How to Write a Resignation Letter
Congratulations! You’ve made it through all the interviews, meetings, reference and background checks, you’ve done your due diligence and you’ve accepted a terrific offer. There’s only one thing left to do – RESIGN.
It’s important to your long term career to leave gracefully and not burn any bridges. A resignation letter can be as concise or as verbose as you want it to be. I favor short and sweet. It should contain the following components:
- It should be a letter that you can hand to your manager, not just an email. If you and your boss don’t work out of the same location an email with the letter attached will work, but you need to preface the email with a phone call.
- It should be addressed to your current manager and be in standard business letter format. You can cc: upper level managers and/or HR
- Include your last day of employment, which is two weeks out if you give the standard notice.r
- Thank the manager and the company for the experience
- State that you are leaving for a career opportunity you could not let pass and that your decision is final
- Close with good wishes for you manager’s and/or the company’s continued success
You can easily find dozens of examples on the internet, and there’s even a template in Microsoft word, but in reality there aren’t that many ways to say it. Here are some samples.
Manager’s Name
Company Name
Company Address
Dear Mr./Ms. Manager:
This is my formal notification that I am resigning from (company name) as (title). (Date) will be my last day of employment.
I appreciate the opportunities I have been given here, and wish you much success in the future.
Sincerely,____________________________________________________________________
(your signature)
Your Name
cc: (names of those being copied on the letter)
“Working for XXX has been one of the high points of my career. However, I have accepted a position which offers me a career opportunity such that I could not let it pass. Please accept my resignation as (title) effective (date) This decision is final.
I will always hold you personally, and XXXX as a corporation in the highest regard, and wish you and the company every success in the future.”
_________________________________________________________________________
Please accept this letter as my formal notice of resignation from XXX, effective October 8, 2004. I have accepted a position that offers such accelerated career opportunity that I could not afford to let it pass.
I would like to emphasize how much I have enjoyed working for XXX. The people in XXX are second to none and I am very proud to have been part of this community. Overall, I would like to thank each of you for the opportunities you have provided me with and great support you have given me. The associations I’ve made during my employment here will truly be memorable for years to come. I sincerely wish you both personal and professional success in all of your future endeavors.
________________________________________________________________________
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