by The resignation letter is used to resign from a professional position. If you are planning to quit your job, it’s important to provide a resignation letter to your employer to maintain the professional relationship as well as to create a paper trail that documents your planned departure and timeline. Using sample resignation letters will make it easier to create this document for your employer.
What is a Resignation Letter?
A resignation letter is an official communication from a worker to their employer informing them that they will be leaving their position. In other words, it is a formal method of giving up. A letter of resignation should be used to give formal notice of resignation, specify the end day of employment, lay out any necessary future steps, and foster goodwill toward the employer.
Tips for Writing a Resignation Letter
The rule of thumb for resignation letters is that they should be as brief as possible. There is no need to go into great detail as to why you are leaving. It is preferable to be direct, professional, and to include all pertinent details regarding the termination procedure.
Here are some helpful tips for writing your resignation letter:
- Be direct and to the point – mention that you are quitting in the first paragraph (or even the first sentence)
- Be professional – do not use it as an opportunity to complain, insult, or criticize the company or other employees
- Give notice of your last day – provide the specific date you are agreeing to work until
- Provide information about the transition – you may offer to help find your replacement, or agree to finish certain projects and tasks before your last day
- Proofread and spell check – be sure to thoroughly proofread the letter before submitting to make sure all information is accurate and there are no typos
- Seek legal advice – depending on the nature of your position, you may wish to seek professional legal advice about your resignation process
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How to use a Resignation Letter Template
You may wish to use this resignation letter template to help you efficiently write your letter.
To use this template effectively, follow these steps:
- Copy and paste the resignation letter template into an MS Word Document, Google Doc, or email
- Add all your personal details and contact information
- Rewrite the paragraphs with your own words describing your situation
- Proofread and spell check
- Submit the letter via email, mail, or in-person
Resignation Letter Template
Copy and paste the below text into a Word document or an email as the starting point for own letter.
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, State/Province, Country]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Today’s Date]
[Employer Contact Name]
[Employer Title]
[Employer Company Name]
Dear [Employer Contact Name],
[First paragraph: I am writing to provide you with my formal notice of resignation from The Company. My last day will be January 19, 2018, two weeks from today.]
[Second paragraph: This was not an easy decision to make, and I appreciate your support over the course of my employment at The Company. I truly value the experience, training, and knowledge I gained over the past 5 years. It has been a pleasure working with you and the team.
[Third paragraph: Please let me know how I can help during this transition. I wish you all the best as the company continues to grow.]
Sincerely,
[Image of Signature]
[Your Name]
Resignation Letter Best Practices
When you deliver your resignation letter to your boss it’s important to remember what you should and shouldn’t do. Here are the most important points and best practices to remember.
Be sure to:
- Deliver both a printed copy with your signature and an email copy
- Discuss the final details of your employment (the last few days on the job)
- Offer to help transition the role to someone else at the company
- Provide the required amount of notice (the number of days will be listed in your original employment agreement)
- Organize your desk and personal affairs in the event the company asks you to leave immediately
Try to avoid:
- Criticizing the company or any people that work there
- Refusing to come in and work for the duration of your notice period (unless you are asked not to come back)
- Bragging about some amazing new opportunity of a job you found
- Avoiding your boss and refusing to talk about transition planning
- Convincing co-workers that they should resign too
- Spreading rumors or misinformation
Examples of Public Resignation Letters
If you’d like to see some high-profile, public examples of resignation letters, Business Insider has compiled a list of the 13 greatest resignation letters of all time. These may serve as an example of what not to do for most people, but they are very entertaining to read, nonetheless. If you have the time, you may enjoy reading these great examples of resignation letters.
