Sample Resignation Letter: How to Quit Your Job with a Resignation Letter

There comes a time in most people’s lives to resign from a job and move on to a new one. If I do say so myself, I craft a beautiful resignation letter — probably because I have resigned from a few different jobs (a library, a bank, three restaurants, and a retail store, to name a few!).

Regardless of how menial and stressful you believe your job to be, I think everyone benefits when an employee crafts a professional resignation letter.

This month, I have resigned from three jobs: I called the woman I babysit for, because I felt that was more appropriate for the situation; I emailed the community center where I teach dance, because I am seasonal and would not be in the building until the first day of classes; and finally, I turned in a printed letter to the restaurant where I work today, and spoke with both my direct manager and the general manager. Resigning in a professional manner has many benefits.

A resignation letter lets you tell your side of the story. I had originally intended on remaining in my restaurant job for at least another year. A job offer presented itself, however, and there was no way for me to continue my employment at the restaurant with my new schedule. The letter I wrote allowed me to address the reasons I was leaving in my own words, without worrying about someone interrupting me or mishearing them. This limits misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

A resignation letter is your paper trail. You can always look back and remember why you quit a certain job, or when you turned in your notice. This also gives your employer a record of when and why you left. Doing so may allow your employer to look back in your file and give a better recommendation to someone calling on your behalf for a future job.

A resignation letter, when polite, lets you leave on a good note. I verbally told my manager that I was resigning, then handed him my letter. He seemed confused until he opened it and read — then told me that he had only received two letters of resignation in all his years of restaurant management. Sadly, in the foodservice industry, it is quite common for verbal “two week notices” to be stated, followed by the employee promptly not showing up for shifts or giving up all shifts to other employees. By making my intentions clear in the written letter, I am making it clear that I respect my employers and want them to know I am dependable until the date I stated in my letter.

What is your experience with resigning? Did you give two week’s notice?