“The Ideal Resignation Letter”
You’ve been scouting the Internet and other books for the best resignation letters because you are quitting your job soon. You’ve also realized that there is no such thing as the perfect resignation letter, so here are some suggestions on how to make your resignation letter leave a good impression on your bosses.
Be honest. State the reason why you decided to resign from your post and make it sound like it was a hard decision to make and you had no choice. If the reason is too personal and you’d rather keep it private, then you may use the “personal reasons” card. Just be sure to be ready for an answer when the time comes for your exit interview. Maintain a formal tone throughout the resignation letter.
Allot a period of time for turnover of materials as well as finding a replacement and stick to it. Don’t put a month if you plan to stay for a couple of weeks. State in the letter about your willingness to stay a bit longer if the need arises to assist them in finding a substitute for you.
Keep a signed copy of the letter for yourself, and send copies to all those concerned like the human resources manager. This will normally go into your file, so in case the boss loses the letter, at least the HR department still has it.
End the letter on a positive note. An ideal resignation letter usually finishes by expressing your appreciation and gratitude to their efforts during your tenure. This will be handy especially when you put your boss as your reference.
Resigning Don’ts
There are a lot of tips on how to make a graceful exit from your current job, but here are some of the stuff you should avoid when resigning:
Don’t write a negative resignation letter. No matter how bad your experience is with the company, don’t ever mention it in your letter. Not only will this make a bad impression on the bosses, but you might also not get a reference when you do this. Don’t include personal remarks on a resignation letter because this is impolite.
Don’t announce your resignation to your co-workers. After you’ve made up your mind about resignation, don’t inform your colleagues because this might make things more complicated. Never inform your colleagues ahead before your bosses too.
Don’t leave abruptly after the resignation. Make sure to take care of the official documents like the contract of employment, your clearance and most especially, finish your exit interview. These official documents might also be needed for your next job. Allow two to four weeks grace period before leaving the company, or as stated in your company rules and regulations. If the company won’t be able to give you the official documents as well as your last pay, then set a future appointment with the human resources and promise to come back.
Don’t get too personal. Bear in mind that your actions will be filed in your permanent employee records which are crucial to your future jobs. Make sure to talk to all your colleagues and associates before leaving. You’ll never know if you will work with them in the future.
Resigning with Dignity
When its time to leave a job, whether for a better opportunity or to escape an undesirable situation, let dignity be your friend and exit of choice. While the company you are leaving may not be your future, you are your future. If you want others (and even yourself) to view you as an honorable person, you must choose to be honorable. Don’t worry about past mistakes. We’ve all had our less than glorious moments. Moving forward with dignity will always be a winning formula.
So how do you exit and leave behind a loyal employer who has stood by you through thick and thin? How do you exit from a dreadful employer? First you must take emotion out of the equation. We’re talking about making a living. This calls for logical thought. Whether you’ve had a good or bad experience with your present employer, moving on to serve your career, income goals, or even to accommodate family needs, is perfectly respectable. Once you truly own this concept in your belief system you are already half way there; to resigning with dignity.
Depending on the weight of your current position, standard protocol may dictate a two week notice or a one month advance notice. Be sure to follow protocol when possible.
Your resignation should be in the form of a written notice even if you are on a friendly basis. Proper pays respect. Keep your letter short and to the point. Remember this is a business letter not an emotional cleansing outlet. State your intention to resign and your date of departure. You may want to thank a good employer for the opportunity they have given you and for all that you have learned while working for their company. Keep it brief. Sincerity stands on its own. If the working relationship has been less than positive you can still create a dignified closure. A simple statement expressing your appreciation for giving you an opportunity with their company and the experience you have gained will do the trick.
Dignity feels so good. Enjoy, and good luck with your new job!
The Graceful Resignation
When leaving a job, even a terrible one, it’s important to maintain the best possible relationship with your soon-to-be former employer. A well-written resignation letter can ensure that you’ll be able to use your supervisor as a reference in the future. While these letters rightly tend to be short and unimaginative, the following tips will assist in paving the way to a smooth resignation.
- Resigning from a company using its own letterhead would be bad form. A printed resignation is far better than an e-mailed version, but use plain paper.
- Resignations should be brief and formal. State that you are resigning from your position and give an effective date.
- While it may be appropriate to provide a reason for your departure, in no instance should the letter itself become a list of complaints. This letter may be kept on file for future employment references; therefore, do not make negative statements about your tenure with the company. If there is a possibility of legal action related to your employment with this company, provide as little information on your reasons for leaving as possible.
- Thank the employer for the opportunities and assistance that were provided to you during your tenure. Try to be genuine without gushing.
- If you are willing to do so, offer to assist with the transition to your replacement. Apologize if you are unwilling or unable to do so, or if you are giving your employer less than two weeks’ notice or leaving a fixed-term position earlier than agreed upon. Do your best to offer your employer a reasonable notice in order to train someone to take over your duties, especially if you have accrued a lot of knowledge that is not understood by anyone else in the company.
- Include any requests related to your departure, such as where to forward your last paycheck.
- Wish the employer well for the future.
That’s it! The best resignation letters are short and to the point. Be sure to make a copy of the letter for your records, and be prepared to be terminated immediately upon resignation, regardless of the notice you have offered.