One (1) Week Notice Resignation Letter Samples

When resigning from your current job position, it is always essential to provide your employer with a formal resignation letter notifying them of your intent to leave the company. Doing so ensures that you leave the organization under reasonable terms and helps strengthen your relationship with your employer, ensuring that you get good references for your future job search endeavors.

In most cases, employees are required to give their employers at least two weeks’ notice before their effective date of resignation to allow the employer time to hire and train a substitute. However, sometimes an employee may be forced to leave on short notice; thus, it is essential to know what you should do when resigning on short notice. Generally, it is advisable to provide your employer with a one-week notice resignation letter that clearly states your intent to leave within a week.

What is a One-Week/Short Notice Resignation Letter

A one-week notice resignation letter, sometimes referred to as a short notice resignation letter, is a document that acts as a formal announcement to your employer that you intend to resign from your current job position within one week of the date on which the letter is written.

This letter is most commonly used when an employee has accepted another job offer. The new employer wants them to start immediately, when an employee needs to leave their current position due to unforeseen circumstances such as an emergency or death in the family, or in cases where the current job conditions are intolerable for the employee.

The purpose of the letter is to allow employees who resign on short notice to give proper advance notice to their employers without burning any bridges at their current company.

Free Sample Letters

When it comes to resigning from your job, providing one (1) week’s notice can be a professional and courteous way to ensure a smooth transition. Crafting the letter can seem difficult, but with the help of free templates, the process becomes much easier. These templates and sample letters offer a range of formats and structures, allowing you to tailor your letter to your specific situation. By utilizing free templates, you can save time, ensure clarity in your message, and present a polished letter that reflects your professionalism.

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Writing the Short Notice Resignation Letter

To properly notify your employer of your decision to exit their company, you need to write a concise letter. The letter should be written professionally and in a formal manner. Your tone should also be positive throughout the letter. It would be best to avoid including any negative comments, regardless of your reason for leaving the job, and instead, focus only on the positive aspects of your job. Writing your letter properly will not only give you some peace of mind, but it can also help you hold on to your current position in the future if the need arises.

In this context, your letter should incorporate the following information:

Your intent to resign and the position of your job

The introductory paragraph of the letter should include a brief statement indicating your intention to leave to ensure that your employer knows the letter’s purpose immediately after they begin reading it. Besides, make sure to include your title/position in the job so that there is no confusion whatsoever.

Last day of work

Including your last working day in the letter is essential to ensuring that your employer is informed and prepared for your departure to allow for a smooth transition process. Generally, it is a great idea to include your last day of work in the first paragraph of the letter.

The reason behind your resignation

The reason behind your resignation should also be clearly stated in the letter. This is essential because it will make it easier for your employer to respond promptly. While providing the reason for your resignation, you must remain as specific as possible and give a cause based on facts.

However, make your explanations brief and avoid including too many details, especially if you are leaving due to personal reasons or reasons that are not related to the job itself. Typical reasons that may prompt an employee to resign on short notice include pursuing a different career or resigning because you have suddenly realized that you are unhappy in your current job and need to change your work environment.

Thank the employer

A short and simple thank you note can go a long way in further strengthening your professional relationship with your soon-to-be-ex-employer. As such, show gratitude for the opportunities your employer has provided you during your tenure, the experiences and skills you have acquired while working in the organization, and how these have impacted who you are in your current professional life.

Offer to help with the transition

If feasible, offer to help with the transition, mainly because you are leaving on short notice, to demonstrate your willingness to make the process as smooth as possible for everyone involved.

Concluding statement and signature

End your letter with a brief concluding statement thanking the employer for the opportunity to work with them and including a formal sign-off, then add your signature and typed name.

Short Notice Resignation Letter

The following letter template and sample serve as additional guides to help you craft your letter most professionally and appropriately.

You can use them as a reference source while writing your letter to ensure that you include all the essential details:

Analysis

These resignation letters demonstrate professionalism, gratitude, and a commitment to ensuring a smooth transition. Each letter begins with a polite expression of gratitude for the opportunities provided and a clear statement of intent to resign, along with the effective date. The authors express appreciation for their experiences and colleagues, indicating a positive relationship with the company.

Furthermore, they offer assistance in facilitating a seamless transition, whether through training replacements or completing ongoing tasks. This demonstrates a sense of responsibility and dedication to leaving the company in good standing. Additionally, they express willingness to prioritize tasks as requested, showing flexibility and cooperation.

The authors also ensure to tie up loose ends by committing to completing outstanding tasks, returning company property, and settling any obligations before departure. This reflects integrity and professionalism, leaving no loose ends for the employer to handle post-resignation.

Overall, these resignation letters are well-structured, considerate, and effectively communicate the authors’ intentions while maintaining a positive tone and professionalism throughout.

Do’s and Don’ts

To ensure that your letter effectively communicates your intent to leave graciously and in a manner that demonstrates your professionalism, there are certain things that you should consider and things that you should avoid.

The following are the standard do’s and don’ts while writing the letters:

Do’s

The things to consider while writing your letter include:

Tell your employer first

For the sake of courtesy, make it a point to inform your employer of your intent to leave before informing your colleagues or any other person within the organization. If possible, tell them in person. However, if it is not possible to schedule an in-person meeting with your employer, notify them of your decision to leave via a call or write them an official email.

Follow the business letter format

After providing your employer with a verbal, short-notice resignation, write a formal letter following the accepted business letter format. Following this format is essential because the letter is a formal business correspondence that will be permanently stored in your personnel file. As such, your letter should include the header information in the topmost part of the letter, including your contact information, the date on which the letter will be submitted, and your employer’s contact information. In addition, you should end the letter with your handwritten signature and your printed name below it.

Keep it short

Your letter should be brief, clear, and concise. Do not include too many irrelevant details because you want to express your intent to resign without rambling or disclosing too much information that could negatively ruin your reputation with the company.

Proofread and edit

Before you hand in your letter to your employer or superiors, make sure you read through it and edit it to make sure it is grammatically correct and free of any mistakes.

Maintain a formal tone

Avoid any temptations to complain about the job itself, other workers in your department, or the work environment to ensure you maintain a formal tone throughout the letter. In addition, regardless of your reasons for leaving the company, keep your emotions in check. Any emotions you show, especially if they are negative, can only give rise to unpleasant incidents and make the situation worse for everyone.

Be gracious

Be courteous and humble enough in your letter to thank the employer for the opportunities presented to you during your employment and the chance to work with them. However, avoid excessive flattery.

Keep the door to feedback open

Make sure that the letter does not shut any doors. Keep your communication lines open if there is any feedback or other information you need to communicate to your employer by including your reliable contact information.

Don’ts

Below is a detailed list of the things to avoid while writing the letter to ensure you do not burn your bridges with your former employer:

Don’t brag about your new job

Even if your new employer is a great place to work, do not discuss its advantages and benefits because it could make your employer think that you are just bragging about how you got the job. Instead, include only the most essential information accepted in the standard letters.

Don’t argue with the management

Generally, no employer will appreciate or want to hear any negative remarks or arguments from their employee. Therefore, your letter should be professional and focus only on the reasons behind your resignation, not on any reasons why you did not like the management.

Don’t quit without a warning

Although most employees may be tempted to quit without prior notice, mainly if the work environment has been stressful or unpleasant for them, you must avoid leaving without a proper warning, as this can lead to unnecessary issues. In addition, maintaining a positive relationship with your professional network is very important. As such, you should always strive to notify your employer and give them as much notice as possible to hire and train your replacement.

Conclusion

Whenever you leave your job without sufficient notice, it is essential to notify your employer in writing a week before the date you intend to go. Employees typically write a letter of resignation with one week’s notice when they must leave their job for unspecified reasons, such as family obligations or problems at work. However, your letter must not appear reluctant, accusatory, or overly negative despite these situations, because such letters may taint your reputation and make you seem like an ungrateful employee.
Thus, for your letter to remain effective, you must ensure that it is not overly emotional. Your letter should also provide a clear and quick summary of the events that have led to your decision to leave the job on short notice, your final day of employment, a thank you note, and an offer to help with the transition. By following these simple guidelines while writing your letter, you can rest assured that you will be able to leave your employer on good terms and without any guilt plaguing you because of any misunderstandings between the two of you.

About This Article

Authored by:

Zhaniece Hill

Human Resources Specialist | Masters of Business, MBA, BAS Operations Management and Supervision

Zhaniece Hill, an accomplished author, and writer, possesses an extensive 9-year journey as a seasoned Human Resources professional. With a Master's degree in Business Administration, Hill's profound insights into human capital management have been shaped by a diverse background spanning public and private sectors. Expertise in talent acquisition, onboarding, employee engagement, and benefits define Hill's remarkable HR acumen. With an unyielding focus on results, Hill's legacy is characterized by innovative HR solutions that elevate employee satisfaction, retention, and overall business performance. Continuously seeking fresh challenges, Zhaniece Hill utilizes her expertise to create a lasting impact in the realm of HR.