With a record number of 33 million Americans leaving their jobs since spring 2021, more employees are taking the steps to put themselves first. Many are wondering how to write a resignation letter and looking for a resignation letter template.
Before we dive into resignation letter templates, it is important to understand this resignation trend, also called the Great Resignation. Some employees are quitting in hopes of getting better pay while others are seeking better treatment from their employers. Not only this but working in person during the pandemic is less favorable for some. In fact, lower-wage workers — which are often younger demographics — have the highest rate of quitting.
Other names for the Great Resignation include the “Great Reshuffle” or the “Great Renegotiation,” since employees aren’t quitting the workforce entirely, but finding new jobs instead.
The cause of the Great Resignation is difficult to pinpoint, but some attribute this cultural change to a lower unemployment rate and a high number of job openings. The industries that were hit hardest by COVID-19 were foodservice and hospitality, so those fields have the largest number of open positions.
Are you looking to changes jobs or careers?
If you’re looking for remote work or work-life balance, it’s advised to write a resignation letter to notify your boss of your final day. This can ultimately help you avoid burning brides as you change from one job to another. Below, we created a step-by-step guide on how to write the perfect resignation letter.
How to Write a Resignation Letter – 5 Parts
The five things you should include in your letter are a greeting, a statement of resignation, your last day of work, your signature and contact information.
We’ve included a resignation letter template below that demonstrates how to structure your letter.
[Date]
[Manager name]
[Company name]
[Address]
Dear [Manager name],
Please accept this letter as my resignation from [company name]. My last day will be [date].
I want to thank you for the opportunity to work in this position and I will take everything I learned and use it throughout my career. I will be sure to provide the team support until my final day. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to smooth this transition.
I wish [company name] the absolute best and hope to keep in touch.
Sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Printed name]
[Contact information]
Things to Keep in Mind as you Personalize the Resignation Letter Template
Now that we covered what you should include in your letter of resignation, there is certain information to steer clear of.
Feel free to give your employer more information as to why you are resigning like receiving an offer from another company.
However, you might be met with a counteroffer in hopes that you will stay in your current job. It’s important to take into consideration your current financial situation with your employer if you do decide to stay at your job, or if you’d rather move on.
Your letter of resignation is not the time to air out your grievances about the job or the company – save this for an exit survey if this is something your company offers.
You should also avoid overexplaining your reasons for resigning or sending an unedited letter with spelling or grammatical errors. The purpose of your letter is to show your professionalism, so keep this in mind as you proceed.
In order to build bridges as you move to a different job, professionalism is key. Future jobs may require checking references, so if you leave an employer on bad terms, this can potentially affect your reference options in the future.
Another way to show a positive relationship with a previous employer is if they write you a glowing LinkedIn recommendation, which can help your chances of getting a job down the line.
How to Plan for Your Resignation
It’s important to make sure your finances are in order before you make such a huge decision to quit, especially if you don’t have a job lined up following your current one.
If your job provides retirement or health benefits, make sure you take care of such matters in your final two weeks. Also, make sure you will receive your tax documents if necessary.
You might even benefit from writing a new budget with your adjusted finances in mind or allocating an emergency fund if you will be unemployed for some time. With the cost of living rising, many employees are looking for increased hourly earnings to keep up with inflation. In fact, studies have shown that only 17% of Americans said that their pay kept up with inflation.
Finally, be sure to tell your employer of your resignation before anyone else. If you tell your coworkers before your boss, it can come off as unprofessional if word gets around. Keeping your communication professional is integral to getting recommendations from previous employers and helps you keep your network intact.
To learn more about the Great Resignation and its impact on 2022 and beyond, check out this infographic from AngelList.
This article was written by guest author, Mitali Shukla.
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