Writing a letter to your manager expressing your intention to resign should not be intimidating or difficult. It is important to be polite, grateful, and succinct. A resignation letter should provide a clear time frame of when you plan to terminate your position. Specifically state the day your resignation is official, and provide the final day you plan to work. Carefully review your employment contract and employee handbook to ensure you are not breaching any agreements that have been made.
A resignation letter should also thank the organization and manager for the opportunity to grow. You can show your gratitude for your manager’s time and mentorship; this leaves the door open for you to return in a new or existing role in the current organization or in any organization to which she/he moves.
It is important to leave your position on good terms for several reasons. The world has become small with the proliferation of email and social media. Although you may move far away from your employer, you will remain closely connected. A past disagreement may have taken place with your manager, but your manager’s connections and trust will be helpful for future endeavors. A well-written resignation letter will afford you references and opportunities. Do not burn a bridge to satisfy your ego.
It is not mandatory to train your replacement or create a training manual, but adding this offer in your final weeks of work will provide a seamless transition. A supervisor will appreciate your willingness to impart your knowledge to the next employee. This is your opportunity to leave your organization in a better place than you started, which at minimum, your replacement will appreciate.
Resignation Letter Examples
Compact Formal Resignation Letter Sample
Dear [Manager Name],
I am sending this email to inform you that I am leaving my position at [Company Name], effective [Month] [Day], [Year].
Per the handbook, employees should give at least two weeks’ notice. I hope that this will not cause any inconvenience.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for [Company Name]. It has been a great learning experience, and the entire staff has been incredibly kind and helpful. It has been a pleasure to work with all of you, and I have no doubt that you will achieve much success in the future.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to ensure a smooth transition.
Best regards,
[First Name] [Last Name]
Complimentary Resignation Letter Sample
Dear [Manager Name],
Effective today, I am submitting my two-week notice to resign from the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. My last day will be [Day of Week], [Month] [Day]. Although the staff is great and the opportunities for professional growth are immense at [Company Name], I have decided to pursue another position that will provide me a more flexible schedule.
Thank you for this opportunity, and I wish you and everyone at [Company Name] all the best in your future endeavors, both personal and professional.
Best Regards,
[First Name] [Last Name]
Simple Resignation Email Sample
Hi, [Manager Name].
Please accept this email as notification that I am resigning from my position. My last day of work for [Company Name] will be [Day of Week], [Month] [Day].
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to work for you. Your team has been a pleasure to work with, and I’ve learned a lot from everyone.
Please let me know if I need to complete any paperwork or additional steps to finalize this process.
Thanks again.
Best Regards,
[First Name] [Last Name]
Expanded Formal Resignation Letter Sample
[First Name] [Last Name]
[Address]
[Address 2]
[City], [State] [Zip Code]
[Month] [Day], [Year]
[Manager First Name] [Manager Last Name]
[Company Name]
[Address]
[Address 2]
[City], [State] [Zip Code]
Dear [Manager Name],
Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my [Position] with [Company Name]. My last day of employment will be [Month] [Day], [Year].
I received an offer to serve as [New Position], and after careful consideration, I found that this opportunity was too exciting to decline. I have enjoyed my time at [Company Name], particularly getting to know the staff, having the opportunity to do high-level [Brief Job Description: Sales, Accounting, Web Development, etc.], and learning new [Specific Job Detail: Sales Force, FIFO Accounting, Python, etc.]. It has been a pleasure to work with you and the staff for these past [Number of Years].
I would like to help with the transition of my workload so that things continue to run smoothly. I can help recruit and train my replacement if necessary.
Thank you again for the opportunity to work for [Company Name]. I wish you and my fellow coworkers all the best and hope to stay in touch. You can email me anytime at [Email] or call me at [Telephone].
All the best,
[First Name] [Last Name]
Formal Resignation Letter Sample
[First Name] [Last Name]
[Address]
[Address 2]
[City], [State] [Zip Code]
[Month] [Day], [Year]
[Manager First Name] [Manager Last Name]
[Company Name]
[Address]
[Address 2]
[City], [State] [Zip Code]
Dear [Manager Name],
I am writing to inform you of my resignation from my position as a [Job Title] with [Company Name]. Per the employment agreement, I am providing two weeks’ notice; my last day will be two weeks hence, on [Day of Week], [Month] [Day], [Year]. I will be available to participate in an exit interview on that date or shortly thereafter.
My time with [Company Name] has been instructive and valuable, and if there is anything else I can do to ensure a smooth transition, please let me know.
Sincerely,
[First Name] [Last Name]