You have finally decided to move on. It is time to pursue that career you always wanted, start that business you always dreamed of, or go on an extended vacation to rejuvenate your soul. All that’s left standing is for you to write the one letter to seal the deal; your resignation letter.
While this may not be the first thing you should do if you wish to quit your job (as you may want first to inform your manager in advance), you must write your resignation letter respectfully and professionally. After all, you want to leave behind a good impression on the organisation even after you have left.
Firstly, the most important thing you want to note is what is the intended outcome of your message. Essentially, you want your manager or HR to know the details of your resignation and reason for doing so. Here are the main points that you should state in your letter regardless of the situation.
These three points should be addressed in your message and ensure that any reader will be able to understand what you are trying to say.
There is no need to sugarcoat or get creative with your resignation letter because that would be sending an inappropriate message. Always think about what you want the recipient to think, feel or do.
Additionally, there is no need to elaborate on your reasons for leaving. Keep it short and straightforward, especially if your managers know your intentions in advance.
However, you should mention who or how you are handing over work that you had been working on. This gives your manager an idea on who he or she should contact if your manager wants an update on your work. The last thing you want is your employer chasing you for work-related information even after you left the company.
It is always a great idea to thank your employers or managers for their professional guidance. Even if you did not enjoy your experiences working under or with them, they would have spent a significant portion of their time recruiting or hiring you. Leave things on a good time, and if your managers still retain a good impression of you, it may open doors to new opportunities in the future.
With the points mentioned earlier, let us take a look at how a resignation letter could be written.
To: Recipient’s Address
Date
Subject: Resignation Letter
Dear Mr/Mdm ABC,
I am writing this to formally notify you that I am resigning from my position as ‘Junior Analyst’ with this organisation. My last day of employment will be on 13 June 2020.
I have decided to further my career elsewhere, and I have completed my work handover to Mr XYZ. I greatly appreciate the opportunities to have worked under your professional guidance and support. I wish you and the company success in the future.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Signature
Dear Mr Tan,
Please accept this letter as notification of my formal resignation from my position as “Marketing Executive”. My last day will be on 13 June 2020.
Thank you for granting me the opportunity to work with the team over the past three years. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to be part of the team in growing our sales steadily across the years. I have learnt a lot about marketing techniques and skills which I will undoubtedly take with me as I progress in my career.
I will be handing over my work to my colleagues; Mark and Alice over the next two weeks.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help facilitate the process.
I sincerely wish the team and organisation success in the future.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Douglas Lee
The main takeaway from the two articles is that they are short and concise. There is no need to be wordy or elaborate about your resignation unless you are talking about the handover related details.
Image Source: Pexels
The tone of your resignation letter may vary depending on your target audience, company culture and your position. Do adjust to the standards required by your organisation accordingly. While your letter may be thrown straight into the company’s archives, you can be sure that your manager, HR or employer will be impressed with the quality of your resignation letter that leaves behind an excellent impression of yourself.
The tone of your resignation letter may vary depending on your target audience, company culture and your position. Do adjust to the standards required by your organisation accordingly. While your letter may be thrown straight into the company’s archives, you can be sure that your manager, HR or employer will be impressed with the quality of your resignation letter that leaves behind an excellent impression of yourself.
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