Quitting the job - resignation letters

Question

So I've never resigned from a job before and was wondering: what do people typically put in resignation letters?

I googled a bit and found this:
https://www.1st-writer.com/Resignation.htm

Is this pretty typical?

Thanks

zonk · Answer

What I've always done is just verbally quit to my direct boss(es). Then if they want a resignation letter, you can ask them what they want on it. I've never actually written a resignation letter before, though.

isa · Answer

Interesting - ours requires a letter. So at some point, I'll be writing it...

cdnaudit · Answer

Your post reminded me of a few resignation letters I've read in the past:

IT:
https://news.hereisthecity.com/news/busi ... 5349.cntns

IB:
https://www.bankersball.com/pub/sidetawk ... id=68&page
https://www.finextra.com/community/fullblog.aspx?id=385 (hilarious)

falibay · Answer

Isa, it really depends on the company. In the US, you could start with talking to your direct managers and She/He will tell you what is expected. At my firm, I would ask people for a 2 lines email to HR with me cc-ed. Very simple. If you are in Europe, it is usually more formal and would require a proper letter.

BearStearner · Answer

Resignation letter is for HR purpose only.

It can be short.

Just include:

1) Effective Resignation date
2) Reason for resignation
3) And little message offering to stay on and help out

It can be just a paragraph.

P.S. - I work in an industry where people quit jobs more in their lifetime than they go see their doctors. :-D

It's always short.

It's always short.

BigBad · Answer

I would keep it very factual and objective, and maybe only 1-2 sentences. Include your intended final date of work and that's it.

A lawyer friend of mine told me never to include anything positive about your experience at the job (e.g. 'it's been a pleasure working here' or 'I've learned a lot from this experience'). If you ever need to bring the company to court for any reason, this can be used against you.

In my last job, I wrote a one-sentence letter. I scheduled a meeting with my boss and handed it to him. Then, I gave him a verbal explanation of why I was leaving and the things I appreciated most about my experience there. Use your exit interview to express anything they need to improve, but make sure never to burn bridges. In fact, maybe don't say anything negative at the exit interview. There's no benefit to you in doing so.

BearStearner · Answer

Wow, you don't mess around, do you? :-D

BigBad · Answer

This is why I'm the BigBad... :twisted:

(caveat: at my last job I worked with a whole bunch of really paranoid lawyers)

isa · Answer

Thanks for your feedback!

At my company the process is:
- meeting with manager where you express intent to resign and reasons why
- email stating intent delivered to HR/manager/senior manager by EOD of the same day as the meeting
- 4 weeks later (yes we require 4 weeks notice), on the last day at work: exit interviews w/ HR and senior management

If anyone else has other suggestions/considerations, let me know!

Will keep you posted on how it goes

pmenon · Answer

Good luck with it !

Ive only had to do a formal letter once before, at my old job. I did what you did; Googled for some samples, chose one and ran with it. I kept it very brief, and didnt include any details of why I was leaving, or where I was going. I did disclose those items verbally during an informal exit interview.

Once I had crafted my letter, I booked a meeting with my manager and presented it with her when we met. Nothing more formal than that; she took care of all the HR stuff, and I made sure to tie up my loose ends with HR for benefits, etc.

Toubab · Answer

My resignation letter will consist of three words.

PEACE OUT, &*!$@ES!!!!

... more or less. Actually, standard practice for us is letting your supervisor know (at least two weeks beforehand, preferably a little more) and then, depending on how well-liked you are, either sending a friendly email to the office saying goodbye or... not. We're much less formal than a law or bank office, of course, but just use your common sense. And don't burn any bridges (unless it's totally worth it).

Jerz · Answer

Isa - the process at my firm is pretty similar except we only require 2 weeks formal notice. Usually people will have discussions with their managers/partners earlier than that, then formally give a formal letter 2 weeks before they intend to leave.

My boss already knows why I chose to go to bschool, and that I'll be leaving 'around the end of June', so once we find a replacement for my role and agree on an actual last day I was planning to just give him a 1-2 sentence letter that basically says I'm resigning effective June/July XX, 2009 in order to enroll in bschool.

billyjeans · Answer

Notes taken. I think BigBad gave a good advice here. You can thank/appreciate them verbally, just don't put them in the paper. Schedule a meeting with you boss and talk to him about your plan, and bring up the letter merely as a formality.

scorpioguy · Answer

Mine is a simple enough process - Go into the company HR system - click on resign and fill in the reason and effective date.

Waiting till june when I plan to submit is going to be the bigger problem :wink:

refurb · Answer

You guys might want to check and see if your company has something called "academic leave".

A friend who is heading to medical school informed me that our company offers academic leave for periods up to one year (can be extended on a case by case basis) The leave includes 6 months of continuing benefits, including health insurance, at employee rates. Plus, if you come back, you retain your years of service.

I highly doubt that I'll be returning to my current employer, but the health insurance should save me close to $1000.

RF

zhl226 · Answer

Wow what industry do you work at it seems way to formal. Very process oriented company

RahlowJenkins · Answer

Quick note about my gig -- you can give 2 weeks notice -- however, you can't get payout for vacation days without 4 weeks written notice. Lots of people have gotten bit by that.

I'm leaving in August. I told them in Feb.

Of course, my boss was one of my recommenders, so that made it a straight forward process.

isa · Answer

I handed in the resignation on Friday. Here is the gist of the letter I ended up using:
 
"Hi Steve,

This is to inform you that I am resigning from X, effective March 20, 2009. Per company policy, this is a one (1) month notice.

I will be going to grad school at XYZ in the fall for my MBA and plan to graduate in 2011. I am looking forward to school and the challenges that await me!

I would like my last day to be April 24th.

If I can be of any assistance during this transition, please let me know!

Thanks,"

I plan to follow this up with personalized thank-you emails/letters to my managers, etc once I get closer to the actual quit date.

Thanks for all your help!

Jerz · Answer

Shouldn't the effective date of your resignation be the same as your last day?

Quitting the job - resignation letters

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