When the time comes to resign from a job, it’s always best practice to provide your employer with a letter of resignation. This letter operates as a formal notice that shows your intent to end the employment relationship, and it covers you from an HR perspective, where it will go into your records. From a professional stance, your resignation letter sets the tone for a seamless and cordial departure, which is why it’s vital to ensure it is well-written and respectful.

Before you begin writing your resignation letter, make sure you can fulfil the required notice period before leaving (you can refer to your employment contract to find out your required notice period) and give your manager verbal notice about your decision to leave. This will give them the opportunity to discuss your resignation and better understand your reason for leaving.

When it comes to handing in your letter of resignation, it’s typically acceptable to send an email with an attached Word or PDF copy rather than printing out a physical hard copy. If in doubt, ask your manager what they would prefer.

Below are a number of tips for how to write a resignation letter, and read on for a variety of sample resignation letters you can utilise when the time comes to resign from your role.

What should you include in a letter of resignation?

Your resignation letter is a practical document but should still reflect well on you, as it will be an enduring record of your departure from the company. You don’t have to go into a huge amount of detail, but there are some key things you need to cover:

  • The letter of resignation should be formatted formally and should be named, addressed and dated
  • Clearly state your intention to resign
  • Include your preferred final day based on your notice period
  • Thank your current employer and state your intention to do what you can to make the transition as smooth as possible

RELATED: How to resign from your job gracefully

What should you not include in a letter of resignation?

Some things are best discussed face-to-face with your manager, while other opinions are best left unsaid altogether. The specifics of why you are leaving do not need to be included in your resignation letter, particularly if you are not leaving on good terms or have personal reasons for leaving that you would like to remain private. You may just want to share that you have been approached with a new job opportunity.

Furthermore, if you have any grievances with your existing company, manager, boss or colleagues, they should most certainly be left out of your resignation letter. This is not the place to get things off your chest or to raise issues. You may need to attend an exit interview, which is a more appropriate setting to share your thoughts; however, it’s still best to keep this as professional as possible.

Why? You may want your manager or colleagues to act as a reference for any future roles, and secondly, you may end up returning to work for the same company at some point in your career. Burning bridges during the resignation stage will most definitely ruin any chances for the two key opportunities above.

If you have experienced any form of bullying, harassment or discrimination from your employer, then there are a number of options on how to report this behaviour. The Fair Work Commission has a checklist that covers the various topics of harassment and what to do if you’ve experienced such behaviour in the workplace.

RELATED: Should I leave my job? 9 valid reasons to move on

Best Resignation Letter Templates

Here are some sample resignation letters, which you can tailor to fit your circumstances.

Professional resignation letter template

Dear [Manager’s Name],

Please accept this letter as formal notification of my intention to resign from my position as [job title] with [company name]. In accordance with my notice period, my final day will be [date of last day].

I would like to take this chance to thank you for the opportunity to have worked in the position for the past [time in employment]. I have learned a great deal during my time here and have enjoyed collaborating with my colleagues. I will take a lot of what I have learned with me in my career and will look back at my time here as a valuable period of my professional life.

During the next [notice period in weeks], I will do what I can to make the transition as smooth as possible and will support the business in whatever way I can to hand over my duties to colleagues or to my replacement. Please let me know if there is anything further I can do to assist in this process.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Short Resignation Letter Template

Dear [Manager’s Name],

Please accept this letter as formal notification of my intention to resign from my position as [job title] with [company name]. In accordance with my notice period, my final day will be [date of last day].

Thank you very much for the opportunity to have worked in the position for the past [time in employment]. I will do what I can to make the handover as smooth as possible during the next [notice period in weeks].

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Advance Notice Resignation Letter Template

Dear [Manager’s Name],

Please accept this letter as formal notification of my intention to resign from my position as [job title] with [company name]. I understand that transitioning a new person to the role will take some time and would like to provide as much notice as possible. Accordingly, my last day of work will be [date of last day].

Thank you very much for the opportunity to have worked in the position for the past [time in employment]. I will do what I can to make the handover as smooth as possible during the next [notice period in weeks].

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Resignation Letter Template to Take on a New Opportunity

Dear [Manager’s Name],

Please accept this letter as formal notification of my intention to resign from my position as [job title] with [company name]. In accordance with my notice period, my final day will be [date of last day].

I would like to take this chance to thank you for the opportunity to have worked in the position for the past [time in employment]. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and learnt a lot. However, I have decided it is time to take on a new opportunity.

During the next [notice period in weeks], I will do what I can to make the transition as smooth as possible and will support the business in whatever way I can to hand over my duties to colleagues or to my replacement. Please let me know if there is anything further I can do to assist in this process.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

RELATED: 7 factors for finding a job that makes you happy

A well-handled resignation will ensure an enduring relationship with your existing employer, manager and colleagues, and your letter of resignation is an integral part of that. It’s also important to note that your performance in the workplace should not lessen during your notice period. While it is, of course, very exciting to be moving on to the next stage of your career, you should always make sure that you finish your tenure with an employer positively and productively. Phoning in your last few weeks is certainly not a good look, and the last thing you want is to leave a role on bad terms.

With your resignation letter submitted and your notice period completed, you can focus on preparing for your next role and the next chapter in your career.

Resigning from your job but not sure what’s next? Browse our latest open roles, and if you’d like to discuss future opportunities with one of our specialist recruiters, get in touch with your local team today.

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