So, you’ve decided to move on. You’ve signed on the dotted line at your new job, and now all that stands between you and your fabulous new job is submitting your letter of resignation to your current job. drink.
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While this isn’t the first step to quitting your job (it would be sitting down with your boss and giving them two weeks’ notice—read more about having that “I quit” conversation), it is an important one. The official document you send to his and HR’s superiors will set the tone for the rest of your time at this job, as well as for your relationship to move forward. so it’s worth spending a little time to make this two-week notice letter solid and polished.
To help you, here is a step-by-step resignation letter template to use.
read more: 40 templates to help you handle your toughest work emails
There’s no need to sugarcoat or get creative at first; simply indicate the position you are resigning from and the effective date. Although you probably shared your reasons for leaving with your boss, you don’t need to describe them here; keeping it simple is perfectly fine. (no need to, um, create a “quit” video).
dear [your boss’s name],
Please accept this letter as formal notice that I am resigning from my position as [job title] with [company name]. my last day will be [your last day, usually two weeks from the date you notify].
Next, it’s always a good idea to thank your employer for the opportunity by describing some of the key things you enjoyed and learned on the job. and yes, this is true even if you’re excited to leave. Remember: You may need these people for reference in the future, and leaving things on a good note will leave a lasting (positive) impression.
thank you very much for the opportunity to work in this position for the past [amount of time you have been in the position]. I really enjoyed and appreciated the opportunities I had for [some of your favorite job responsibilities], and I learned [some specific things you learned on the job], all of which I will take with me throughout my career.
Finally, indicate your willingness to help with the transition. You don’t need to go into a lot of detail (and definitely don’t promise anything you can’t deliver), but a couple of lines indicating that you’ll make sure your homework goes off without a hitch will show that you’re in the game to the end.
During my last two weeks, I will do my best to wrap up my duties and train other team members. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help during the transition.
I wish the company continued success and look forward to staying in touch in the future.
sincerely,
[your name]Want to put this all together and see what it looks like in practice? We’ve written a couple of sample resignation letters for you to work with.
example #1
dear mr. don cohen,
Please accept this letter as formal notice that I am resigning from my position as Account Executive at Marketing Media. my last day will be Thursday March 2nd.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to work in this position for the past six years. I really enjoyed and appreciated the opportunities I had to grow our sales team and pipeline, be a part of building a great product and work with my colleagues, and learn a lot about marketing strategy and digital. media space, which I will undoubtedly take with me throughout my career.
I will do my best to wrap up my duties and train other team members over the next two weeks. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help during this transition.
I wish the company continued success and look forward to staying in touch in the future.
sincerely, anne acharya
example #2
dear mrs. frank braden,
I am writing to formally notify you that I will be stepping down as office manager for larry and keets financial partners on July 31st.
I recently received an offer to serve as an executive assistant at a small startup company, and after careful consideration, I’m excited to explore this new path in my professional journey.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have been given working on the operations team for the last four years. It has been a wonderful experience working for such a great company and helping to solve larry and keets mission to provide better financial support to older employees.
let me know if I can be of assistance during this transition. thanks for all your guidance. I wish you all the best and hope to keep in touch.
honestly, george lin
Obviously, feel free to tweak this a bit based on your experience and your company culture, then send it through your typical company procedures.
Sure, you can stay in the depths of hr until the end of time, but you can be sure of two things: One, your former boss (and future reference) will read it and be impressed. and two, if he ever decides to return to your company (hey, it happens), it’s great that the last thing on file is a great, professionally written resignation letter.
Happy resignation!