Two Weeks’ Notice Resignation Letter (14 Examples & Samples)

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. Two weeks notice resignation letter is the most commonly observed notice period given by employees. 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 weeks’ 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 two weeks’ notice resignation letter is and how to write one professionally.

A two weeks’ 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. 

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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 prior to 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 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 weeks’ 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 a assuring way of securing a good reference or recommendation from them when you need one in the future. In addition, giving a two weeks’ 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 fulfil any pending obligations at work, further strengthening any professional relationships you built in the company. 

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 next job is yours and ensuring you have enough time to attend to essential obligations in between the 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 clear 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 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.

Resignation letter 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 weeks’ notice letter by providing a sample and breaking it down into its constituents.

Each of the following section has been discussed with reference to the sample given above.

Address the letter

As shown in the two weeks’ notice resignation letter sample, you should start your letter with a header. Provide your name, address and contact information, followed by the date and details of the recipient. The recipient can be your manager or supervisor. Write down their name, title, company name, and address information. The header should also give a formal salutation – typically “Dear Mr/Ms/Mrs” followed by the recipient’s name. 

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 resignation 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 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 your two weeks’ notice resignation letter by providing a formal complimentary close, including a signature if you’re submitting a physical copy followed by your name as shown in the sample letter.

what if your employer gives 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 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.

Template & Samples

Given below are the template and samples that you can use to write your own letter:

Download free Two Weeks Notice Resignation Letter Samples from our site:

To create an exceptional letter that effectively serves its purpose, you can incorporate the following tips.

Follow business letter format

You should write the letter using a 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 information more than necessary and be direct; 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

The resignation 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 weeks’ 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 befits your company’s standard file format.

Consequences of Leaving a Job without Notice

Employees are not required by any State or federal laws 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.

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.