Jobhop Jobhop's blog : How to Write a Resignation Email
Tips on how to write a resignation email
- Start with a clear subject line
- Give the reason for your resignation
- Keep to the point
- Provide the date of your final day
- Express your gratitude
- Proofread
The number of people who search for "how to write a resignation email" on Google has risen dramatically since coming back to work after the pandemic.
The pandemic has made people stop and take stock of their lives, some want a career change, many want flexibility, and others want to live in the countryside or by the coast and work remotely. On top of that lots of people have taken early retirement and many have decided to follow their dreams, whether that's to start up a business or travel around the world.
If you are one of these people then you will need to send a resignation letter to your employer or/and HR department. Ideally, a letter of resignation handed directly to your employer/HR department is better, however with the rise of remote working then resigning via email is becoming more acceptable. Always check first with your employer/HR department which is their preference of delivery.
Now that you've decided to leave you can start composing your resignation email.
Start with a clear subject line
You want the recipient to open your email as soon as possible. Busy people tend to prioritise their emails, you want yours to be at the top of the pile. The worst scenario would be for the recipient to say that they never saw it or read it. Get yourself a free email tracker extension from Google extensions, that way you can see when the email gets opened.
The subject line just needs to be Notice of Resignation - { Your Name }
Give the reason for your resignation
Let your employer/HR department know why you're leaving. Reasons could be due to family, a career move, relocation, and more. If it's because you have a long list of things that you don't like about your job, don't feel tempted to include them all. Keep to the point and ideally, you want to part ways amicably.
Keep to the point
Just as you shouldn't write a whole list of what your pet hates are about the job, it's best not to on about what you loved about the job and why it's hard to leave. Time is precious and your employer will appreciate that you've kept it to the point.
Provide the date of your final day
Check your contract to see how much notice you have to give and then calculate the leaving date. You then add something along the lines of "Per my notice period, my final day will be [date of last day]."
Express your gratitude
Always try to leave on a positive note, remember, you may need to ask for a reference. Thank your employer for the opportunities you were given, the work experience or perhaps the skills that you've acquired since working there. Find something to thank them for.
Proofread
Before clicking send make sure to proofread your resignation. Are there any spelling mistakes? Is it grammatically correct? As well as a spell-checker, running it through an online tool like Grammarly will help you.
Your professional reputation is important so make sure you leave with it intact, in years to come you'll be glad you did.
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