Resignation Letter Template
A polite, professional resignation letter you can customise in seconds.
Tips for your Resignation Letter
- Keep it short, positive and professional.
- Give the notice period stated in your contract.
- Offer to help with the handover.
About this Resignation Letter template
A resignation letter is the formal record of the fact that you are leaving and the date you finish. Use it when your contract or HR handbook expects something signed and filed — and tell your manager in person or on a call first if you possibly can. The letter should confirm a conversation, not break the news. If your workplace runs on email and nobody has ever asked for a signed document, a two weeks notice email does the same job faster.
Keep the tone short and warm. Your manager is reading for two things: your last working day, and whether the handover is going to be painful. Leave out your reasons for going, your opinion of the company, your new salary, and any grievance you have been saving up. This letter gets filed and may be read years later by someone deciding whether to rehire you, or asked to write a reference. Name the role, give the date, thank them for one specific thing, and offer to help.
The common mistake is guessing at the notice period. Two weeks is a US workplace custom, not a universal rule — many UK, EU and other contracts require one to three months, and senior roles often more. Check your signed contract before you commit to a date on paper.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice do I have to give?
Whatever your contract says. There is no global answer: two weeks is a common US courtesy rather than a legal requirement, while one to three months is normal in many other countries and contracts. Read your contract, and ask HR if nothing is written down.
Do I have to say why I am leaving?
No. A short, positive letter is completely acceptable and very common. If you have feedback worth giving, the exit interview is a better place for it than the document that stays in your file.
Letter or email — which does my employer want?
Check the handbook. Many employers accept email; some still want a signed letter for the record, in which case send the letter and email a copy so the date of receipt is clear.
Can I resign with immediate effect?
You can stop attending, but leaving without serving contractual notice can have consequences that vary by contract and country — from unpaid notice to a claim. Ask your manager to release you early by agreement instead of simply walking out.
Should I address it to my manager or to HR?
Your direct manager, normally, with HR copied or sent a duplicate afterwards. Following the order in your handbook avoids your manager hearing it from someone else.