How to write a job resignation letter (with 3 examples)

Either because your company does not give you the opportunity to make decisions, you do not find growth prospects, you do not have flexible hours or simply because your values ​​are not aligned with those of your company, it may be that you do not feel valued, the main reason why most people decide to leave their job, according to a study by the American Psychological Association.

Leaving a company is not easy, especially when you have a position of responsibility. In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about how to write a job resignation letter, including 3 examples that represent different situations.

Even if you feel annoyed with the company for the treatment you received, you must avoid allowing anger and annoyance to be the protagonists, since the best thing for professional and personal interests is to part with education and good manners. As the Buddha said:

“Holding onto anger is like grabbing a hot coal with the intention of throwing it at another person; you are the one who burns”.

Why write a resignation letter?

You have to be aware that every exit from a company has its processes. The resignation letter is the formalization of said processes, as it will alert our superiors when we are leaving.

We may wonder why it is convenient to respect these processes and in particular to write a letter of resignation. We highlight three reasons: legal, ethical, or future work.

  • Legal reasons: According to the agreement established by the company, you must give a period of X days. Normally it is 15 days from when you announce your departure, although, in some work sectors, it can be up to 1 month. The resignation letter allows you to record the date of departure.
  • Ethical reasons: Whether you have been treated well or felt undervalued, the company you are about to leave has provided you with a salary and an apprenticeship. A resignation letter allows you to show gratitude.
  • Future work: The companies to which you apply in the future, could ask for reports or references about your performance in your previous position. Who can know you better at work than your old boss? If we write a friendly or even cordial letter, we will ensure that our former boss has good words about us, or at least that leaving work does not have a negative impact on the opinion that had already been formed previously.

It is also advisable to request a letter of recommendation from our superior if we have a good relationship with him/her. In this way, we will demonstrate our capacity for work, and proactivity and that we are transparent.

Now that you know what the use of a resignation letter is, let’s see what format it should have. This will serve us in any case and internationally. How To Write A Letter Of Resignation?

What is a job resignation letter and how to write it

A letter of resignation is an official document of no more than one page, with a formal letter structure. Like any letter, it contains the sections of the sender, the recipient, the greeting, the body, the farewell, and the signature. Even so, a resignation letter has its specific specifications and is usually structured in this way:

headers

In the header, you must put all your contact information so that the company can contact you. Surely you already have the list prepared in your CV, we are going to list them: name and surname, address, telephone number, and personal email.

Finally, add the date you wrote the letter. The day established in the date will be the one that will be used to count the 15 days of notice, those that are stipulated in the agreement, or the time that you decide to leave the company.

Receiver

In this section, you must write the name of your supervisor and his position, together with the company and its address. It is optional to also put your phone number or email. This section must be aligned on the left side of the letter and it is important because it will show that you delivered the letter to your superior, being your insurance in case the company wants to contact him in the future.

letter greeting

Being an official letter, you must use a formal record. We will use introductions such as Dear or Appreciated. Depending on the degree of trust established with the person who supervised us, we will address her de ella using her name de ella or by writing Mr. or Mrs. followed by her de ella last name de Ella. Even so, no matter how well we get along with our superior, we must avoid treating him face to face in the resignation letter.

First paragraph: Notify of the resignation

In a brief and concise way, we are going to communicate that we are leaving our job. If we feel that way, we can regret our departure. Optionally, we can explain the reasons that led us to make that decision, as long as they are understandable and not offensive. Each situation is different and each one knows the relationship with their boss and his company, so no one better than you will know how to channel that information in the best way.

Second paragraph: Thank you for the treatment received

If it has been an enriching experience, dedicate a paragraph to praise the treatment you received, everything you have learned, and how much you will miss the work environment. You may need more than one paragraph if the experience has been very positive. However, try to keep it brief and avoid making the letter longer than one page.

If, on the contrary, you have had a negative experience, it is time to give up your pride and write a more generic letter with formalities, thanking you for the opportunity and wishing both the company and your colleagues a good future.