If you\u2019re leaving your job, you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n
The workforce has revolutionized into \u201cThe Great Resignation<\/a>.\u201d Some experts have renamed the recent spikes in employee resignations as \u201cThe Great Reimagination\u201d or \u201cThe Great Realization.\u201d People are reevaluating how they work, where they work, and why they work.<\/p>\n According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>, in April 2021 alone, around 4 million people quit their jobs. That number is the highest recorded since the bureau started recording such rates.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Even though millions quit their jobs every month, we understand that telling your boss that you\u2019re leaving the company is never an easy conversation. A respectful resignation letter can mean the difference between an awkward goodbye and a chance for a long-term professional connection.<\/p>\n Ideally, you\u2019ll provide a resignation letter two weeks before leaving the company. It lets you officially announce your termination at the company and offers essential housekeeping information, like your last day and other details about your departure.<\/p>\n An effective one helps you ensure a positive conversation with your boss and a smooth transition to your next journey.<\/p>\n But how do you write a good resignation letter? What should you include and exclude?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Writing a resignation letter can feel like a daunting task, so we\u2019ve created a professional resignation letter template to get you started and included examples for inspiration.<\/p>\n A resignation includes a few elements: the greeting, opening paragraph, body paragraph, and closing paragraph. The letter should be detailed but brief. You should want to inform your manager of your decision, but keep it professional if the reasons are less positive.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Writing a professional resignation letter starts with understanding each of its components:<\/p>\n Begin your letter by stating your position at the company. This might seem redundant if you work at a small company and your boss knows you well, but it\u2019s essential to include it since the letter is your official termination. Along with this information should be a simple statement of your resignation.<\/p>\n Also, providing an end date in the first paragraph is helpful since that\u2019s one of your employer’s first questions.<\/p>\n Here’s what this first paragraph may look like in practice:<\/p>\n I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as [Position Name] for [Company Name], effective [Date].<\/em><\/p>\n Take the time to consider how you\u2019ve grown or what you\u2019ve appreciated most about your time at the company. Be as specific as possible. Perhaps the company provided professional development opportunities. Maybe you\u2019ve enjoyed the environment the company fostered and the supportive atmosphere.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also nice for your employer to receive a thank you for the time and resources they\u2019ve used in supporting your career growth. Here’s an example of what this may look like:<\/p>\n I appreciate the opportunities for professional development that you have provided me over the past two years. I have enjoyed my tenure at [Company Name] and feel honored to have been part of such a supportive team.<\/em><\/p>\n If you\u2019d like, you can include where you\u2019re heading. For example, if you\u2019re switching industries to pursue a passion or going to graduate school, it might be appropriate to include that. For example:<\/p>\n I accepted a position as a [New Job Title], and I’m looking forward to [pursuing my passion in [X] or continuing my work with a focus on [Y].<\/em><\/p>\n However, if you\u2019re leaving the company for a competitor, it\u2019s better to omit such information.<\/p>\n In the third paragraph, mention your willingness to make the transition easier. For example:<\/p>\n If I can be of any help during this transition, please let me know. I am available to help train my replacement and ensure that all my reports are updated before my last day of work.<\/em><\/p>\n This sentence might look different for you. But regardless of what you write, it\u2019s good practice to include specific details regarding how you\u2019ll help.<\/p>\n As an optional follow-up paragraph, briefly review the work you’ll be surrendering when you officially leave the company. Although it\u2019s technically your manager’s responsibility to pick this work up and determine how it will continue, it’s helpful to list all the projects and tasks you’ve been in charge of to make the transition even easier on the company in the interim.<\/p>\n If you didn\u2019t serve in a managerial capacity or collaborate with other departments, you could skip this part.<\/p>\n This last paragraph is optional and doesn\u2019t need to be included all the time, particularly if you have no desire or need to use your former employer as a reference. However, many candidates choose to maintain their professional networks. A closing may look like this:<\/p>\n Thank you again for the opportunity to work at [Company Name]. I wish you all the best and look forward to staying in touch. You can email me at [Email Address].<\/em><\/p>\n While you can mention where you\u2019re going next, you don\u2019t need to tell your employer about your new position or salary at length. Keep things professional. You can acknowledge how the current position helped your advancement within your industry. Your letter should be direct and reflective in tone to your employer.<\/p>\n It goes without saying, but a resignation letter isn\u2019t the time to use profanity and obscene language. You need to remain respectful and professional until your end of tenure. Although you may feel the urge to criticize your former job, the resignation letter isn\u2019t the time to air out the dirty laundry.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re leaving a supportive work environment, it\u2019s helpful to leave out emotional sentiments in the letter. Be as professional as possible. You can illustrate those emotions through face-to-face meetings with others.<\/p>\n Your resignation letter doesn’t need to include negative comments about colleagues or managers at the company. The letter is meant to conclude your tenure, not blame others for incomplete tasks.<\/p>\n This is not the time to project your resentment towards your current job. You need to reflect on positive moments and how you gained useful knowledge about the industry and yourself. You don\u2019t have to leave on a sour note with your employer.<\/p>\n With the above template in mind, let’s look at a few sample resignation letters for different positions, each taking a slightly different but amicable tone to their resignations.<\/p>\n You can share why you\u2019re quitting if they aren\u2019t work-related reasons. The reasons should be positive or neutral. Its tone is thankful that the employer took a chance on you. Most offer an extended hand to train the incoming person. The letter includes a notice of resignation at least two weeks in advance.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n A brief resignation letter will include two important things: your date of resignation and a formal notice to your supervisor. A good letter can also include a \u201cthank you\u201d line, but it\u2019s not necessary. Although you\u2019re ending your tenure with your current employer, you don\u2019t want to burn a bridge without honoring your notice deadline.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n While the best way to quit a job is to give at least two weeks\u2019 notice and offer to help with the transition, sometimes circumstances make that impossible. If you need to leave your job immediately without notice, you need an immediate resignation letter.<\/p>\n Here is a sample that can help you:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Download the Templates Now<\/a><\/p>\n Sometimes the nature of your position merits a more specific letter of resignation when you leave. Below are a couple of templates that help these more dynamic roles make a graceful departure from the company.<\/p>\n If you work freelance, you might need to adjust the focus of your resignation letter to address your final assignments and exactly how you’ll be parting ways with your client. This includes your current duties, tasks you won’t complete, and how you’ll accept your final payment.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/p>\n A quick email or two-paragraph notice to your superior might not suffice as an official resignation if you’re in an executive- or senior-level leadership role.<\/p>\n Because these roles are harder to fill, you might play a more significant role in the transition period, especially since you manage more people and decide on the direction of more projects.<\/p>\n The example below separates the resignation into two sections. The first is the resignation itself, and the second is how (and with whom) the resigner’s work will continue. It’s just one of the different templates we have to offer.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nResignation Letter Format<\/h3>\n
What do I include in a professional resignation letter?<\/h2>\n
1. Statement of Resignation and End Date<\/h3>\n
2. Gratitude<\/h3>\n
3. Transition Details<\/h3>\n
4. Personal Contact Information<\/h3>\n
What Not to Include in a Resignation Letter<\/h2>\n
1. Future Career Moves<\/h3>\n
2. Distasteful Language<\/h3>\n
3. Emotional Attachments<\/h3>\n
4. Criticism of Coworkers<\/h3>\n
5. Projecting Bitterness<\/h3>\n
Professional Resignation Letter Samples<\/h2>\n
1. Gracious Resignation Letter Sample<\/h3>\n
2. Brief Resignation Letter Sample<\/h3>\n
3. Immediate Resignation Letter Sample<\/h3>\n
Free Professional Resignation Letter Templates<\/h2>\n
1. Contractor Resignation Letter Template<\/h3>\n
2. Executive Resignation Letter Template<\/h3>\n