In this guide
Templates, checklists and worksheets
How to write a resignation letter
Check your notice terms first, then use a short resignation letter that states your last working day and offers a handover, with a filled-in example.
Check your contract before you write anything
Your contract or staff handbook usually sets the notice period and whether notice must be in writing. GOV.UK explains that in Great Britain you must give at least a week's notice if you have been in the job for more than a month, and that your contract may require more.
Find these before you resign
- Your notice period, and whether it changes with length of service.
- Whether notice must be in writing and who it goes to.
- How holiday you have not taken will be handled.
- Any terms about working for a competitor after you leave.
- Whether your new employer's offer is unconditional, or which checks are still outstanding.
What the letter needs
- A clear statement that you are resigning from your role, named by title.
- The date of the letter and your expected last working day.
- An offer to help with the handover.
- A brief thank-you, if you mean it.
[Date] Dear [manager's name], Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my role as [job title]. In line with my [length] notice period, my last working day will be [date]. I will do everything I can to make the handover smooth, including [one concrete offer, such as documenting open work]. Thank you for the support and opportunities I have had at [organisation]. Yours sincerely, [Your name]
A filled-in example
Illustrative example
Resigning with four weeks' notice
- Dear Mark, please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my role as Accounts Assistant. In line with my four-week notice period, my last working day will be Friday 30 October.
- I will document the month-end process and the open supplier queries so the handover is straightforward.
- Thank you for the support over the last three years, particularly with my qualification studies.
Telling your manager first
Most managers prefer to hear the news in a conversation rather than find a letter in their inbox. Ask for a short meeting, explain that you have accepted another role and will confirm in writing, and agree the date the letter takes effect.
If your manager makes a counter-offer, you do not need to answer in that meeting. Ask for time to consider it.
What to leave out
A resignation letter stays on your file. Keep complaints out of it: if you want to raise a concern, use the employer's formal route or an exit interview, where it can be handled properly.
Common questions
Do I have to say why I am leaving?
No. Saying you have accepted another role is enough, and many letters give no reason at all.
Can I resign by email?
Often, yes, unless your contract requires a particular form. Check the contract and keep a copy of whatever you send.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Handing in your noticeGOV.UK · Great Britain · checked 3 October 2026
- Acas: What a notice period isAcas · Great Britain · checked 3 October 2026
Drafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.