How to write a Resignation letter UK Template HOW TO WRITE A NOTICE LETTER
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With the UK economy in free fall right now and every indication from Asia that there’s more bad news ahead as China’s economy witnesses a massive fall, but somehow – just somehow – you’ve been looking for a new job found a new role and you are about to cut loose ready for the next chapter in your career.
But first things first, you still need to care of before you start telling all your soon to be (remote) ex-colleagues what you think of them (Editor’s note: please don’t actually do that, this is not actually a career advice site…).
You need to write a formal notification telling your current long suffering boss / evil genius / frenemy that you’re off-skis (career advice – always think carefully before resigning and sleep on it if something has upset you before making any decision and you may need to roll back).
Whether or not you’re leaving on good terms – and 100% you try your best – it’s common protocol to submit a work notice letter along with an exit interview, although the onus is not on you to arrange that.
You might be tempted to quickly write a quick scribble and move on, but this formal good-bye is worth further consideration.
How shall I write it?
A resignation is the act of leaving your job or current gig and a formal notice expresses your intention to leave the company you currently work for.
Should you write it?
You may need a formal how to write a resignation letter UK template example as the basis for your formal notification because it’s the professional thing to do, whether you work in an office or in a store and using a template helps you complete this simple task fast.
Please don’t overthink it, it really is easy and no-one remembers them anyway…
This officially gives notice to your boss that you’re leaving the role for pastures greener and someone else will need to be hired to replace you and take on the stuff you’ve nailed. You know, your responsibilities…
What you may need to include and how to write a resignation letter UK template guide
It should include the following:
- a statement of intent that you will be leaving
- the name of your official position / job title / future contact email address
- line manager name
- your company name
- the date of your last day
- gratitude to your employer for hiring you (always!)
- a highlight of your time spent there (nice)
- an offer to train your replacement (ahhh….)
- well wishes for the future of the company
- your contact info including email address (optional maybe not even needed in the age of linkedin…)
A work notice letter sample
If you’re not confident to write a resignation notice, adapt this sample for inspiration:
Your Name
Company name
line manager – job title
Contact number and/or email address
Ms. X X
Job title – Company name
The High St
London
Dear X,
Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as X.
My last day of employment at X will be [X date].
It has been a pleasure working with you and all the team over the last 300 hundred years.
One of the highlights of my career was working on the where we really smashed it reaching X in the charts.
I would like to help with the transition of my responsibilities so that everything runs smoothly after my departure and I have created a list on google sheets here with my suggested handover tasks
I am also available to help recruit and train my replacement should it be needed and will make sure that all reporting and records are updated before my last day of work. Also, please let me know if there are any other last duties to perform.
Thank you again for the opportunity to work for ABC Company. I wish you and all the fantastic team the best and I look forward to staying in touch with you all.
You can email me anytime at X and X
Sincerely,
name – company name
Now you have a new job secured – Get ready to resign
That’s it you’d done. It was a nice thing to do and also makes sure there is clarity on your last date. It’s also an official documentation so do it on the company time. We hoped you enjoyed our guide.
And good luck with your new job!
Following on from our last post with high profile US examples we now look at the best I’m off examples that have been made public in the United Kingdom.
Now this usually means politics so we want to hear from you which is the best….write your comment below.
A Resignation Guide in steps – How to hand in your notice letter professionally
Everyone leaves a job a some point and whether you are going travelling or are moving on to pastures new it’s a massive move for all of us.
The hard part is making the decision to move on and the actual process in leaving in a professional manner is quite straightforward so we’ve written this step guide to make sure, at least for this part, you don’t need to worry at all.
If you’ve never left your job before here’s a step guide to handing in your notice and leaving your job professionally and in a friendly positive manner to ensure you leave on good terms
New job secured – How to hand in your notice…and it’s a good idea to leave on good terms
Now you’ve decided it’s time to quit your job in 2020 there are a few things you need to do to prepare for leaving.
Simple Resignation Letter Template #1
How To Write A Resignation Letter
1. Check the formal procedure
We recommend you double check the staff handbook and also your contract to confirm your notice period and the procedure and sometimes they can differ.
2. Writing your resignation
First and foremost you have to write your notice letter.
This doesn’t have to be long, and you don’t have to go into detail about your reasons for leaving.
You should set your letter out as a formal letter as it’s usually a formality for HR and will go on your employment records, including any stated reason for leaving.
3. Handing in your notice letter or simple resignation letter
Start the letter by stating the position you’re resigning from and the date of your final day of work based on your notice period (in some countries with if two weeks but in the UK it will be in your employment contract) using our example of a notice letter UK here
Remember to include the following:
- Your Name
- Company Name
- Line Manager email address
- Your Address
- Contact Information / Email Address
- (Addressed to the appropriate person)
- Resignation date based on notice period (2 weeks+)
- Reason for leaving
- Signature
And it’s always nice to thank the boss….
4. Book the meeting
Once you feel completely ready to quit your job, request a meeting with your manager as it’s now time to hand in your letter. We recommend this is done with your line manager and not the VP of Global Whatever as it’s respectful unless you do plan to raise a grievance.
Please accept this letter….
Explain this situation to them and find out what the next steps are. You can also take this opportunity to find out what they’d like you to do in the way of handing over your responsibilities.
5. Prepare for a counter offer or immediate leave
Please accept this letter….may not quite seal it. Your manager will most likely accept your offer but they may also counter with an improved salary position or responsibility or request to delay it due to being mid project etc
It is also possible that some employers wilkl ask you to leave with immediate effect and that can be quite distressing so do make sure you’ve mentally prepared for his and tidied up any loose ends either in terms of friendships, external contacts or work load if you believe this is a likely outcome
If it does happen do not take it personally and leave gracefully as possible. Remember that the company will still have to pay you for your contractual notice period and any outstanding expenses (we always recommend you get these in before)
6. Find your perfect job
Trick step! This should be before step 1)
We highly highly recommend you secure a new role in writing before handing in your notice unless you are going travelling or leaving for non financial reasons.
No matter how good the job market is or employable you are you just can’t predict the future and for some reason finding a job while in a job is so much easier.
7. Working the Notice period, or not…
A notice period is the amount of time you have to continue in your position after you’ve handed in your simple resignation letter
In the UK the standard practice is two weeks or more. However uf your current position is affecting your health or you have another concern outside of work you should raise it with your HR team who may be able to overlook your contractual notice period or allow you to part or fully work from home once your key handover responsibilities are completed. So don’t be afraid to explain and ask.
8. Don’t abandon ship just yet
The company is still paying you and and you should be respectful to colleagues and not just dump on them and more importantly you’re likely to need a reference in the future so you should leave a professional lasting impression. And you never know how you network will be useful to you in the future too…
9. Inform your colleagues you’re leaving
Gossip happens, so control it. Once you manager is happy for you to do this. One of the best way to do this is to send a positive and professional notice via email to everyone just to let them know.
10. The Handover, before the hangover
A great way to make a final good impression after you’ve notified everyone you’re leaving is to stay professional and to write a handover document by making a list of all your responsibilities which you should ensure your manager agrees with.
This is also a great way of reducing stress, concern and usually work load as you can start handing over tasks to colleagues.
11. The Goodbye event!
A goodbye drinks (or other method) is not just a good idea and great way to say goodbye to colleagues and friends but also allows you a line in the sand to formally and officially cut loose.
Even if you are not into socialising it is also a great moment to correct any conflicts or misunderstandings you’ve had with colleagues.
Most of us develop some rivalries at work and for the vast majority of us this is not a life and death situation and often they can be personality clashes or caused by circumstances both known and unknown.
For this reason we recommend a goodbye drink to put these things to bed so you can move on with a more positive energy.
Good luck!
please accept this letter on….how to write a resignation letter
Looking for a new job? Here are some Political handing in notice letter examples
James Purnell
The open letter to Gordon Brown (ex UK Prime Minister)
I owe it to our Party to say what I believe no matter how hard that may be. I now believe your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less likely….
Caroline Flint
Former Europe Minister Caroline Flint resigned from the UK Government and her cushy role as Europe Minister in a powerful letter to Gordon Brown (then UK Prime Minister).
“I believe the achievements of the Labour Government to date have been monumental and you have played an immense part in the creation of those achievements.”
Wait for it….
“However, I am extremely disappointed at your failure to have an inclusive Government. You have a two tier Government. Your inner circle and then the remainder of Cabinet.“
Looking for a new job? Here are some US Examples
Andew Mason – Groupon
“After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I’ve decided that I’d like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding – I was fired today. If you’re wondering why… you haven’t been paying attention“
Groupon – (ex) chief executive Andrew Mason
Carol Bartz – Yahoo
“I am very sad to tell you that I’ve just been fired over the phone by Yahoo’s Chairman of the Board. It has been my pleasure to work with all of you and I wish you only the best going forward.“
How to write a Notice letter (not…) extract from (ex…) Yahoo! chief executive – Carol Bartz
Greg Smith – Goldman Sachs
Including gloves off references to “muppets”, “axes” and “hunting elephants” the headline in the New York Times was clearly titled: Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs.
Greg Smith famously announced his intentions to depart from Goldman Sachs by way of New York Times article. That must take balls…and connections…and a little bit of crazy…
“After almost 12 years at the firm — first as a summer intern while at Stanford, then in New York for 10 years, and now in London — I believe I have worked here long enough to understand the trajectory of its culture, its people and its identity. And I can honestly say that the environment now is as toxic and destructive as I have ever seen it….
Greg Smith – (ex…) Goldman Sachs
Andrew Lahde – Wealth Fund
Maybe the best is the one with the least to lose. Someone who’s made their money and doesn’t even have a media profile type job
“Goodbye and F**k You” – Open Letter
“What I have learned about the hedge fund business is that I hate it.” I could not agree more with that statement. I was in this game for the money….The low hanging fruit, i.e. idiots whose parents paid for prep school, Yale, and then the Harvard MBA, was there for the taking. These people who were (often) truly not worthy of the education they received (or supposedly received) rose to the top of companies such as AIG, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers and all levels of our government.All of this behavior supporting the Aristocracy, only ended up making it easier for me to find people stupid enough to take the other side of my trades.“
God bless America.
Wealthy fund manager Andrew Lahde
Indeed…
Some funny examples
Ed: These are not a good idea to do at all…
This Is Very Much Not An Error…
When some employees are on their way out, they might want to do something to prove that they still deserve to keep their employment and this is exactly what happened when one designer created a great example of how to write a notice letter masked as an error message.
Priceless…
While this is probably the only example on this list that isn’t a notice letter as such, it’s very clearly a statement of intent that the employee wishes to end their tenure and doesn’t give the proverbial flying… that they wish their career in retail to continue with this employee and if not, their job search will start immediately…their two week notice will not be needed!
More funny letter of notice examples
Some not so funny How to write a Notice Letter examples
We hope you liked our simple resignation letter template guide
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letter of resignation
