Strategy

Here's the exact template to write resignation letter that doesn't burn any bridges

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A resignation letter should be succinct and straightforward. Business Insider
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Telling your boss that you're leaving the company can be, erm, awkward. 

But regardless of whether you have mixed feelings about quitting or you're gunning for the exit, it's important to resign gracefully and without burning bridges.

That's where your resignation letter comes in, Tim Vipond, CEO of Corporate Finance Institute, told Insider. He said that a resignation letter is really "just a formality" after you've had a conversation with your manager. The letter shouldn't be how your boss learns of the news — it's more of a brief, written confirmation, he added. 

Your letter doesn't need to be a summary of your entire employment history. Rather, it needs to be straightforward and to the point, said Kyle Elliott, a career and interview coach based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

"A letter of resignation is not a Linkedin post or best man's speech or an opportunity to air grievances — it's to provide a date that you're leaving and when it's effective," he said.

Here's the exact format you should follow when writing a resignation letter to your boss. 

Start with the basic, legal requirements of resigning

resignation letter part 1
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Simplicity and brevity are key characteristics of a resignation letter. "It should be 100-200 words max," said Elliot.

Your first paragraph is the most critical, Vipond added. It should include your name, job title, notice of resignation, and your end date. 

If you have a contract with stipulations about your notice period, reference that in your introduction.

Here's a sample: 

Dear (boss' name),

Please accept this letter as a notice of my resignation from (your position). Per my employment contract, I am giving two weeks notice. My last day will be (two weeks from today).

Say how you'll help with the transition

resignation letter 2
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Next, explain how your transition will work.

You needn't go into great detail as you'll likely write a more substantial email about your ongoing projects before you officially sign-off, said Elliott. A high-level overview suffices and is a demonstration of goodwill.

Here is an example:

I will spend the next two weeks of my time at (company) completing all outstanding projects and ensuring that my replacement will be able to hit the ground running on day one. I'm available to aid in the transition in any other way before (last day of work).

End with saying thank you

resignation letter 3
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Expressing gratitude to your boss and the company is also a good idea.

"You don't know what the future holds and you might want to return some day," said Elliott. "It's good to end on a positive note." 

Thank them for the training, the opportunity to work with colleagues, and anything else you're grateful for. If you're so inclined, you could list some of your accomplishments.

Here is an example:

It has been a pleasure working with you and your team the past (amount of time you've been at the company). This was an incredible opportunity to build my career, and I will always cherish (two or three things you accomplished during this role). The lessons I've learned at (company), including (some skills you've learned at the job), have been valuable.

Thank you very much for the opportunities and support during my time at (company). I wish you and the team success and the best of luck, and hope we can keep in touch.

Sincerely,
(Your name)

Depending on your industry, the letter may be even shorter

resignation letter
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Special note: For some industries where employees are required to leave right away, like in banking and law firms, a brief thanks might be the only part of the letter, Vipond said.

This is all the letter needs:

Dear (boss' name),

Please accept this as a notice of resignation, effective immediately.

Thank you for all of the opportunities you've given me in my (amount of time) here.

Sincerely,

(Your name)

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Rachel is a senior features reporter at Business Insider. Rachel has reported on Bon Appétit's culture of racism, safety concerns among pilots who fly for Amazon, and the 2019 trucking "bloodbath." She has appeared on ABC News, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, France24, and other major outlets to discuss her coverage. She was a Stigler Center Journalist-in-Residence at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in the spring of 2019. Before joining Business Insider, she was a journalist in Seoul, South Korea. Her articles were published in The Washington Post, Forbes, Foreign Policy, The Ringer, Quartz, CityLab, Business of Fashion, The Verge, and others. She's also published research on the Korean and Japanese economies in SAGE Business Researcher, a business school textbook.  Originally from Metro Detroit, Rachel studied history at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her Twitter account is @rrpre If you'd like to get in touch with Rachel, please email her at rpremack@bjinnox.com or rpremack@protonmail.com
Weng is a general assignment reporter for Business Insider's strategy department.  She has covered stories on management consulting, side hustles and entrepreneurship, and recruitment trends based on interviews with HR chiefs.  She can be contacted via email at wcheong@bjinnox.com 
Rebecca Knight is a journalist who writes about all things related to the changing nature of careers and the workplace.She is a contributing columnist for Harvard Business Review and her essays and reported stories have been featured in The Boston Globe, Business Insider, The New York Times, BBC, and The Christian Science Monitor. She was shortlisted as a Reuters Institute Fellow at Oxford University in 2023. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade as an editor and reporter at the Financial Times in New York, London, and Boston.Rebecca frequently appears on national television and radio and as a moderator at conferences.Originally from Maine, she's a graduate of Wesleyan University. She lives in Boston’s South End with her family.