It’s time for a change: with a record number of 4.5 million Americans leaving their jobs in November last year, more employees are taking the steps to improve their careers.
Whether you’re looking for remote work flexibility or prioritizing your work-life balance, writing a resignation letter to notify your employer is recommended in order to avoid burning brides as you change jobs. This post will detail how to write an effective resignation letter with top tips and best practices for success.
What to include in a resignation letter
The five crucial elements of this letter include your contact information, a greeting, statement of resignation, last day of work, and a sign-off with your signature. Below is a template you can use to build out the foundation of your letter.
[Current date]
[Manager name]
[Company name]
[Address]
Dear [Manager name],
Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my role at [company name]. My last day is [date].
Thank you for the opportunity to work in this role and I’m sure I will take everything I learned here into my career. I will provide support until my final day so please let me know if there is anything I can do to smooth this transition.
I wish [company name] the absolute best and hope to keep in touch.
Sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Printed name]
[Contact information]
What not to include
Now that we’ve covered what you should include in your resignation letter, there are certain pieces of information to steer clear of mentioning. You can give your employer a better idea of why you are leaving, such as receiving another offer from a different company, but you may be met with a counteroffer from your current company.
Your resignation letter is also not the time to air out any grievances you may have about the job or the company – save this for the exit survey! Make sure not to overexplain yourself or send an unedited letter since the purpose of this letter is to show your professionalism.
Top tips for before you resign
Before you make such a huge decision, make sure your finances are in order if you don’t have a job lined up directly after. Be sure to transfer your retirement funds, keep important tax documents, and utilize your health insurance before you lose the benefits of your previous position. It’s also a good idea to write a new budget and allocate an emergency fund if needed.
When giving your employer a timely notice, it’s advised to prepare for a counter offer. Assess your financial situation and your job prospects before you decide to stay with your employer or pursue new opportunities. Last but definitely not least, it’s important to tell your employer or boss first before you notify anyone else at the company of your resignation. Keeping communication professional as you make this pivotal change in your career will ensure your professional network is intact. For an overview of the Great Resignation and its impact for 2022, check out this infographic from AngelList.
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