How to write a resignation letter

  • HOW TO WRITE A RESIGNATION LETTER

    First of all, congratulations are in order! Well done on deciding to make a career change whether it’s to progress further up the ladder or into a different role!

    Preparing to resign is always a daunting time, knowing that you have made the decision to progress with your career can still feel, just awkward. You will be wanting to resign with your existing employer as soon as possible having made the decision to move forward with your career.

    You, along with thousands of others have felt the same, it’s perfectly normal to expect to feel this way but moving forward with your career is a great step in the right direction.

    It’s always better to resign from a role with dignity and grace and not burn all your bridges and leave on bad terms, if however, you are resigning due to a problem at work, it maybe beneficial to get some advice by contacting Acas (www.acas.org.uk) for employment advice.

    Before you start writing your resignation

    You should always check your employment contract, this will then determine the ground for your resignation e.g. 1 or 2 months notice / gardening leave etc.

    When it comes to writing the letter, keep it simple and to the point, make sure you include the following information:

    Your name
    The date
    The date you will be leaving on (your last working day)
    The position that you are resigning from
    Addressed to the appropriate person (manager/supervisor etc.,)
    Signed

    You can of course add a paragraph or two, thanking them for their support during your employment.

    You are not obliged to include your reasons for resigning, but if you think it’ll be helpful then it’s worth mentioning, just make sure you focus on the positives, for example: possible reasons for leaving could be “I am moving onto a new position to progress my career” or “I am seeking a new challenge as there are limited progression opportunities available within the company”. Remember to only include any positive reasons for your time there, this will then keep your letter clean and clear of any issues.

    Stay professional, not all job resignations are plain sailing, some are because circumstances are just, well, not very pleasant. With this in mind, you may just have to stay professional until the end. This will then in turn keep your reputation as a professional intact and then you are more likely to receive a positive reference.

    One thing to remember is the reason why you are resigning in the first place (look out for our next blog coming soon which will cover counter offers)

    Good Luck!