What to include in a resignation letter?

It’s never easy to resign from a job. Leaving the familiarity of your daily work routine and saying goodbye to colleagues can be difficult, but ultimately, we all move on!

Part of the leaving process is to write a letter of resignation to hand in to your boss. Below we have created a guide to help you construct a professional resignation letter.   

We offer a wide range of career advice articles, for those looking for additional help. 

How to word a Resignation Letter

It’s best to first sit down and think through your decision to leave your current role. Are you sure this is the right decision and are you mentally prepared for the change? If so, now is the time to start constructing your letter.

Things to remember before you start writing:

•    Keep it short.
•    Adapt it to your personal contract.
•    Always keep your tone professional.

Step-by-step guide to creating a resignation letter

Step 1 – Address your resignation letter to your Line Manager

Step 2 – Add a statement of intent, such as “It is with great regret that I officially tender my resignation for the position of [add your job title] here at [organisation’s name].

Step 3 – Include the date your letter was written (add to the top right-hand corner of the letter)

Step 4 – State your contracted notice period and include the date of your last day.

Step 5 – Add a reason for why you have decided to leave. Be tactful and use reasons like a new job, change of career, wanting more responsibility, personal reasons, relocating, etc.

Step 6 – Add a thank you to the company for the opportunity you have been given.

Step 7 – Sign the letter at the bottom.

Learn how to write a Cover Letter.

How to end a Resignation Letter

As noted above, it’s best to keep the end of your resignation short, concise, and polite. You should start your closing lines below your final body paragraph. The most popular closes include ‘Best regards’, ‘Sincerely’, and ‘Yours truly’.

The last thing to do is sign and date your resignation letter.

How much notice do I have to give?

When leaving your job, you will typically need to give your employer some notice. This is known as your notice period.

It’s best to review your contract ahead of time, to see how much notice you need to give your employer. If you've been employed with your current employer for less than a month, you won't have to give any notice (unless the contract requires you to). 

If you’ve been employed there for over a month, you will need to give at least 1 weeks’ notice.

It’s always best to resign in writing, that way there’s no argument about what date you officially handed your notice in on.  

You can always provide more notice than your contract states. Your notice period will start the day after you have handed in your resignation. For example, if you give a week’s notice on a Monday your last day at work would be the following Monday.

Learn how to write a CV.

How to give notice

Follow these steps to professionally hand your notice in:

•    Tell your boss first.
•    Review your employee handbook and contract.
•    Do it in person.
•    Keep it simple.
•    Write a letter of resignation.
•    Have an end date in mind.
•    Speak with mentors and colleagues in person.
•    Prepare a reason as to why you’re leaving.
•    Work towards a smooth transition.
•    Leave on good terms and on a high note.

Good luck with your changes and new challenges ahead! If you require any training for your new job, or would like to train towards a career change, explore our range of training courses, or speak with one of our Course Consultants on +44 (0) 20 3198 7700 to discuss what options would suit your career goals.