Sample Resignation Letter With a Reason for Leaving

A hand signing a resignation letter
Photo:

 

BeeBright/Getty Images

When the time comes to resign from your position, you’ll want to write a resignation letter that provides a valid reason for your departure in addition to thanking your employer for the opportunities you have enjoyed.

This is especially true if you’ve worked at the job for a long time and developed personal relationships, or if you have been given career development counseling and/or training, or become a respected team leader at the company.

Leaving Your Job With Diplomacy

In a work climate where people change jobs far more frequently than they did in earlier generations, it’s important to maintain a positive and supportive network of professional references—which means that you should always part ways in as professional a manner as possible, and do your best to maintain a cordial relationship with them in case you might need them to serve as a reference for you in the future. 

Before you write your resignation letter, think about how much information you want to include. Do you want to describe your new job or explain why you plan on leaving? Or do you want to keep your resignation letter short and sweet (or even maybe just send an email)? Also, keep in mind there are some things you just shouldn’t do, such as bragging about your new job or putting anything negative in writing.

Resignation Letter Examples

well-written letter of resignation will lay the groundwork for this ongoing professional relationship. Use the following resignation letters as a model when you want to thank your employer and provide a reason for your resignation.

These letters provide a format that you should customize to your own personal situation. There’s one caveat, however. Keep in mind that any time you provide a reason for resigning from a job, this reason needs to be positive and reflective of your personal desire for a career change.

Note

Your letter should never, in any way, level criticism, blame your employer’s organization for your resignation, or explicitly compare the salary or benefits promised by a new employer to those they provided you as their employee. Even if you had issues with your employer, elevate the discourse and leave on good terms. It may be important in the future.

Letter of Resignation For a New Position Example (Text Version)

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email

Date

Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

The purpose of this letter is to announce my resignation from Company Name, effective two weeks from this date.

This was not an easy decision to make, on my part. The past 10 years have been very rewarding. I've enjoyed working for you, observing how our production operations have expanded, and managing a very successful team dedicated to a quality manufactured product delivered on time.

I have accepted a position as VP, Manufacturing for Land Lubber Industries in Watertown, West Virginia. This opportunity gives me the chance to grow professionally and will allow us to relocate just a few miles from our families.

I wish you and the company all the best. I do hope our paths cross again in the future.

Sincerely,

Your Signature (hard copy letter)

Your Typed Name

Letter of Resignation Without New Position Example (Text Version)

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email

Date

Dr. John Smith
Reference Coordinator
County Library System
101 Main Street
Small Town, State Zip Code

Dear John,

I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as Reference Librarian II for the County Library System. My last day with the library will be Saturday, June 30th.

Thank you for the professional and personal development you have assisted me with over the last five years. I consider just about everyone I have met here to be friends of mine now, and I will miss you all.

However, between my teaching load and writing work, my career has taken a different direction and I feel it is time to move on to new opportunities and challenges.

Please let me know if I can help in any way to assist you in hiring and/or training my replacement before my departure.

Please keep in touch. I can be reached via email at yourname@email.com.

Sincerely,

Firstname Lastname

Was this page helpful?
Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. LeadX.org. "How To Write A Resignation Letter That Won’t Burn Bridges." Accessed Jan. 14, 2020.

  2. U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Employee Tenure in 2018." Accessed Jan. 14, 2020.

  3. Gallup. "Millennials: The Job-Hopping Generation." Accessed Jan. 14, 2020.

  4. Harvard Business Review. "How to Quit Your Job Without Burning Bridges." Accessed Jan. 14, 2020.

Related Articles