Marketing Me! How to write a resignation letter

In a world where the average worker changes jobs and careers SEVEN times, somebody somewhere is going to be putting in their notice.

Perhaps that person is you. If so, there are good ways to quit a job and bad ways to quit. The best way to quit your job is to submit a resignation letter.

A resignation letter should be your professional notice of exit from the company. Now, there are fun ways to do a resignation letter which is a future post. For now, this covers the professional way to resign in writing.

Use this format.

Date - the date the resignation letter is delivered.

Salutation - never make your salutation generic. Put the name of the person you are addressing. If there is more than one person receiving your resignation letter, put their name in a cc; field at the top of your letter.

For example:

cc: Mary Smith - Human Resources
Jerry Jones - Supervisor/Operations

To Mr. Greg Green, CEO Wally's Wonder Widgets

The resignation notice with date and specifics in the format of a notice.

Example:

Please let this letter serve as notice of my voluntary separation from Wally's Wonder Widgets..

Include a final date.

Example:

... effective June 1, 2008.

Give notice of terms..

Example:

On or before that date, I will return my laptop, company ID, company shirt and sample case of Wonder Widgets to Mary Smith in Human Resources.

Let them know where to find you and where to send your final check.

Example:

Please remit payment for all unused vacation and personal time as well my final paycheck to my home address..

Closing.

Example:

If there are any questions or other arrangements which need to be made, please let me know at your earliest convenience.

Appreciation.

Example.

Thank you for your time and the opportunity to work with you,

Your name.

Put it all together.

Final example.

April 9. 2008

cc: Mary Smith - Human Resources
Jerry Jones - Supervisor/Operations

To Mr. Greg Green, CEO Wally's Wonder Widgets


Please let this letter serve as notice of my voluntary separation from Wally's Wonder Widgets effective June 1, 2008.

On or before that date, I will return my laptop, company ID, company shirt and sample case of Wonder Widgets to Mary Smith in Human Resources.


If there are any questions or other arrangements which need to be made, please let me know at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your time and the opportunity to work with you,

Sincerely,

Your name

Keep your resignation letter short, to the point and effective. Let there be no ambiguity, remorse or vindictiveness in your correspondence. It will only come back to haunt you.

Now, if that is not of consequence.. Stay tuned for a more light hearted version later...