It is vital to give enough notice when resigning from a job as a professional courtesy and, in some cases, as a requirement of the company’s resignation policies. The most common notice period provided by employees is two weeks. This is because this period is usually enough to complete any pending work obligations, such as training colleagues or workers while giving your employer enough time to find a replacement and determine how to move forward in your absence.
In addition, submitting a two-week notice resignation letter ensures that your employer has an official record of your resignation and that the document goes into your file. It also helps with communicating your reasons for resignation. This article will explore what a resignation letter is and how to write one professionally.
A two-week notice resignation letter is an official document used to notify your employer of your intention to resign and the reason(s) for resigning two weeks before your last day of work. The letter also outlines an appreciation message for the time you have spent at the company and an offer to assist with the transition.
Sample Letters
When to Give Notice?
It is always considered a common courtesy to consider an appropriate notice period whenever you are resigning from a position. Therefore, you should issue the resignation letter two weeks before your last working day, especially in such a case when you have to sign your offer letter to take up another job position. This ensures your next employer is legally required to give you the job and prevents a situation where you resign from your current job only to end up unemployed.
Also, you should send the letter only after you have sorted out your finances and documentation with your current employer. Some employers may choose to terminate your employment once you send the resignation letter with a two-week notice period days before the 14-day period ends.
Reasons to Give Two Weeks Notice
One of the reasons you should send a resignation letter with notice is to wrap things up in a civilized and respectful way. Ending your tenure with the employer on good terms is an assuring way of securing a good reference or recommendation from them when you need one in the future. In addition, giving a two-week notice signifies goodwill, as it gives the employer ample time to organize tasks accordingly. This way, the letter also protects the department from any delays due to the vacancy you’ll leave behind.
A two weeks notice resignation letter also gives you enough time to fulfill any pending obligations at work, further strengthening any professional relationships you built in the company.
Pre-Resigning Factors
To make sure your resignation is smooth and compliant, you should consider all aspects of your employment that can potentially lead to complications or conflict with your employer.
Consider the following factors before handing in your resignation letter:
Employment issues
Always ensure all matters of employment are sorted out. This includes having legal assurances that the next job is yours and ensuring you have enough time to attend to essential obligations in between jobs.
Financial issues
You should make sure that your finances are in order before resigning. Always consider how your resignation will affect your ability to afford basic needs such as food, rent, and healthcare. Also, if you’ll be unemployed after, consider notifying the state.
Social issues
It would be best if you always tried to leave the social aspect of your employment on good terms. If you were to complete an essential task for a colleague, ensure that you do it before resigning. Do not leave your colleagues in a difficult position when you have enough time to complete any pending tasks before resigning.
HR issues
Before resigning, plan how you’re going to deal with the HR department. Take the remaining paid time (the 14 days), handing in company-owned property, files, and accounts. Review the clearance process guidelines, determine how long it will take, and consider this when deciding the notice period.
Life issues
It would help if you considered how resigning affects other aspects of outside work, for example, in a situation where you are working under a work permit, who should you notify of the recent changes to your employment status, and how resigning affects your pension.
Writing a Two Weeks Notice Resignation Letter
Resignation letters will often have a consistent format, regardless of the position or industry. However, when you can always use templates to write the letter, it is good to know what to include in your letter. This article will discuss the different components and steps of writing a two-week notice letter by providing a sample and breaking it down into its constituents.
SAMPLE
Dear Samantha,
I am writing to formally announce my resignation from my position as Project Manager at Bright Future Technologies, effective two weeks from today, with my last working day being March 8, 20XX. This decision comes after considerable thought about my career path and personal aspirations.
The past five years at Bright Future Technologies have been incredibly rewarding. I’ve had the privilege of working on groundbreaking projects, leading a talented team, and contributing to the company’s successes. For these opportunities, I am profoundly grateful. The experiences and skills I’ve gained here will undoubtedly play a crucial role in my professional development.
I want to assure you of my full commitment to ensuring a smooth transition. Over the next two weeks, I will complete all pending tasks, document essential processes, and assist in handing over my responsibilities. I am also available to help train my successor or facilitate in any other way to minimize the impact of my departure.
Please let me know how I can best assist during this transition period. I am eager to make this process as seamless as possible for the team and the company.
Leaving Bright Future Technologies was not an easy decision, but I am excited about the next chapter in my career. I hope to maintain the professional relationships and friendships I’ve built here. Thank you for your understanding and support during this transition.
I wish Bright Future Technologies continued success and hope to stay in touch in the future.
Sincerely,
Liam Johnson
Announce your resignation
After the salutation, you should go directly to the point and state your intention to resign. You should indicate the position you are resigning from.
State your leaving date and reasons
As indicated in the sample letter, you should indicate the last day of work. Indicate the day, month, and year. Next, briefly mention the reason for resigning.
Say thank you/express gratitude
Your letter should then include an appreciation message for your employer to thank them for allowing you to work for them, as shown in the sample. Finally, you can briefly mention what you are grateful for—it can be support, training, guidance, etc.
Offer to help/briefly mention the next steps
A resignation letter should mention the next steps to be taken after it is sent to your boss. For example, in the sample, the employee declares to continue fulfilling their assigned responsibilities and further offers their help to train the person replacing them. In addition, you should mention what you plan or are willing to do during the transition.
Conclusion (end on good terms)
You should then conclude your letter by showing goodwill. A polite conclusion is a good way of ending your employment on good terms. For example, in the sample letter, the author doesn’t make any negative statements towards their employer or colleagues but instead mentions that the employer can reach out to the employee if deemed necessary.
Sign off
Finally, you should sign off on your resignation letter by providing a formal complimentary closing, including a signature if you’re submitting a physical copy, followed by your name as shown in the sample letter.
What if your employer makes a counteroffer?
It is always good to anticipate a counteroffer from your employer, especially if you are resigning due to a better salary and benefits or a more senior position. Employers usually want to keep employees, which they consider assets of the company. Therefore, if you are offered a counteroffer, it is often a negotiation opportunity, and you can consider the advantages of staying over taking up the new job.
Sometimes, the counteroffer can be more appealing than the new job you are about to take up. However, suppose you’re leaving due to personal reasons such as poor working conditions in terms of health and safety, clashes with management, assault, etc. Then, a counteroffer may not be worth the risks, regardless of how attractive the terms are.
Two-Week Notice Resignation Letter Template
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]
[Date]
[Recipient’s Name]
[Recipient’s Title]
[Company’s Name]
[Company’s Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
I am writing to formally announce my resignation from [Your Position] at [Company’s Name], effective two weeks from today, [Last Working Day, MM/DD/YYYY]. This decision has not been an easy one and has required a great deal of consideration. However, after careful thought, I have decided to pursue an opportunity that aligns more closely with my personal and professional goals.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunities I have been given at [Company’s Name]. The experiences I have gained during my time here have been invaluable, contributing significantly to my professional growth. I am especially thankful for the support and guidance from my colleagues and the leadership team.
During the next two weeks, I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition. I am prepared to assist in any way to transfer my responsibilities appropriately. I am also willing to help train my replacement and provide all the necessary documentation and information to ensure no disruption in the workflow.
Please let me know how I can further assist during this transition period. I wish [Company’s Name] continued success and hope to maintain a positive relationship moving forward.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to be a part of [Company’s Name]. I look forward to staying in touch, and I am excited about the new direction I am taking in my career.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sample Letters
Sample 01
Dear Alexis,
I am writing to formally notify you of my resignation from my position as Senior Software Engineer at Innovatech Solutions, effective two weeks from today, March 8, 20XX. This decision was made after much consideration and reflection on my long-term career goals and personal aspirations.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunities I’ve had to grow and develop within this remarkable team over the past four years. Working at Innovatech Solutions has been a highly rewarding experience, allowing me to contribute to impactful projects and learn from some of the most talented individuals in the tech industry. I am particularly proud of our work on Project Orion, which has not only been a significant achievement for the company but also a milestone in my own career.
During the next two weeks, I am fully committed to ensuring a seamless transition. I will complete all outstanding tasks and provide comprehensive documentation on my current projects. Additionally, I am more than willing to assist in training my successor to take over my duties without any hiccups in our operations.
Please let me know how I can further support the team during this transition period. I hope to leave Innovatech Solutions on good terms, with the door open for potential future collaborations.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to be part of such a forward-thinking company. I look forward to staying connected and watching Innovatech Solutions continue to succeed in the future.
Warm regards,
Jordan Matthews
Sample (Email Format)
Subject: Resignation Notice – Emily Chen
Dear Mr. Dawson,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to formally announce my resignation from my position as Marketing Coordinator at Dawson Digital, effective two weeks from today, with my last day being March 10, 20XX. This decision has been made after considerable thought about my career path and personal goals.
Working at Dawson Digital has been a highly rewarding experience, one that has offered me significant growth and learning opportunities. I am truly grateful for the support and guidance I have received from you and the team. The experiences I’ve had here will undoubtedly influence my professional journey for years to come.
I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition over the next two weeks. I will finalize my current projects, document my work processes, and assist in any way possible to train my replacement or distribute my responsibilities among the team. Please let me know how I can best contribute to this process.
I would like to express my deepest thanks for the opportunity to be a part of Dawson Digital. I have greatly appreciated the supportive and innovative environment here and hope to maintain the professional relationships I’ve built during my time with the company.
Thank you again for everything. I look forward to staying in touch and hope to cross paths again in the future.
Best regards,
Emily Chen
Marketing Coordinator
emily.chen@email.com
555-010-0222
Analysis
Both resignation letters effectively convey the decision to leave their respective positions while expressing gratitude for the opportunities and experiences gained during their tenure. The first letter, in traditional format, maintains a professional tone and provides a personal touch by acknowledging specific projects and contributions made to the company. Jordan Matthews expresses commitment to facilitating a smooth transition and leaves the door open for potential future collaborations, demonstrating professionalism and goodwill.
On the other hand, the second letter, presented in email format, adopts a concise and direct approach while maintaining a respectful tone. Emily Chen articulates her appreciation for the support received and her commitment to ensuring a seamless transition process. The email format allows for a quick and efficient communication of the resignation, demonstrating professionalism and consideration for the recipient’s time.
Overall, both letters effectively communicate the resignation, express gratitude for the experience gained, and demonstrate a commitment to facilitating a smooth transition, thereby leaving a positive impression despite the departure.
Resignation Letter Writing Tips
To create an exceptional letter that effectively serves its purpose, you can incorporate the following tips.
Follow the business letter format
You should write the letter in business format. This requires you to include the header, salutation, body, and conclusion. In addition, the header should show your personal information, data, and employer details.
Keep it short
A resignation letter should be concise. Do not include more information than is necessary and be direct and to the point.
Be positive
Use a positive tone throughout the letter, regardless of your reasons for quitting. You shouldn’t make negative statements about your employer, company, or colleagues, even if you have misunderstandings or grudges.
Stay professional
Regardless of your relationship with your boss, manager, or supervisor to whom you’ll send the letter, always keep it professional. Do not include informal goodbyes or settle scores.
Send the letter to the right person
This letter should be addressed to the right person. Ordinarily, you should send the letter to your boss and a copy to HR.
Read letter samples
It would be best to consider reading several two-week notice resignation letter samples and using them as guides to write your letter. Then, review the different formats and structuring styles and adopt the style that best fits your company’s standard file format.
Consequences of Leaving a Job without Notice
Employees are not required by any state or federal law to issue a resignation letter. However, since companies are different, employees may be subject to company policies or contractual employment terms dictating that they submit a resignation letter. Also, resigning from a job without notice negatively impacts an employer’s impression of the employee, thus affecting your chances of getting a good reference. Therefore, references are essential in securing employment and should not be underestimated.
Frequently Asked Questions
A two-week notice signifies 14 normal days or 10 business days, both essentially two weeks in the definition.Â
Writing a two weeks notice resignation letter gives the employer ample time to look for a replacement. In addition, it allows you to have enough time to complete necessary tasks or train your replacement.Â
Yes. You are not obligated to resign with notice under any state or federal law. However, it is considered common courtesy and professional to do so.
In some cases, it is allowed, and in other situations, it is not. It is often dependent on the terms of your employment contract.  Â
You can always leave your position immediately without notice under different situations. For example, it is allowed to leave without notice whenever your stay at the company puts your health and safety at risk, in situations where you are being emotionally abused or asked to perform an unethical or illegal task. Employees can also leave without notice whenever their new employer wants them to start immediately, or they’ll give the position to someone else.
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