A clear, professional resignation letter takes about two minutes to write once you have the wording. Copy the version that fits your situation, swap in your details, and you are done. Have the conversation with your manager first; this is the written record that follows it.
Dear [Manager's name], I am writing to formally resign from my position as [job title] at [company name]. My last working day will be [date], in line with my [notice period, e.g. four weeks'] notice. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the team. I have valued the experience and the people I have worked with, and I am committed to a smooth handover. I am happy to help document my work and support the transition in any way that is useful before I leave. Please let me know how I can make the next few weeks as straightforward as possible. Kind regards, [Your name]
Replace the bracketed parts and send it the same day as your conversation. That is genuinely all a resignation letter needs.
Dear [Manager's name], Please accept this as formal notice of my resignation from my role as [job title]. My last day will be [date], in line with my notice period. Thank you for the opportunity. I will do everything I can to ensure a smooth handover before I go. Kind regards, [Your name]
[Your name] [Your address, if a printed letter] [Date] [Manager's name] [Company name] Dear [Manager's name], I am writing to give formal notice of my resignation from the position of [job title] at [company name], effective [date], in accordance with the [notice period] required under my contract. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had during my time here and for the support of the team. I am fully committed to ensuring an orderly handover of my responsibilities and will do all I can to assist during my notice period. Thank you again, and I wish the company continued success. Yours sincerely, [Your name]
For short notice, remote teams, or a difficult manager, the resignation email examples cover the wording. And the job exit checklist makes sure everything else, money, benefits, paperwork, is handled too.
A resignation letter should state clearly that you are resigning, give your intended last working day based on your notice period, thank your employer briefly, and offer to support a smooth handover. That is all it needs. You do not have to explain why you are leaving, and keeping it short and gracious is more professional than a long account.
No. You are not obliged to give a reason in a resignation letter, and most people are better off not doing so. A simple line such as deciding it is the right time to move on is enough. Save any detailed feedback for an exit interview if you choose to give it, and keep it measured even then.
Short, ideally a few short paragraphs on a single page. A resignation letter is a clear record, not an essay. State that you are resigning, your last day, a thank-you, and an offer to help with the transition, then stop. Brevity reads as confidence and professionalism.
Have the conversation with your manager first, then send the letter, by email is fine in most workplaces, the same day as a written record. In more formal settings or where your contract requires it, a signed printed letter may be expected. Either way, the live conversation comes first and the letter confirms it.