HOW TO WRITE A GREAT RESIGNATION LETTER
Great news! You found a new job on Monster and are super-thrilled— way to go! There’s one order of business you need to take care of before you start mentally decorating your new desk. You need to resign from your current job, which means you need to learn how to write a great resignation letter telling your current boss that you’re leaving.
Slightly awkward? For sure. But employees resign all the time in every business and in every industry around the world. Nobody expects you to stay in one job forever.
Whether or not you’re leaving on good terms, it’s proper protocol to submit a letter of resignation. Keep your cool. You might be tempted to quickly write a simple resignation letter and move on, but this formal goodbye is worth further consideration.
While the purpose of the resignation letter is to inform your employer that you’re quitting, you can use it as an opportunity to build relationships and resign on a positive note (no pun intended).
What Is a Resignation?
A resignation is the act of leaving your job. A resignation letter expresses your intention to leave the company you currently work for.
Should You Write a Resignation Letter?
You should write a resignation letter because it’s the professional thing to do, whether you work at a hospital or a coffee shop. A resignation letter officially gives notice to your boss that you’re leaving the job and someone else will need to be hired to replace you and take on your responsibilities. Simply put, don’t resign without one.
What Is a Two Weeks’ Notice Letter?
A two weeks’ notice letter is essentially the same thing as a resignation letter. (It’s more professional-sounding than “quit letter” and “job leaving letter,” don’t you think?) This letter announces your intent to resign from the company and says you will remain in your position for another two weeks before leaving. Two weeks is the standard amount of time from when you announce you’re leaving to your last day at your job.
How to Write a Resignation Letter
It goes without saying that you can’t just write, “I resign. Bye.” There’s a formal outline to follow for a letter of resignation, but it’s not as imposing as you may think.
You don’t need to write a lot or give excessive detail—you just need to tell your boss that you intend to resign, add a few key points, and then respectfully wrap it up. Keep your resignation letter to one page and make sure it includes the following:
• a statement of intent that you will be leaving your job
• the name of your official staff position the date of your last day on the job
• gratitude to your employer for hiring you
• a highlight of your time there (optional)
• an offer to train your replacement
• well wishes for the future of the company
• your contact info
Resignation Letter Example
If you’re still a little shaky on what to say and how to write a resignation letter, use this resignation letter template to see how the above points are incorporated.
Notice how the intent to resign is stated in the very first sentence—no flowery introduction or greeting is necessary— and the tone is friendly but formal.
Roberta Jones
18 Hillside Road | Sometown, MA 55555 | Phone: 555-555-5555 | jones@somedomain.com
[Date]
Ms. Joyce Michaels CEO
ABC Company
15 Main St. Sometown, MA 55555
Dear Joyce,
Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as staff accountant. My last day of employment will be [date].
I received an offer to serve as senior accountant of a Fortune 500 company, and after careful consideration, I realize that this opportunity is too exciting for me to decline.
It has been a pleasure working with you and your team over the last three years. One of the highlights of my career was collaborating with you to automate ABC Company’s accounting, financial and balance systems and setting up your accounting infrastructure. Your company is poised for continued growth and I wish you much success with your upcoming acquisition of XYZ Company.
I would like to help with the transition of my accounting duties so that systems continue to function smoothly after my departure. I am available to help recruit and train my replacement, and I will make certain that all reporting and records are updated before my last day of work.
Joyce, thank you again for the opportunity to work for ABC Company. I wish you and your staff all the best and I look forward to staying in touch with you. You can email me anytime at jones@somedomain. com or call me at 555-555-5555.
Sincerely,
Roberta Jones
Get Ready to Hand in Your Resignation Letter
If you never wondered how to write a resignation letter, it’s best you give it some of your time. It’s highly likely the time will come in your career when you decide to resign. Hopefully it’ll be because you got offered a great new position somewhere else. Do you have your fingers crossed that that opportunity comes sooner rather than later? Create a profile with Monster for free. You can get customized job alerts emailed to you, plus you get access to loads of awesome resources that can help your career advance. Before you know it, you’ll need to write a resignation letter of your own.