How To Quit Your Job Professionally (With Examples)

There could be a number of reasons why you’re quitting your job. The most important thing about quitting your job is to make sure you do it right.

We will go over how to tell your boss your quitting, provide a resignation letter example, and tips for working your final two weeks.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s important to write a resignation letter clearly stating your intention to quit with the last day of your employment.

• During your final two-weeks, it’s important to remain professional and not burn any bridges with your supervisors or coworkers.

• Offer to help train your replacement and write down everything that you do in your job position.

How to Tell Your Boss You’re Quitting

You need to send an official resignation letter, but you should also talk to your boss in person.

When you do this, it’s important to have these things in mind:

1. Schedule a meeting. Figure out a time of day that works with your boss’ schedule and reach out to them for a one-on-one meeting.

2. Give your two weeks notice letter. If you have an employment contract that states specific rules on how to resign, adhere to those. If there’s no employment contract, use the general rule of giving two weeks’ notice.

   In any case, make sure to clearly state your last day of employment in all your communications, both verbal and written.

3. Keep it simple. It’s best to get straight to the point with conversations like this. Unless you’re open to a competing offer from your current employer, you should emphatically state that you’re quitting and leave no room for interpretation.

4. Expand on your reason(s). It’s essential to plan out what you want to give as reasons for leaving so that you don’t say something silly in the heat of the moment. Your reasons don’t have to be long-winded or complex; a simple “received an offer that better suits my career goals” is perfectly acceptable.

5. Offer to help with the transition process. After you hand in your two-weeks, offer to help with the transition process and training your replacement. If they don’t have a replacement by the time your two-weeks are up, write down a detailed list of your job requirements to help the next person out.

6. Express gratitude. Mention how the company has helped you and that you’re grateful for all that you’ve learned. Never bash your boss or talk about the company in a negative way.

7. Ask for a reference. You can feel out the conversation and determine if this is a good time to ask or later, but eventually, you want to get a reference from your boss while the idea is still fresh in their mind.

Of course, the reason you’re quitting may be because of a terrible boss who you’d rather not be in the same room with ever again. If that’s the case, it might be a better idea to have this conversation with your human resources department instead.

In any case, you’ll also need to talk to HR about other aspects of your departure. You should find out about when you’ll receive your last paycheck, any extension of benefits that will persist after you leave, being paid for unused vacation or vacation days, transferring your 401(k), etc.

What to Include in your Resignation Letter

A resignation letter is extremely important because it officially documents that you’re leaving and when you’re leaving the company. Aside from speaking with your boss in person, it’s the most professional way to quit your job.

Some things to keep in mind while writing your resignation letter:

• State the date that you’re leaving early on in your letter

• Express your thanks to the company

• Offer employer assistance as they try to replace you

• Keep it simple and brief

• Follow proper business letter format

• Provide contact information

You can also choose to include a brief reason for leaving (nothing negative), a brief outline of your workload, and/or a request for a recommendation letter.

Example Resignation Letters

1. Example resignation letter:

   Elmer Fudd
   1612 Rabbit Trail Drive
   Apex, NC 27502
   919-356-7689
   [email protected]

   3/28/2017

   Bobby Pellit
   OHS Principle
   Orange High School
   1713 Efland St.
   Efland, NC, 27243

   Dear Mr. Pellit:

   I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as an Art Teacher for the Orange County School System, effective April 17th.

   Thank you for the knowledge and opportunities that you and the school have provided to me over the past four years. I have enjoyed my time at Orange High School, and really appreciate the welcoming support you all provided from my first day on campus, to my last.

   I kindly request that you write a reference letter for me, to aid in my future endeavors.

   If I can help in any way during this transition, please let me know.

   Sincerely,

   Your Signature (hard copy letter)

   Elmer Fudd

2. Template resignation letter:

   [Your Name]
   [Your Address]
   [Your Phone Number]
   [Your Email]

   [Date Submitting]

   [Name of Supervisor]
   [Their Job Title]
   [Name of Company]
   [Company Address]

   Dear [Name of Supervisor}

   I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position [Your Job Title] for [Company Name], effective [Date of Resignation].

   Thank you for the knowledge and opportunities that you have provided to me over the past [Number of Years Employeed]. I have enjoyed my time at [Company Name], and really appreciate the welcoming support you all provided from my first day, to my last.

   I kindly request that you write a reference letter for me, to aid in my future endeavors.

   If I can help in any way during this transition, please let me know.

   Sincerely,

   [Your Signature (hard copy letter)]

3. Example resignation email:

   Dear Mr. Pellit:

   I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as an Art Teacher for the Orange County School System, effective April 17th.

   Thank you for the knowledge and opportunities that you and the school have provided to me over the past four years. I have enjoyed my time at Orange High School, and really appreciate the welcoming support you all provided from my first day on campus, to my last.

   I kindly request that you write a reference letter for me, to aid in my future endeavors.

   If I can help in any way during this transition, please let me know.

   Sincerely,

   Your Electronic Signature

   Elmer Fudd

Consider the Pros and Cons Before Quitting

Resigning from your current job should never be a hasty decision, and there’s a lot to figure out before you actually quit. The first step is to write out a physical list of the pros and cons of quitting. We have provided some example pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

• Increased Salary

• New, wonderful boss

• Better work environment)

• Hours are more flexible

• Better medical, dental, and vision coverage

Cons:

• Have to relocate and leave friends

• More responsibilities at work

• May need to travel more for meeting

• Having to buy new supplies

• Moving away from family

These are just a few pros and cons, but the idea is to take your time and list out everything you can think of.

What to do During Your Final Two Weeks

Once everyone knows about your imminent departure, you still have a couple of weeks in the office. It’s essential that you don’t get senioritis and stop being a productive employee during this time. Wrap up any projects that you can or figure out who will take over for you.

• Start taking notes on what you do every day. This document could turn out to be super useful for your replacement. You can even include advice and contacts for various issues, as well as a step-by-step guide for certain processes.

• Train your replacement. Take time to train them as best as you can. If you were helped by mentors when you first started at the company, it’s time to pay that debt. You don’t have to do a whole lot to satisfy your end of the bargain, but if you make an extra effort to leave your team in a good place, people will recognize it and respect you for it.

• Be prepared to lease ASAP. If you’re leaving your current place of employment for a competitor, you may very well be asked to leave as soon as you hand in your resignation letter and tell your boss. This is done to prevent you from taking any valuable company data with you. In this case, make sure you take steps to clear out your desk and company computer before you’ve officially resigned.

• Return company property. Don’t keep anything that’s not yours. This could include any supplies that the company has provided such as technology, company car, or anything else that has help you in your day to day process.

• Erase your work computer or laptop. Erase all of your private files and make sure to keep any contact information or anything that you might need in the future. This will be helpful to your replacement so they come into a fresh workspace.

• Say goodbye to everyone in the workplace. Don’t just ghost out on them. Even if you don’t like some of your coworkers, saying goodbye will help prevent burning any bridges and it will help maintain a professional relationship with them.

  This can also be the time you offer to be a reference for any of your coworkers and ask for any references for yourself.

Mistakes to Avoid When You Quit

1. Don’t speak negatively about anyone. There’s nothing to be gained by badmouthing any of your coworkers or supervisors on your way out the door. There’s also no reason to lay the blame for your departure at the feet of anyone else. It just makes you look petty and immature.

   Instead, stay positive about the whole experience. Whether or not you’ve enjoyed working here, you should try to make everyone feel as though you appreciated your time here.

   You don’t need to go overboard with disingenuous compliments either — neutrality works perfectly fine if you can’t muster up any positive vibes for your soon-to-be ex-colleagues.

2. Don’t brag about your new job. It’s really bad form to start talking about your much of a salary bump you’re getting or the impressive perks your new company is offering you.

   There’s really no point to this type of conversation other than to make people envious or try to get others to quit (the latter of which is actually against your non-solicitation agreement, if that’s part of your employment contract).

   If people have questions about your new job, feel free to share other details you’re comfortable sharing, like the city you’re moving to or the responsibilities at your new job, it’s A-okay to answer them. Just be sure you’re not so bubbly with enthusiasm that it’s annoying for the poor folks stuck working at your old workplace.

3. Don’t forget to say goodbye. It’s natural for people to feel a bit slighted if you leave without saying goodbye; one day you’re there, and the next you’re not. Try to give your coworkers a bit of notice (after you’ve talked to your boss and handed in your resignation letter) so that you can say proper goodbyes to everyone.

   An email to the people on the periphery of your experience is fine, but you should make an effort to personally speak with members of your team before you go. These are the people who can best speak to your professional abilities, and you never know who might be a useful reference one day.

Quitting Your Job Professionally FAQ

1. Can you quit without any notice>

   Yes, while you can quit without any notice at most jobs, it’s not recommended. Quitting without notice can be seen as unprofessional and you may not be able to use them as a reference. If you are able to stay out for the two-weeks, its a good idea to.

   If you are in a dangerous situation or are unable to give a two weeks you can quit immediately but inform your supervisor before walking out.

2. Can you just walk out of your job?

   Yes, you can just walk out of your job because your employer cannot restrain you from leaving. You can gather your personal belonging and walk out the door and not return any time you want, but doing so could result in a breach in employee contract and could result in termination.

3. What happens if you don’t work your two-weeks notice?

   Depending on your employment contract, not working your two-weeks notice can result in immediate termination. This means you you do not work your two-weeks after handing in your letter, your employer might not have to pay you for those days not worked.

   If you don’t think you can work for two-weeks after giving your notice, either don’t say you can or offer a one week notice instead so you do not breach any contracts.

Author

Hunter Joyner