Letter of resignation tips

When it's time to move on from your job you want to leave behind the best impression of yourself, and you can do that by writing a good resignation letter. However, it is both wise and useful for both the employee and employer to have a written record of the resignation. The common practice is to resign in person with a follow-up letter.

Tips on writing a letter of resignation:

• Begin by writing something positive or complimentary about the position / organization / company that you are leaving.
• State that you will be resigning, effective as of a specific date.
• In most cases, you need to give a reason for resigning.
• You may want to offer help to find or train your replacement if you are leaving in a friendly spirit.
• End the letter on a pleasant tone expressing appreciation for something.
• Do not use a letter of resignation as a dumping ground for complaints and anger.
• If you have been asked to resign or have been discharged, your letter should not refer to this.

Remember that your resignation letter goes into official records. In our highly litigious society, you will want to avoid anything in your letter to the employer that could be misconstrued or used against you later. It is normal protocol to give at least two weeks notice prior to your date of resignation, but check your company's policies and what terms you agreed to when you were hired.
Some companies will choose to terminate an employee immediately upon resignation (regardless of what you offer), so be prepared for this. The choice to resign may or may not be an easy decision, but once you have made this decision, understand the potential consequences.