how to... WRITE A RESIGNATION LETTER

In 2013, Fancy Frenchwood, a Seattle-based recruiter, sent her boss a resignation letter that included the following line: “I refuse to settle for any form of disrespect or maltreatment, particularly from individuals whose only credibility resides in their job title as opposed to demonstrated excellence and leadership.” She sent her letter to Forbes, which published it online—where it received a half a million views and also led to the firing of several executives from her former company. Frenchwood went on to publish a book, The Perfect Resignation Letter: I Fired My Boss. Here are Frenchwood’s top five tips for writing a worthwile resignation letter: 1. KNOW WHY YOU’RE LEAVING. “Write down your reasons for moving on. This will help you determine whether your reasons are positive or negative. This process can also be a powerful cathartic experience and allow you to purge unwanted emotions.” 2. AVOID “FEELING” WORDS. “Don’t write that you are ‘disappointed’ and ‘feel’ like your employer didn’t provide you with adequate resources to perform your job. This will negate any chance of your letter being taken seriously.” 3. THINK LONG- TERM. “This letter will remain in your personnel file, so be aware that a scathing letter about your boss’s ineffective leadership style will probably burn a bridge. (But if that’s of no concern to you, then, in the words of Usher, ‘let it burn’!)” 4. GIVE YOURSELF TIME. “Once you write the letter, let it sit for a couple of days. Have a friend or family member read it and give feedback to get a sense of how others may perceive your message.” 5. HAND- DELIVER YOUR LETTER. “Unless you work remotely, your resignation letter should be delivered in person—and be prepared to discuss your reasons for leaving.” h