation letter: Two Weeks Notice Template
- An Example resignation letter based on the Template above: Two Weeks Notice Example
It is important to customize and add your own tone to a resignation letter, considering it is a document that will stay in your files and may be reviewed in the future in case of reference checks. Be sure it is a positive tone.