Resignation Letter Example — How to Leave Professionally

A resignation letter isn't a farewell note — it's a formal notice, and it's best kept short, clear and unemotional. Industries are small; the manager you leave today could be your reference tomorrow, or a client at your next company. This guide gives you both the right wording and the right process.

The Ideal Resignation Letter: 4 Sentences Are Enough

Copy it, adapt it:

Dear [Manager's Name / HR],

I am writing to give notice of my resignation from my position as [job title] at [company name], with my last day to be [date] in line with my notice period. I will do everything I can to support a smooth handover of my responsibilities during this time. Thank you for the time we have worked together; I wish the company every success.

Yours sincerely,
[Full name — Signature — Date]

That's it. You don't have to give a reason; if you want to add a general phrase like "a better opportunity" or "personal reasons", keep it to a single line. Complaints, grievances, advice — none of them belong in the letter.

Notice Periods in the UK

Your notice period is set by your employment contract — read it before you write your letter. If the contract is silent, the statutory minimum applies:

• Employed under 1 month → no statutory notice required
• 1 month or more → at least 1 week's notice

In practice, most professional contracts specify longer — one month is common, and senior roles often require two or three. Whatever your contract says takes precedence, as long as it's at least the statutory minimum. Leaving without serving your notice can put you in breach of contract, so check the wording first. (For anything unusual, seek proper employment-law advice — this article is general guidance.)

The Right Process: Talk Before You Hand It In

1. Get your new offer in writing first — you don't resign on a verbal promise (offer evaluation guide).
2. Break the news to your manager face to face first — the letter isn't dropped on the desk before a conversation; a resignation heard through the grapevine burns bridges.
3. Send it from your work email and keep a copy — or hand it over in person and get an acknowledgement that it was received.
4. Offer a handover plan — the most professional look for your final weeks is a tidy handover document.

5 Critical Mistakes

1. A letter written in anger: that text stays in your file forever. If there's emotion in it, sleep on it for a night.
2. Resigning as a bargaining chip for a counter-offer: a bluff resignation, even if it works, does lasting damage to trust.
3. Announcing it early on social media: don't let your manager find out from LinkedIn.
4. Coasting through your final weeks: your reference is written from the last impression.
5. Leaving without your paperwork: don't walk out before you have your P45, your final payslip and any reference or documents you need.

You've Resigned — What's Next?

The period before you start the new job is the perfect time to update your CV and LinkedIn profile: your achievements in your last role turn into numbers most easily while your memory is fresh. For how to write them up, our personal statement examples and LinkedIn optimisation guide are ready and waiting.