Resignation Letter: 10 Sample Letters and a Free Template

What should a resignation letter include?

A resignation letter is a record, not a speech. Your employer needs the facts in writing, and you need a copy that shows when you gave notice. Include these parts:

Part	What to write
Date	The day you hand in or send the letter
Greeting	Your direct manager’s name
Resignation statement	“Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my position as [title].”
Last day	An exact date, such as Friday, October 23, 2026
Thank-you	One or two sincere sentences
Transition offer	How you will help hand off your work
Signature	Your name, plus a personal email or phone number if you are leaving soon

Leave out complaints, salary talk and anything you would not want HR to read years from now.

Letter of resignation template

Fill in the brackets, or use our two weeks notice letter generator to build a standard letter in about a minute.

[Date]

Dear [Manager’s name],

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my position as [job title] at [company]. My last day will be [weekday, month day, year].

Thank you for the opportunity to work here over the past [length of time]. I appreciate [one specific thing you valued].

Before I leave, I will [finish, document or hand off specific work]. Please let me know how else I can help.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

10 sample resignation letters

Every sample resignation letter example below uses fictional names and companies. Swap in your own details and keep yours just as short.

1. Standard resignation letter

October 9, 2026

Dear Ms. Alvarez,

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my position as Accounts Payable Specialist at Northwind Logistics. My last day will be Friday, October 23, 2026.

Thank you for the past four years. I have learned a great deal from you about month-end close and vendor relationships.

Over the next two weeks, I will document my weekly processes and help train my replacement.

Sincerely,
Priya Shah

2. Immediate resignation letter (no notice)

Use this only when you truly cannot work a notice period. Check your contract or handbook first, since some employers tie unused vacation payout to giving notice.

October 9, 2026

Dear Mr. Grant,

Please accept this letter as my resignation from my position as Sales Associate at Fourth Coffee, effective immediately. Due to circumstances that require my full attention, today will be my last day.

I am sorry for the short notice. I have left my open orders and supplier contacts in the shared drive so the team can pick them up.

Thank you for the opportunity to work here.

Sincerely,
Daniel Brooks

3. Resignation letter for health reasons

You do not need to share any medical details. If you might qualify for leave instead, ask HR before you resign. Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, eligible employees of covered employers can take up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period, including for their own serious health condition, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

October 9, 2026

Dear Ms. Chen,

Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as Office Coordinator at Contoso. For health reasons, I need to step away from work, and my last day will be Friday, October 23, 2026.

I have valued my time on this team and appreciate your understanding.

I will make sure the vendor calendar and supply orders are up to date before I leave.

Sincerely,
Maya Thompson

4. Resignation letter for relocation

October 9, 2026

Dear Mr. Okafor,

I am writing to let you know that I am resigning from my position as Customer Service Representative at Woodgrove Bank. My family is relocating to Colorado, and my last day will be Friday, November 6, 2026.

Thank you for four great years. I will miss this branch and our regular customers.

I am happy to help train my replacement and to finish the account reviews scheduled for this month.

Best regards,
Chris Walker

5. Resignation letter to return to school

October 9, 2026

Dear Ms. Reyes,

Please accept this letter as my resignation from my position as Marketing Assistant at Adventure Works. I have been accepted into a full-time graduate program that starts in January, so my last day will be Friday, December 18, 2026.

This job gave me the confidence to go back to school, and I am grateful for your support.

Before I leave, I will hand off the holiday campaign calendar and train whoever takes over social media scheduling.

Sincerely,
Elena Ruiz

6. Resignation letter for a difficult workplace

Keep it neutral. Your letter is not the place to document problems. If you are leaving because of harassment or discrimination, keep your own records and consider talking to an employment attorney first. The EEOC says you generally need to file a charge within 180 calendar days of the discrimination, extended to 300 days in some cases, according to its time limits page.

October 9, 2026

Dear Mr. Lawson,

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my position as Project Coordinator at Fabrikam. My last day will be Friday, October 23, 2026.

After careful thought, I have decided that this role is no longer the right fit for me.

I will complete my current tasks and leave written notes on every open project.

Sincerely,
Jamal Carter

7. Part-time job resignation letter

October 9, 2026

Dear Ms. Patel,

Please accept this letter as my two weeks notice. I am resigning from my part-time position as Cashier at Harborview Grocery, and my last shift will be Sunday, October 25, 2026.

I will work all my scheduled shifts until then. Thank you for working around my class schedule this year.

Sincerely,
Hannah Kim

8. Nurse resignation letter

Nurses often give more than two weeks so the unit can cover the schedule. Work every shift you are assigned through your last day, and check your contract for a required notice period.

October 9, 2026

Dear Ms. Donovan,

Please accept this letter as my resignation from my position as Registered Nurse on the 4 West medical-surgical unit at Lakeview Medical Center. My last scheduled shift will be Saturday, November 7, 2026.

Thank you for your leadership and for the mentoring I received as a newer nurse. I am proud of the care this team provides.

I will complete all my scheduled shifts and am happy to help orient a new hire before I leave.

Sincerely,
Luis Romero, RN

9. Teacher resignation letter (end of school year)

Address it to your principal and copy HR or the superintendent if district policy asks. Check your contract for a resignation deadline before you send it.

March 15, 2027

Dear Dr. Simmons,

Please accept this letter as my resignation from my position as Fourth Grade Teacher at Cedar Grove Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2026-27 school year on June 4, 2027.

Thank you for five rewarding years. Teaching at Cedar Grove has shaped me as an educator, and I will miss my colleagues and students.

I will finish the school year fully committed to my class and will leave organized lesson plans and student notes for my successor.

Sincerely,
Grace Bennett

10. Resignation email sample

Use a subject line your manager cannot miss. Our guide on how to end an email professionally covers sign-offs if you want something other than “Best regards.”

Subject: Resignation, Ryan Foster, last day October 30

Hi Monica,

As we discussed this morning, I am resigning from my position as IT Support Specialist at Litware. My last day will be Friday, October 30, 2026.

Thank you for the support and training over the past two years. I have enjoyed working with you and the team.

I will write up my open tickets and admin procedures by next Friday and can walk my replacement through them.

Best regards,
Ryan Foster
(512) 555-0119
ryan.foster@example.com

How do you deliver a resignation letter?

Check your contract or handbook for notice rules, who receives resignations and any link between notice and vacation payout.
Tell your manager first. Ask for a short private meeting or a call. Your manager should not hear it from a coworker.
Hand over or send the letter right away. Bring a printed, signed copy to an in-person meeting, or email it right after a call.
Copy HR if required. Many companies want resignations sent to HR as well as your manager.
Keep a copy of the letter and the date you sent it.

Your situation	Best delivery
You work on-site with your manager	Tell them in person, then hand over a printed letter
You work remotely or hybrid	Video or phone call, then email the letter
Your manager is unreachable for days	Email the letter and copy HR, then follow up when they are back
You work shifts with a rotating supervisor	Tell the store or unit manager, then give the letter to them and HR

If you want help with the conversation itself, our guide on how to quit your job includes a word-for-word script. Your manager may ask why you are leaving, so prepare one honest, positive answer using our reasons for leaving a job examples.

How much notice do you need to resign?

Two weeks is the standard courtesy for most US jobs. It is not a federal requirement. Most US jobs are at-will, meaning either side can generally end the relationship, as a Bureau of Labor Statistics review of the at-will doctrine explains. The Department of Labor notes that most terminations are subject only to any private contract or labor contract between employer and employee.

More notice can make sense when:

You signed a contract or are covered by a union agreement that sets a notice period.
You lead a team or hold a hard-to-fill role, where three or four weeks makes the handoff easier.
You work in schools or health care, where schedules and staffing are planned far ahead.
You are retiring. Our retirement letter samples cover longer notice periods.

If your contract terms are unclear, ask HR or an employment attorney before you resign.

What should you leave out of a resignation letter?

Complaints about people or pay. Raise concerns in an exit interview, calmly, if at all.
Medical, family or financial details. “Personal reasons” or “health reasons” is enough.
Your new salary or employer, unless you want to share it.
Promises you cannot keep, such as being available every evening after you leave.
Emotional apologies. One “thank you for understanding” is plenty.

Once your letter is in, update your resume while your results are fresh. Our guide on how to update your resume walks you through it.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a resignation letter be?

One page or less. Most good resignation letters are three short paragraphs: the announcement with your last day, a thank-you, and an offer to help with the transition. Anything longer usually belongs in a conversation, not in your file.

Can I resign by email?

Yes. Resigning by email is common, especially for remote and hybrid jobs. Tell your manager first if you can, then send the email with a clear subject line and copy HR if your handbook asks you to.

Do I have to give a reason in my resignation letter?

No. A sentence such as "I have accepted another position" or "for personal reasons" is plenty, and you can leave the reason out entirely. Share more detail in conversation or in an exit interview if you choose.

Can my employer refuse my resignation?

In an at-will job, resigning is your decision and does not need approval. Your employer can, however, decide to make your last day earlier than the date in your letter. If you signed a contract or are covered by a union agreement, check its notice terms.

What is the difference between a resignation letter and a two weeks notice?

A two weeks notice is a resignation letter that gives about two weeks before your last day. Resignation letter is the broader term for any written notice that you are leaving, whether you give no notice, two weeks or several months.