How to resign

Resigning from a job is never easy, and writing a resignation letter can be particularly challenging. Here are some tips to help you craft a professional, courteous resignation letter, and how to handle the resignation process.

Before you resign

Before handing over your resignation letter, you need to check a few things.

• Be clear on how many weeks’ notice you must give your manager
• Check out if there any other contractual obligations you must fulfil
• Find out who you should address the letter to, whether it’s a department head or line manager

Once you’re sure that you’re ready to write your resignation letter, here’s what you need to do.

Anatomy of a resignation letter

A resignation letter should do two things. Firstly, it should explain your reasons for leaving clearly and succinctly. Secondly, it should be professional – this isn’t the place to list your grievances with the company, because remember, you might need them for a reference!

Once you’ve drafted your letter, keep a copy somewhere safe. You may need it in the future.

Date it properly

The date on your resignation letter is actually really important because you can use it to prove your final day.

Keep it brief

No one wants to read a three-page resignation letter. Use short, well-organised paragraphs that clearly explain why you’re leaving. For example, maybe you’ve found a promotion opportunity, or you’re relocating.

Most importantly, the letter isn’t the time to go over all the problems you have with the company. It’s a resignation letter, not a complaint letter.

Show gratitude

Emphasise positive experiences you had working with the team and give special mention to any particularly helpful colleagues. This feedback can really brighten someone’s day, and it often softens the blow of a resignation letter.

After the resignation letter

Once you’ve sent in your resignation letter, your manager may have some additional questions for you. They may even propose a counter-offer. Despite your manager’s new-found enthusiasm, staying with this company may not be best for you. Here are some factors to consider.

• Remember why you’re leaving – if you’re unhappy with the job now, chances are you’ll still be unhappy in the future, despite any new promises from management
• Managers may ask you to stay purely to avoid the costs of recruiting and training someone new
• The employer-employee relationship has changed because you wanted to leave, meaning your employer will always be questioning your loyalty

Whether you accept their counter or not ultimately comes down to staying true to yourself and remembering what you want from your career.