FREE 5+ Standard Resignation Letter Templates in PDF | MS Word

When you decide to resign from your job, a letter of resignation is needed to notify your employer of your decision to leave the company. A letter of resignation is a business letter that is submitted by employees to employers to state their intentions to leave their positions in a company.

A letter of resignation is typically given by an employee to an employer or a supervisor as a form of good etiquette and to maintain a continuous good relationship with an employer for reference purposes. Although you’re leaving your job, that doesn’t always mean that you will not be seeing or needing your employer again. It is therefore important to follow company policies when you submit your letter of resignation to ensure that you impart a good and lasting impression.

Standard Resignation Letter Format

Standard Resignation Letter Sample

Standard Notice of Resignation Letter

A letter of resignation is not a very difficult letter to create. Here are some guidelines to help you create your letter effectively:

The Opening

Since a letter of resignation is considered a business letter, keep the opening brief, formal, and to the point. It is usually best to simply state that you are tendering your resignation and that date of your last day of work. Be sure to give at least two weeks notice to give your employer ample time to find a replacement and to train the replacement.

Maintain Professionalism and Positiveness

When you have had an unhappy experience with your company, it can be tempting to share negative thought about your company in your letter of resignation. However, you need to keep in mind that at some point, you might be needing your current employer to give good references of you. It is therefore important to maintain good relationships with all your former employees. If you feel that saying something positive about your employer can be quite challenging, provide a short compliment and at least thank your employer for the opportunity to work at his company.

Provide Support

Losing an employee can cause quite a ruckus for an employer, especially if the employee leaving is assigned to handle big work responsibilities or if the employee departs right smack in the middle of a project. It is common courtesy to offer some form of assistance to your employer by offering to help train your replacement or by providing contact details to your coworkers so they can easily reach you if they have any questions after you are gone.

Standard Formal Resignation Letter

Standard Resignation Letter Example

Standard Resignation Letter in Word

Ask Any Questions

Submitting your letter of resignation also gives you the opportunity to ask questions related to your compensation, benefits, especially details about your last paycheck or your severance pay. Your resignation letter should be given to both your supervisor and to your human resources office; however, questions pertaining to salaries and benefits will be best answered by your human resources department.

Provide Your Contact Details

Provide your current employer with ways to get in touch with you such as a non-company e-mail address, mobile number, or house number. Providing contact information is especially necessary when you are tendering an immediate resignation in a middle of a project and your colleagues or your supervisor needs to ask you questions that have to be immediately answered.

Follow the Proper Format

A resignation letter is a formal business document and should be written as such. Provide a header in your letter with the correct salutations.

You can view more of our Resignation Letter Examples by viewing our Formal Resignation Letter and Professional Resignation Letters.