How to Write a Letter of Resignation
One of the most important things to remember when writing a letter of resignation is to stay professional, do not allow emotion to influence your words and keep focused and factual. Your letter should be short and to the point without sounding curt or rude. Be sure to give an adequate notice, and ask for a letter of reference.
Here are some tips to writing a letter of resignation. Acknowledge that you have had a pleasant work experience, but you have been offered a position that better fits your needs and lifestyle. Offer a notice – most industry standards are two weeks. Mention that you are willing to be available during this notice time to train your replacement. If you have vacation time to which you are entitled, note this in your letter and ask to have it credited to you. You may be able to take this vacation time in lieu of a notice if you will not be needed to train a replacement. Do not say anything in a resignation letter that you may regret in the future! This may have been the worst job of your life, but focus the positives of the situation. Remember, it’s always better to state that you are leaving to pursue other career options than to say that you have finally found someone who will pay you what you are worth!
A letter of resignation should be typed, and include the following: the reason for resigning, the last day you will be working, a forwarding address should you be owed any monies, and the offer to help make a smooth transition for you and your employer. Assure your employer that you will work as hard, if not harder, during these last two weeks than you did during your tenure as an employee.
How to Write a Resignation Letter
A resignation letter is a statement to your current employer, announcing your departure as an employee. It is highly recommended, that the letter be typed not hand written for professionalism. There are many ways in which a person can write a resignation letter, however for the most part they all include the same points. First of all you will want to make sure the receiving persons name and address appears following the date of the letter usually in the left margin of your letter. Once you have this done you will want to start your letter with gratitude. State all the things you are grateful for, from the company, and state all the things you learned, as well as, the things you will miss about working for the company, then end this paragraph with a positive thank you to the company, for having you as an employee. Remember to maintain a respectful, positive attitude throughout your letter, so that you are in turn respected. Also it is important to keep your letter shorter rather than long, no more than a page. Next, you will want to give the exact date that you plan on resigning, it is usually recommended that a person give a two week notice, so that the employer has time to replace you. In some cases you may be needed to train the person who will take your place. Also keep in mind that you will want a good performance review from this employer for your resume, so it’s important to leave the employer as a professional, acting with respect and maturity, much in the same way you came for the interview. Now that you have mastered that you are ready to explain, in a very short, and to the point statement, your reason for unfortunately resigning your position. It is recommended to stay clear of negative, or critical remarks, instead just state a brief reason for why you have chosen to end your journey as an employee. If you choose you may now explain the opportunities that await you, sometimes knowing that the employee is departing for a beneficial reason helps the employer have a great understanding. Next you will want to go back to positive things like, wishing the company your best, and listing a few achievements that you made working for the company, and again express your extreme gratitude for the time you spent working for the company. Then you are ready for the closing line. You may choose from a variety of words such as sincerely, respectfully, regretfully…..yours, and then put your name and if you choose enter your address after and underneath. The last thing you will want to do is, with a pen go ahead and sign your name under your typed name. Using all of these tips will likely create a successful letter of resignation, helping you maintain a excellent employee review, and reference when you move on to another place of employment. Good luck with writing your letter of resignation.