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8 Resignation Letter Examples to Use When Quitting

Not all resignation letters are created equally. Here are templates to help you pen the resignation letter that explains your scenario.

By Career Contessa Team
December 20, 2023

Photo by Richard Dykes on Unsplash

It's great to get advice on how to write a letter of resignation, but sometimes, you need some real letters of resignation to get inspiration.

The reality of resignation is that we all leave jobs for different reasons. Sometimes, we outgrow our roles. Sometimes, we receive offers that are just too good to pass up.

And sometimes, ahem, we cannot take another day at our current company, and we can't write that resignation fast enough (but we should try our best to avoid writing a bad resignation letter!)

In some cases, a relocation or a life change requires us to write a bittersweet letter of resignation.

Whatever the circumstances, it's time to write your letter, pack up your desk, and move on. If you're looking for specific tips on how to write a resignation, we have you covered in this article, How to Write a Resignation Letter.

Types of Letters of Resignation

Let's review a quick overview of the types of common resignations.

1. Basic Resignation Letter

This is when you give two weeks' notice and provide a physical paper copy and/or email copy of your resignation. These letters usually include your reason for leaving, but it's not required. They also include the last date of your employment

2. Email Resignation Letter

If you're working remotely, then you won't have the opportunity to provide a physical copy of your resignation letter. That's okay—just email your resignation to your boss and cc HR if you have them. We also recommend saving a copy for your own records.

3. Independent Contractor Resignation

This is a letter and email when you're ending a project as a freelancer or independent contractor. It follows the same rules as a basic resignation letter.

4. Short Notice or No Notice Resignation Letter

Before you leave your current role with zero notice, check your employee handbook and contract. Some companies require that you give at least two weeks' notice. If there isn't a requirement, you can send an email giving less than two weeks' notice or even no notice at all.

We don't recommend this unless you don't care about burning bridges with your current employer, but sometimes rage quitting is the only thing on the menu.

5. The Regretful Resignation Letter

You love your boss. Your coworkers really do feel like a family. You adore your job, and you don't want to leave.

However, for whatever reason, you need to move on. A regretful resignation letter communicates your gratitude for your time at an organization while communicating your need to move on.

More Examples of Resignation Letters

The following resignation letter templates address specific circumstances around a resignation. Whether it's a new job opportunity, a return to school, or family reasons, here's how to write specific resignation letters to leave on good terms.

Use these example resignation letters as a starting point to write your own!

Pro Tip: As an employee, you are not required to provide a reason for leaving your job—especially if you're resigning for personal reasons. While you should use your resignation letter to express gratitude, communicate your intended last day of work, and mention plans for a smooth transition, you don't need to provide details about your new job opportunity or reason for leaving.

New Job Simple Resignation Letter Template

Dear [SUPERVISOR'S NAME],

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my role as [JOB ROLE]. My last day will be [DATE].

I'm so grateful to have worked with a creative team these last five years and have learned so much. By far one of my greatest takeaways is learning about how project management fits into a company's overall strategy and getting to launch a new software program for the company.

I'm grateful for your guidance and mentorship along the way, and I know it will serve me well in my new project management director role.

I will ensure all of my deadlines are completed before my departure, and I plan on working with my team to assign new people to my current clients and projects. Please let me know if there is anything else you'd like me to do.

You can always reach me at xxxxx@gmail.com if future questions pop up!

Sincerely,
Your Name

Basic Resignation Letter Without Reason For Leaving

So mysterious! Just kidding! Sometimes, you might not want to disclose much (or any) information when resigning from your current position—and that's your choice.

The following template exists to communicate the bare minimum of professional courtesy.

Dear[SUPERVISOR'S NAME],

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my role as [JOB ROLE]. My last day of employment will be [DATE].

Thank you and the team for welcoming me and training me about the digital media landscape over the last two years. I have learned a lot both personally and professionally, and I look forward to staying in touch.

Until my last day, I will train my replacement and create some training documents outlining our workflows.

You can reach me at xxxxx@gmail.com if any questions after my departure.

Sincerely,
Your Name

Freelancer Resignation Letter

Subject Line: Assignment Resignation

Good Afternoon [SUPERVISOR'S NAME],

I have received an offer for a full-time position and will no longer be able to commit to working on ABC Community creative for the agreed-upon 10 hours per week. My last day will be [DATE].

This comes with a heavy heart as I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and the team. Working together has been such a great opportunity and a vehicle for personal growth not only within my craft but also within the career world. As I've become more intimately familiar with the brand, I feel as if I've learned so much in such a short amount of time!

In terms of logistics, I am preparing a folder with all of the shapes, illustrations, background patterns, and gradients I've made for the brand with the intention of uploading it to the Dropbox folder if you choose to use them.

I also want to clarify that I will be able to take on the assets for the next two weeks. I want to make this transitional period as smooth as possible for you and the team.

If anything changes or I find that I'm able to take on additional work once I've settled in, I will definitely let you know. I hope to keep in touch!

Sincerely,
Your Name

Going Back to School Resignation Letter

Dear [SUPERVISOR'S NAME],

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my role as [JOB ROLE]. My last day will be [DATE].

Thank you for the opportunity to join your editorial team, pitch ideas, and strengthen my voice as a writer. These are all skills I will take with me when I enroll in my creative writing program this fall.

If you need any help with freelance assignments until [DATE], please don't hesitate to reach out. I want to make sure you and the team have a smooth transition with my departure.

Sincerely,
Your Name

Relocation Resignation Letter

Dear [SUPERVISOR'S NAME],

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my role as [JOB ROLE]. My last day will be [DATE].

I have thoroughly enjoyed working for this company the last four years and getting to cross-collaborate with so many creative coworkers. And while I'm thrilled for my next chapter moving to the East Coast, it is bittersweet to leave this great team.

I look forward to staying in touch. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions after my departure.

Sincerely,
Your Name

Personal Reasons Resignation Letter

Dear [SUPERVISOR'S NAME],

For personal reasons, I am putting forward my formal letter of resignation from my role as Sales Manager. My last day will be [DATE].

Thank you so much for the opportunity to work in this position for the past few years. I’ve greatly appreciated the opportunities I’ve had to grow our sales team and client pipeline. I’ve learned so much about business development strategy and the healthcare sales space, which I will certainly take with me throughout my career.

I look forward to staying in touch.

Sincerely,
Your Name

Goodbye Email to Coworkers

Subject Line: Goodbye For Now!

My (COMPANY) Friends and Colleagues,

I can't imagine a better place to have started my career and spent these last few years. It's been incredible getting to work on such an interesting set of problems and, more importantly, with such an amazing group of people. I've learned more and grown more than I could ever have imagined, and I'm going to miss it all.

I look forward to following (Company Name) future success in the news, but in case you want to tell me anything in person, please feel free to contact me via LinkedIn or this email address (xxxx@gmail.com).

Thanks for everything,
Your Name

Two Weeks Notice Letter of Resignation

Dear [SUPERVISOR'S NAME],

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my position as [JOB TITLE] at [COMPANY NAME].

My last day will be [DATE].

I appreciate the opportunities for growth and development you have provided me with during my tenure. The knowledge I have gained here will be an asset for me throughout my career. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you and the team.

Please let me know how I can help during this period of transition. I wish you and the company all the best and sincerely hope you will keep in touch.

Thank You,

[NAME]

Now that you've written a formal notification...hit send and celebrate that new job!

You’ve earned it.

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Career Contessa Team

Career Contessa is an online job search and career advice resource. Since 2013, Career Contessa staff have been writing career advice articles on a variety of topics from job search to advancing at work with insight from experts, research-backed tips, and personal stories to help you become more fulfilled, healthy, and successful at work. When tackling big pain points like job search, interviewing, and career transitions, we need all hands on deck. The articles attributed to the team feature hard work, research, and real experience.