Whether you have a better offer to work somewhere else, or had a bad experience and want to move on, the way you handle a resignation can make or break your career and your professional reputation. Follow your employer's formal procedure to the letter, and work out any required notice with professionalism to ensure a smooth transition.^[1]

Part 1 - Notifying Your Employer

Evaluate your situation objectively 

Resigning a job is not a decision you should make impulsively. Before you notify your boss of your decision to leave, carefully weigh the pros and cons and make sure you're ready to go.^[2]

• If you have a better job offer, consider whether you really want to leave your current employment. If you like your job and the people you work with, but want better pay and more benefits, you may want to sit down with your manager and ask for a raise first.
• If you had a bad experience, such as a fight with coworkers or a disagreement with management, your impulse may be to throw your hands up in the air and say "I quit!" However, it's better for your professional reputation to work towards finding another position before you leave the one you have, then follow proper protocol to formally resign.

Provide proper notice

If you have an employee handbook, check to see how much notice your employer requires. You can also ask someone in your human resources office. The typical notice required is 2 to 4 weeks, but some companies may require a longer period.^[3]

• If you have another job offer, they should be willing to allow you to work out a notice. If not, be sure to notify your current employer as soon as possible and explain why you won't be able to work out the full notice period.

Talk to your direct supervisor first 

Once you've made your decision to resign, have a sit-down meeting with your direct supervisor and let them know of your intentions face-to-face. This can be an awkward conversation, but try to keep it brief and to the point.^[4]

• If you have an employee handbook, check that as well. There may be a formal resignation procedure laid out. If so, follow that procedure to maintain your professional reputation and stay on good terms with the company.
• Stay professional, and hold back your emotions. You may be angry or resentful, but this isn't the time to express that. If you keep the conversation as brief as possible, you can reduce the chances you'll blow up.

Negotiate your final pay and benefits

When you notify your employer of your pending resignation, either your manager or someone from human resources will be in touch with you about any accrued vacation and other benefits.^[5]

• Check your pay stub before you notify your employer so you know how many hours you're entitled to. Your employee handbook may have additional information on what happens to accrued hours when you resign.
• You typically have to provide notice before you resign to get any accrued hours paid out. If your supervisor declines your offer to work out a notice and insists that you leave immediately, double-check that this won't impact your ability to get paid out for your accrued hours.
• Discuss health insurance and retirement benefits, particularly if you haven't yet lined up a new job.

Discuss any legal issues

If you signed a non-compete agreement or nondisclosure agreement, make sure those documents won't impact your ability to accept any job offers or do certain types of work.^[6]

• If you plan to violate a non-compete agreement, you may want to consult with an employment attorney. Non-compete agreements are frequently invalidated by courts, but you need a plan in case your former employer sues you.

Part 2 - Writing Your Letter of Resignation

Format your letter as a formal business letter 

Using personal or company letterhead, address your letter to your direct manager or supervisor. Include a few paragraphs, but keep it to less than a page. Leave space for a formal closing and signature.^[7]

• Even if you're sending the letter through email, retain the formal business letter format.

State that you are resigning and when your resignation is effective 

Open your letter with a brief statement that you intend to resign your position, effective on the last day of any required notice.^[8]

• You may want to list your job title, if appropriate, or the name of the company.
• For example, you might write "I am resigning from my position as Cupcake Connoisseur, effective July 31, 2018."

Provide a simple reason for your resignation 

You may want to list the real reason you're leaving, or you can use the vague "pursuing a better opportunity." Your resignation letter is not the place to go into detail, to trash your employer, or to make threats or accusations.^[9]

• If the reason for your resignation is a neutral one (you're moving to a different state, for example, or going back to school), go ahead and state it explicitly. It can prevent rumors from spreading.
• If you have a new job, you don't have to go into detail if you don't want to. If you're going to work for a competitor, it's probably best to keep that information to yourself.

Thank your manager and the company for the opportunity

End your resignation letter on a positive note – even if you have few positive feelings for your employer. You might also note any significant accomplishments or lessons you learned along the way.^[10]

• Don't go overboard or say something you don't mean or intend to follow through with. If you had a bad experience and never want to hear from anyone in the company again after you leave, don't say you're looking forward to keeping in touch with them.

Edit your letter carefully 

Any typos or errors in your resignation letter will reflect poorly on you, and could come back to haunt you. Read through your letter several times for errors. You may also want to get a trusted friend or family member to look it over.^[11]

• Keep your language simple, professional, and unemotional. Avoid making any personal comments (positive or negative) about your manager or coworkers.

Make copies of your final letter

Depending on the size and structure of the company you're leaving, you may need to submit your letter to multiple people. You'll also want to keep one copy for your own records.^[12]

• Give the original letter to your direct manager. You may also need to give a copy of the letter to the manager of your department, or to human resources.

Part 3 - Working through Your Last Day

Maintain good work ethic through your last day

After you've submitted your resignation, you may be tempted to cruise through your last couple of weeks doing as little as possible. However, slacking off because you already have "one foot out the door" will harm your professional reputation.^[13]

• Finish any ongoing projects you have, or draft status reports so whoever takes over from you will know what's going on.
• Organize all your files and documents, if applicable, so they are easily accessible after you're gone.

Prepare your coworkers for your departure

Let your coworkers know about your resignation, and ask them what they need from you to ensure a smooth transition after you've left. Let them know how to find any documents or information on your work projects.^[14]

• If your manager has told you not to alert your coworkers of your resignation until later, follow their instructions.
• If you have direct contact with clients or customers, explain to them that you are leaving. If you know who is taking over their file when you leave, take the opportunity to introduce them to the person who will be taking care of them.
• If someone new is being hired to replace you, offer to assist with their training.^[15]

Provide feedback if requested

You may be asked to complete an exit interview. During this interview you'll be asked for constructive feedback on your experience working for the company. Take this opportunity seriously and use it to help your manager and coworkers improve their work experiences.^[16]

• Be honest and constructive in your exit interview, but stick to the facts and avoid getting emotional or making accusations. Your goal is to leave your employer in a better position, not to trash them on the way out the door.

Get a written reference letter from your direct supervisor

If you already have another position lined up, a reference letter may be the last thing on your mind. However, getting a letter now means you won't potentially have to track down your manager later.^[17]

• If you worked closely with another manager or a coworker, you might ask them for reference letters as well.

Leave up-to-date contact information with your supervisor

On your last day, make sure your manager or supervisor can get in touch with you if they need anything. You might also want to leave contact information with any coworkers with whom you want to stay in touch.^[18]

• If you have a LinkedIn account, send invitations to managers and coworkers to connect there.