So you’ve decided to move on. You’ve signed on the dotted line at your new gig, and now all that’s standing in between you and your fab new job is submitting your resignation letter to your current one.
While this isn’t the first step of quitting your job (that would be sitting down with your boss to have the “I quit” conversation and give your two weeks’ notice), it’s an important one. The official document you submit to your higher-ups and HR will set the tone for the rest of your time at this job—as well as your relationship moving forward. So it’s worth spending a little time making this two weeks’ notice letter solid and polished. But note we said a little time—you’re not writing the Memoirs of a Back-End Engineer here. A letter of resignation is actually a quick, concise doc that—with these tips, examples, and template—is pretty easy to write.
What to include
There’s no need to overcomplicate anything. Your letter of resignation has just three basic parts:
1. Your resignation and last day
There’s no need to sugarcoat or get creative in the beginning; just state the position you’re resigning from and the effective date. While you probably shared with your boss your reasons for leaving, you don’t need to describe them here—keeping it simple is perfectly fine.
For example:
Dear Jin,
This letter is to formally notify you that I’m resigning as a marketing analyst at Lemon Inc. My last day will be two weeks from today on Wednesday, July 21, 2023.
2. The thank you
Next, it’s always a good idea to thank your employer for the opportunity, describing some of the key things you’ve enjoyed and learned on the job. And yes, this is true even if you’re beyond thrilled to be leaving. Remember—you don’t want to burn bridges (and you may want a reference down the line), and wrapping up on a good note will leave a lasting and positive impression.
For example:
Thank you so much for the opportunity to work here for the past 18 months. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and the rest of the team and appreciate the opportunity to learn more about marketing strategy and audience analysis. I’m excited to take these skills with me as I pursue the next step of my career.
3. The handoff
State your willingness to help out with the transition. You don’t need to go into great detail (and definitely don’t promise anything you can’t deliver), but a couple of lines saying you’ll ensure a smooth wrap-up of your duties will show you’re in the game until the very end.
During the next two weeks, I’ll do everything possible to wrap up my duties and train other team members as needed. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help out during the transition.
4. The conclusion
Finally, wrap up the email professionally. Express that you still want the best for the company going forward, and let them know they can reach out.
I wish the company continued success, and I hope to stay in touch in the future.
Sincerely,
Jaime Park
What not to include in your resignation letter
This isn’t the place for:
- Details about why you’re leaving
- Details about where you’re going
- Complaints about the company, its employees, or its practices
- Step-by-step instructions on how to cover your job duties in your absence
- Rambling
Resignation letter template
If you want some more guidance (or just convenience—no shame in that!), just plug your info into our template:
[Month][Day], [Year]
Dear [Your Boss’ Name],
Please accept this letter as formal notification that I am resigning from my position as a [position title] with [Company Name]. My last day will be [your last day—usually at least two weeks from the date you give notice].
Thank you so much for the opportunity to work in this position for the past [amount of time you’ve been in the role]. I’ve greatly enjoyed and appreciated the opportunities I’ve had to [a few of your favorite job responsibilities]. I’ve learned [a few specific things you’ve learned on the job], all of which I will take with me throughout my career.
During my last two weeks, I’ll do everything possible to wrap up my duties and train other team members. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help during the transition.
I wish the company continued success, and I hope to stay in touch in the future.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Obviously, feel free to adjust this a bit based on your experience and your company culture. Then you’ll usually email it to your boss and HR department, but always double check if your company has specific procedures for submitting your resignation.
Read More: 40 Templates to Help You Handle Your Toughest Work Emails
Example resignation letters
Want to put this all together and see what it looks like in practice? We’ve written a couple letter of resignation samples for you to work off of.
Example #1
Dear Don,
Please accept this letter as formal notification that I am resigning from my position as an account executive with Marketing Media. My last day will be Thursday, March 2.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to work in this position for the past six years. I’ve greatly enjoyed and appreciated the opportunities I’ve had to grow our sales team and pipeline, be a part of creating a great product, and work with my colleagues. I’ve learned so much about marketing strategy and the digital media space, which I will certainly take with me throughout my career.
I’ll do everything possible to wrap up my duties and train other team members over the next two weeks. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help during this transition.
I wish the company continued success, and I hope to stay in touch in the future.
Sincerely,
Anne Acharya
Example #2
Dear Ms. Fran Braden,
I’m writing to give my formal notice that I’ll be leaving my role as office manager for Larry and Keets Financial Partners on July 31.
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve been provided working on the operations team for the past four years. It’s been a wonderful experience to work for such a great company and help in solving Larry and Keets’ mission to provide better financial support for older employees.
Please let me know if I can be of any assistance during this transition. Thank you for all your guidance. I wish you all the best, and look forward to keeping in touch.
Sincerely,
Jorge Gonzales
Sure, your note may sit in the depths of your company’s HR files 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 you ever decide to come back to your company (hey, it happens), it’s a very good thing that the last thing on file is a great, professionally written letter of resignation.
Regina Borsellino also contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.