[Your Address]

[Name of the person to whom resignation is addressed]

[Their position]

[Organisation name]

[Address]

[Date]

 

Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss [Surname],

 

I am writing to inform you that I am resigning from [insert your post in the organisation].

Please accept this as my formal letter of resignation and a termination of our contract. I will

continue to work until [insert notice period date as per your employment contract] after then

my contract will expire on [insert expiry date].

 

I appreciate the time and energy which you have invested in training me.  I believe that the

skills which I have learned will serve me well in the future.  I will do my very best to ensure a

smooth transition upon my departure and I will make sure that all the details/information are

left available to the person who takes up my position after my departure.

 

I would be grateful if you could acknowledge this letter at the earliest available opportunity.

[Optional: if you would like me to attend exit interview then please let me know so that I can

make arrangements].    

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature]

[Your full name]

 

 

Why should you write a resignation letter?

Writing a resignation letter is an important formality when you are voluntarily leaving a job.

This letter provides your employer with a record of your notice and outlines the terms of your
departure.

It also serves as a professional courtesy that can help you to maintain a positive
relationship with your former employer.

This can be beneficial if you need to request a reference
from them or if you choose to apply for a new job with them in the future.

 

How do you know how long your notice period is?

Your employment notice period should be specified in your employment contract. Typically, if
you have been in your job for more than a month, you will need to give at least one week’s
notice when resigning.

Often, your notice period reflects the average length of time it takes to fill
your job role, so depending on what your role entails, your notice period may be longer than
anticipated. Common notice periods include; one week, four weeks and three months.

If you are unable to see your notice period in your employment contract, ask if you can see your
employer’s resignation policy. This should outline everything you need to know.

It is always advisable to resign in writing, so there is no argument about when you did it.

Typically, your notice period starts from the day after you have handed your resignation letter in.

You may be in breach of your contract if you do not give enough notice when resigning and your
employer could take you to court.

 

Should you include your reason for leaving in a resignation letter?

A standard resignation letter is usually quite short and there is no obligation for you to include
your reason for resigning within this letter.

However, sometimes employees choose to mention their resignation reason/s, should they feel it would be beneficial or they have been in their
position for a long time and have a good relationship with their employer.

It is key to remain professional in your resignation letter and you should not include any
negative reasons for choosing to resign.

 

What is an exit interview?

An exit interview is a meeting between an employee and their employer, manager or HR
representative at the end of their time with a company.

The purpose of an exit interview is to gain insight into why an employee is leaving and their experiences with the company.

Often, employers use an exit interview to obtain feedback for the company to improve upon. Exit
interviews are also used to remind the employee of any obligations to the company after
leaving, such as non-disclosure agreements.

Usually, your employer will invite you to an exit interview if one is required, but you can also
request an exit interview if you have things you would like to discuss before leaving.

 

 

What should you do if you feel as though you have no choice but to resign?

Should you find yourself in a position where you do not want to resign, but you feel as though
you have no other choice due to your employer’s actions, this could actually be ‘constructive
dismissal’.

This is very different to a voluntary resignation and it is a type of unfair dismissal.
You can find out more about constructive dismissal here.

We also have a letter template for constructive dismissal should this be more appropriate for
your current circumstances.