The best resignation letter examples are formal, simple, and concise. To write a good and simple resignation letter, greet your manager formally, then state your intent to resign and the date you’ll officially depart. Next, express gratitude and sign off professionally. Your letter could even be as simple as this, “I am writing to inform you of my resignation from [Company], effective [Date]. I appreciate the opportunities for growth during my time here. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to ensure a smooth handover.”
An effective resignation letter is concise. It makes your decision to resign and final day at the company clear. From there, you can provide extra details regarding the context of your departure.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through simple resignation letter examples and how to write the right message for each “occasion.” I’ll also share a few different resignation letter templates.
Although 50% of US workers admitted in a LinkedIn survey that they want to leave their job, resignation letters are often rushed or treated as an afterthought.
Writing a thoughtful resignation letter is your opportunity to end on a high note, maintaining positive relationships with your current employer. So, it’s worth communicating your leave constructively to pave the way for future opportunities and good professional relationships.
Leaving a company doesn't mean you'll never work with your current colleagues again.
Important Note: Never submit a resignation letter without first informing your manager face-to-face. It’s good etiquette and more professional to tell your manager that you’re resigning in-person than over a letter or email. Your resignation letter should be a mere formality, not a way to break the news.
Simple Resignation Letter Examples
A simple resignation letter format includes a resignation statement, an appropriate notice period, and an expression of gratitude. That’s more than enough to announce your departure in writing without burning bridges and overcomplicating things.
Keep your message professional, simple, and brief, as explained in this Reddit thread:
To project a positive tone and prevent any potential misunderstandings, always thank your employers and the company for the opportunities.
Below, you’ll find simple resignation letter samples for leaving on a good note and maintaining relationships.
Simple resignation letter
Formal resignation letter
One-month resignation letter
Short Notice Resignation Letter Examples
These are used when notifying your company that you’re leaving with less notice than usual (typically less than two weeks). In this instance, provide a general reason for why you need to quit, while still focusing on expressing gratitude and moving forward positively.
24 hours notice resignation letter
Immediate notice resignation letter
Resignation Letter Samples for Common Reasons
You don’t need to explain why you’re leaving in your resignation letter. But, choosing to do so allows you to give context and provide feedback, which can help you maintain a positive relationship.
When providing personal reasons on a resignation letter, always focus on future opportunities and the positives rather than the negatives.
New opportunities resignation letter
Misalignment resignation letter
Retirement resignation letter
What to Include in a Resignation Letter
Every resignation letter includes the following:
- Background details. This includes your contact information, the company, and date of your resignation letter.
- Statement of resignation. Make your decision to resign clear.
- Resignation date. Announce the exact date you’re set on leaving, ensuring it aligns with the notice period in your work agreement.
- Expression of gratitude. Thank your employer and team for the opportunity to work with them.
- Reason for resignation (optional). Provide a brief yet general reason of why you’re leaving, without going into the specifics.
- Offer to assist with the transition (optional). State that you’re willing to help the company prepare for a smooth departure.
- Professional closing. End formally with “Sincerely” or “Best regards.”
Each of these ensure a resignation letter that not only serves as a formal announcement, but also sets the tone for your departure and maintains your professional relationships.
What Not to Include in Your Resignation Letter
Your formal notice or resignation letter is not the place to air grievances or complaints. You may want to outline the context surrounding your decision to resign, but don’t try to include all the details.
Here’s what to keep in mind when deciding what stays and what goes:
- Negative comments about colleagues or the company. These can damage professional relationships and often do more harm than good.
- Too much detail about personal grievances. There’s a time and place for everything. While you won't have to pretend everything is great in your formal notice, you also don't want to go into detail about negative experiences.
- Confidential or sensitive information. Your professional resignation letter is not the place to disclose information you know you can’t share. Treat it as any other instance of company communication.
Keep in mind that resignation emails and letters can be kept on file and read by multiple people. Save the hard stuff for face-to-face conversations.
How to Write a Resignation Letter That’s Clear, Concise, and Respectful
Here’s how to write a resignation letter that bids farewell respectfully, regardless of your circumstances:
- Add your contact details (full name, city and country, phone number, and email address), as well as the company name and date of your letter.
- Address your manager.
- State your resignation and the effective date of departure.
- Highlight positive experiences you had with the company.
- Show appreciation directly toward your manager and the organization.
- Express your willingness to facilitate the transition process.
- Use a professional sign-off to end your letter.
It’s also enough to just write a formal greeting, followed by a straightforward statement of resignation, then give gratitude and sign-off. What’s important is that you succinctly make your decision clear, give enough notice, and maintain a professional, respectful tone.
Side Note: This writing guide can also apply to writing a resignation message via email. However, keep the subject line of your resignation email short. A simple, “Resignation: [Name]” is good enough.
1. Add contact details, company name, and date
These details go in the header section of your resignation letter in the following order:
- First and last name
- Location (city, country)
- Phone number
- Email address
- Date of letter
- Company name
2. Address your manager
You address your resignation letter to your manager because they are your direct supervisor and typically the official channel for communication regarding your employment.
Use your manager’s name when addressing them in your letter of resignation:
- Dear Mr. Jones
- Dear Ms. Wanderwald
- Dear Anthony
To keep it safe, be formal by addressing your manager using their last name.
However, depending on the company culture and your professional relationship, you could address your manager by their first name.
3. State your decision to resign and last day of work
The opening paragraph of your letter is a statement of resignation. This outlines your decision to resign and your effective date of departure.
Here are a few examples of a professional resignation statement:
- I am writing to inform you of my resignation, effective [Date].
- After careful consideration, I am writing to announce my resignation from my position as [Job Title] at [Company]. My last day of work will be [Date].
- Please accept this letter as my formal resignation. The official date of my departure will be on [Date].
The purpose of the first sentence is to make your resignation intent and final day clear. Other details aren’t necessary.
But if you’d like, you can also add a short sentence afterward that shows your appreciation for the positive experiences you’ve had during your time of employment. This way, you immediately highlight that you’re grateful for the skills gained and developed, in addition to how you’ve grown as a professional.
4. Provide a reason for leaving (optional)
You don’t have to share your reasons or explain yourself. If you’re uncomfortable for whatever reason, you can skip this part entirely. Although you might feel some guilt for leaving, you’re not required to justify your decision.
The only time it might be necessary to give a reason is when you must resign sooner than the expected notice period as stipulated in your employment contract.
When providing a reason, keep it brief. No need to get into the specifics. Mention it in either the same paragraph as your resignation statement or in the next.
Here are a few examples:
- As I continue to develop my career, I have decided to pursue an opportunity that aligns with my long-term goals.
- Following a recent opportunity that came to my attention, I have made the decision to resign from my current position as [Job Title].
- I am writing to express my gratitude for the past [number] years at [Company]. This was not an easy decision, but I have chosen to [reason].
I’ll share a few more common reasons for leaving and how you could express them in your resignation letter:
- Partner relocation. “I am resigning due to the recent relocation of my partner, which requires me to move to a different city.”
- New career opportunity. “I have decided to resign to pursue a new opportunity that aligns more closely with my career goals.”
- No mutual fit: “Through careful reflection, I have come to realize that this role may not be the best fit for my long-term goals.”
- Personal development. “I am stepping down to focus on furthering my education and personal development.”
- Health reasons. “Due to health reasons, I find it necessary to resign to focus on my wellbeing.”
- Family commitments. “I am resigning to dedicate more time to my family responsibilities that have recently increased.”
5. Express your gratitude in good faith
Acknowledge any positive experiences and learnings from your time at the company.
Expressing gratitude—especially for specific parts of your experience—can help leave a lasting positive expression, even if you’re leaving in difficult circumstances. Remember, this is purely optional, and not called for in all circumstances.
On the other hand, you may briefly provide suggestions and constructive feedback. But as mentioned earlier, I’d suggest saving this for the exit interview with your manager.
6. Make a closing statement
Clarify the next steps before signing off your letter. Offer your best wishes and show your willingness to make the transition period smoother.
Mention that you’re open to providing further assistance, if necessary. This could be by offering your help with training a replacement, wrapping up specific projects, or even recommending a successor. This should, of course, be within reason and fit in the time frame that you’re aiming for. Helping with the transition process can keep your working relationships positive.
7. End with a formal closing
Finish your resignation letter with a closing salutation followed by your signature underneath. Here are a few examples:
- Yours sincerely
- Sincerely
- With gratitude
- Best regards
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17 Free Resignation Letter Examples
We’ll go through the best resignation letter examples for some of the most common scenarios. If you’d like to see more examples, check out our resignation letter library here.
Professional
This professional resignation letter sample is the most traditional and formal. It clearly states an intention to resign while expressing gratitude. Ideal for the most standard resignation scenarios, especially when you want to leave on good terms.
Feel free to use this template as a starting point, but note that it’s probably the most generic resignation letter on this list. Customize it based on your own situation.
Grateful
The grateful resignation letter focuses on expressing your appreciation for the opportunities and experiences you had with the organization. It’s ideal to use when you want to emphasize your gratitude. If you’ve had a particularly positive experience and want to leave a lasting impression, use this.
Thankful
The thankful resignation letter also emphasizes your gratitude, not just by simply acknowledging your experiences with the company, but by also highlighting that you’re willing to assist during the transition process. You can also focus on showing appreciation for a specific aspect of your tenure, such as your team and colleagues for their support.
New Job
This is used when leaving your current position because you’ve been offered a new job opportunity, and you’d like to provide context for your decision. If you have a strong relationship with your employers, briefly explain the reason for your departure. You can also be specific by mentioning what this move means for you, e.g., reducing commuting time and improving work-life balance, as highlighted in this resignation letter example.
Family Circumstances
Use a family circumstances resignation letter when family-related reasons require you to leave your job. This type of resignation letter makes it clear that your departure is due to responsibilities like caregiving, health concerns, or other significant family matters. Convey the seriousness of your situation. At the same time, make sure your employer understands that your decision is based on personal needs rather than professional dissatisfaction by maintaining a positive tone and expressing gratitude.
Career growth
Use the career growth resignation letter when pursuing opportunities that better align with your long-term career goals. Express that your decision was not an easy one, and that it’s driven by your own personal or professional goals.
To make it heartfelt, acknowledge specific experiences and opportunities provided by your employers. And, think about your word choices. For instance, here they’ve used phrases like:
- I have been honored…
- My decision is not one I have taken lightly…
- I deeply appreciate…
Personal Health Issue
As the name suggests, this is used when resigning due to health-related concerns. When explaining your reasons for leaving, keep it broad. No need to go into detail. If you also don’t intend to continue your career with your current employer, clarify that you’ll be continuing elsewhere.
Almost 50% of employees stated in a survey that discrimination has been an issue in the workplace.
It’s unfortunate but it's still a problem in the modern work environment.
As managers are usually aiming to improve the company culture, honesty would be the best policy. So at the very least, they’ll take your input into account and do what they can to prevent your negative experiences from happening again to future candidates.
Job Dissatisfaction
This job dissatisfaction resignation letter is a well-written example of subtly conveying your dissatisfaction as a professional. Be honest yet tactful. Focus on giving your resignation notice rather than your particular reasons for leaving.
No Opportunity
A no opportunity resignation letter is for leaving your job due to a lack of advancement or growth opportunities within the company. Keep your reason broad and save the specifics for the exit interview. Next, share the positives about your time with the company and express gratitude.
Unethical Workplace
An unethical workplace resignation letter isn’t all about bashing your employers. It’s where you state you’re leaving due to the nature of the workplace conflicting with your own values. In this type of letter, hand in your notice and briefly mention why you’re resigning. Keep the details minimal and stick to a professional tone. Save the detailed feedback for the exit interview.
Unfair Treatment
Use the unfair treatment resignation letter template when resigning because of negative experiences in the workplace, such as discrimination and bias. In extreme cases, feel free to broadly share the particular reasons why you’re leaving. This example includes reasons such as unfair treatment from superiors, lack of mentoring, and low salary compared to other employees in the same position.
Despite the negatives, you can still acknowledge the positives towards the end of your letter to reinforce your professionalism.
Not everyone is looking to resign because of a better job opportunity. Some of you might consider quitting to complete your education and get your qualifications.
See below for examples.
Pursuing education
The pursuing education resignation letter can be used when resigning to further your education for a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, Ph.D., and so forth. You can also personalize your letter by mentioning that your decision is driven by your desire to advance your knowledge and skills, or to pursue a long-term goal.
End of probationary period
Use the end of probationary period resignation letter template to formally resign from the company that recently employed you. In this letter, you can briefly mention that after assessing your experience during the probationary period, you've decided the role isn't the right fit for you.
Work break
The work break resignation letter is for resigning to take a temporary career or employment break. This might be for personal reasons such as travel, rest, or attending to family matters. Whatever the reason, you don’t need to specify them. Simply stating that you’re leaving for personal reasons or to take a break to focus on other aspects of your life is enough.
To soften the impact and leave a lasting impression as a professional, show appreciation to your company and acknowledge specific experiences that you’re most grateful for.
Maternity leave
A maternity leave resignation means leaving due to the upcoming birth of your child and the need to prepare for motherhood. Keep your reason brief and short, and focus on showing gratitude for your time with the company.
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Mental health
This means leaving to prioritize your mental well-being. And this one’s big—a report on SpringerOpen even suggests that there’s been an increase in mental health concerns and was one of the key drivers for many workers resigning.
In this type of letter, you might briefly clarify that your decision to step down is purely motivated by the need to focus on self-care and personal health needs.
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Advanced notice (2 months)
An advanced notice resignation letter is when you provide your employer with more notice than is typically required. In this example, it’s a two months notice resignation letter. Focus on expressing gratitude and your commitment to ease the transition process.
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Summary
Here’s an overview on how to write a resignation letter and leave on a positive note:
- Complete the header section by adding in your contact details, the company name, and date of your letter.
- Greet your direct supervisor formally.
- State your resignation intent and the exact date that you’ll be leaving.
- If you’re comfortable, give a broad reason on why you’re resigning.
- Show appreciation and gratitude for the work experience.
- Express your willingness to assist with the transition.
- Use a professional sign-off to end your letter.
Follow these steps, and you’ll leave a good, lasting impression on the company.
Hopefully, you found our writing guide and resignation letter examples helpful, and that the path forward feels brighter.
After submitting your resignation letter, you might be in need of updating your resume and cover letter for your next job application. In which case, do feel free to check out some of our other resources that could help you speed up the process.
Here are a few places to start:
- 50+ cover letter examples and why they work
- A step-by-step guide to showcase your professional background
- 74+ resume skills that are in demand in the workforce
Resignation Letter FAQs
Do you need to offer help when resigning?
It’s respectful and courteous to offer help, but not required. Offering assistance emphasizes your commitment to professionalism and helping the company succeed, which can be beneficial with maintaining positive relationships. However, how much help you can offer depends on your circumstances and the context of your resignation.
How do you write a resignation letter for a job you love?
Acknowledge the difficulty in making your decision. You can write something along the lines of, “This was a tough decision, but I have accepted a new opportunity that aligns with my long-term goals. Thank you for the incredible experience at [Company].” Before making your resignation statement, you might also want to include the phrase, “After careful consideration” or “It comes with a heavy heart.”
How do you write a resignation letter for a job you hate?
Simply write a resignation message that gets straight to the point and suggest sharing your feedback in an exit interview. You can write, “I would be happy to discuss my reasons further in an exit interview.” Even when quitting a job you hate, don’t leave any negative comments on your resignation letter. These are kept on record and can burn bridges.
What to say in a resignation letter?
Your intention to resign, last day of work, and an expression of gratitude are the key elements to include on a resignation letter. You could also mention a general reason for leaving, but it’s not necessary. Keep it short and professional.
How to start a resignation letter?
To start a resignation letter, use a formal greeting like "Dear [Name]". Then, clearly state your intention to resign and the final date of employment with the company by writing a sentence like "Please accept this letter as formal notification of my resignation from [Company], effective [Date]."
How to end a resignation letter?
Make a polite closing statement by directly thanking your manager and the company. You could also write that you’re willing to help with the transition process. After your closing statement, end your letter by using a professional sign-off like “Sincerely” or “Best regards.”
Leaving your job soon? Don’t treat your resignation letter as the end of a chapter. Instead, consider it as the start of a new one.
