ALT-1 What to Include in a Letter of Resignation
A good letter of resignation is like a break-up letter. It should be short and sweet but firm. Never forget that the point is to leave on good terms and to have something that stands as your final communication on your employee file.
The resignation letter if well-written can in fact symbolize the perfect ending to your career with the company, but if it is not properly thought out it can burn your bridges and create a damaging effect on your future career.
All this is great in abstract terms, but what do you actually say in the letter? The following tips can act as your guide to writing the best resignation letter your soon-to-be past employer will ever read.
Format the Resignation Letter Properly
The letter of resignation is a formal document and it should be laid out like one. Start you’re your contact information including your name, mailing address, phone and email. Follow with today’s date. Allow an empty line break and then start with the name and contact information of your employer. Next of course should be your salutation and the name of the person to whom the letter will be directly forwarded.
State the Effective Date of Your Resignation
The first line of the opening paragraph should state that you regret to inform them that you are resigning and the date with which this will take effect. Of course, this may have been discussed verbally but it is still necessary to put it on the record.
Include the Reason for Leaving
The middle section of your resignation letter can be dedicated to letting your employer know the reason you have decided to leave. This requires extreme tact because it is not appropriate to cite personal differences or feuds in an official letter of resignation even if these are the real reason. It is acceptable to be vague to avoid disclosing information you would prefer not to be kept on your file but always be respectful and polite.
Recount Your Positive Experiences
It is also expected that you should take the opportunity to mention some of the valuable lessons learnt during your tenure or thank the company for any contribution it made towards your personal development. Some people may have had degree programs paid for by the company or extensive training that can be transferred to other institutions. This is an appropriate time to express gratitude for these advantages.
You should never, under any circumstances use language that could be deemed as threatening or vengeful in your resignation letter because this is the communication that will be on your file for posterity. You should also never recommend changes to sound advisory in your letter because this will not bode well with those you leave behind. Try to stick to the facts and avoid going on for longer than is necessary.
Remember that you may never know when you will have to cross paths with those who will read your letter of resignation, so it pays to err on the side of safety and write one that leaves a good impression.
