I wish this blog was here when I needed it. My last employer probably thinks I'm so unprofessional. But I’m going to help you avoid making the same mistakes I did. 

Writing a resignation letter is more of an unspoken rule than it is an obligation. Your employer will expect it and you should be handing one in before you leave your job. Not to mention, it’s best to leave on a good note so your employer can give you a good reference! But, what do you even write in a resignation letter? 

First things first, we’re not in the 80’s anymore, so it doesn’t need to be a literal letter – emails are more fitting these days. Not only are they much easier to access (with all these royal mail strikes), but they're also easier to write and send off. Of course, if you’re old school and prefer letters – go for it!

Before we get started on writing one, let me give you some tips to make your resignation letter is a good one:

Short and sweet

Just get to the point. Your resignation letter should be more informational than a conversation. Just like this bullet point!

Be polite

It’s important to remember that resigning your job might increase the workload on your colleagues until they find a replacement, and if you were an employee for a long time, it’ll take even longer to train your replacement. Although it's not your responsibility, you could offer to help them make the transition as easy as possible for them. Avoid being blunt and disrespectful – remember you’re still going to be working there until your notice period is over.

Proofread

This goes without saying for every email / letter, but some mistakes might be looked over by yourself. Get a colleague or a friend to proofread it for you and make sure there are no typos or grammar mistakes. 

Now let’s get started on writing one:

Dear: Current Employer 

In this first section you’ll include the role you’ll be resigning from and the reason for it. It could be because you’ve been offered a job more suited for you or maybe you’re just looking for a new challenge. Whatever it may be, be sure to communicate it well and get your point across. This way you can avoid any confusion or misunderstanding about your resignation and leave on a good note. You should also include when your last day working will be (take into consideration your notice period as the resignation letter should be sent before then). 

In this next section, take time to show appreciation to your boss. First impressions are just as important as last impressions. If your new employer was to call your boss and ask for a reference, you’d want them to say nice things! 

Best regards, 

Your name

Hopefully, this has helped you with your resignation letter. Good luck for the rest of your journey!

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