After applying · 5 min read
How do I resign from my job well?
Get the new offer in writing, check your notice period, tell your manager in person first, then send a short letter. Leave a clean handover.
The short answer
Resign only once you have a written offer and any conditions, like references, are cleared. Check your notice period in your contract; in the UK the legal minimum after a month's employment is one week, but contracts often say more, and in the US two weeks is customary. Tell your manager in person or on a call first, then send a short letter or email with your last working day. Offer a handover plan and stay positive.
On this page 4 sections
Before you resign
- Written offer received and conditions cleared.
- Notice period checked in your contract.
- Holiday owed and final pay understood.
- Decided what, if anything, would make you stay.
A resignation letter
'Dear Priya, please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my role as Operations Coordinator. My last working day will be Friday 28 November. Thank you for your support over the last three years. I'll do everything I can to make the handover smooth. Best wishes, Jordan.'
A handover people remember
- List your ongoing work and who should take each piece.
- Write short notes on how recurring tasks are done.
- Introduce contacts to whoever takes over.
- Leave files where people can find them.
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Questions people ask
- What should a resignation letter say?
- That you're resigning, your last working day, and a line of thanks. You don't need to give reasons.
- Do I have to work my full notice?
- Usually, unless your employer agrees otherwise or puts you on garden leave. Ask if you need to leave earlier.
- Should I tell colleagues first?
- No. Tell your manager first, then agree with them how and when to tell the team.
- What do I say in an exit interview?
- Be honest but constructive. Focus on what could help the next person, not complaints.
- Can I resign by email?
- You can, especially if you work remotely, but a short call first is more courteous. Follow up in writing either way.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- Handing in your notice · GOV.UK
How this page is written
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