How to write a resignation letter without burning bridges

Business Insider

A resignation letter should be quick and clear.

• A resignation letter is one of the first steps to quit your job.
• A letter of resignation gives you a paper trail to indicate your last day and how you'll help the transition.
• The letter also provides a way to thank your boss and maintain positive relations with your old company.

You've found a killer new job and it's time to bid farewell to your current gig.

First, sit down with your boss and let him or her know that you're leaving. (Here's how to do that.)

Then, it's time to put your departure in writing. Whether it was an awesome company or one that you're totally dying to leave, you'll need to write a resignation letter.

But how do you write a resignation letter? It doesn't need to be a summary of your entire employment history, job coach Lea McLeod told Business Insider's Áine Cain in 2017. "It needs to be simple, straightforward, and to the point," McLeod said.

It's really just a "formality" after you've had the initial conversation with your boss, Tim Vipond, CEO of the Corporate Finance Institute, told Business Insider.

"It would be quite awkward if you just emailed them or gave them a letter without talking to them first," Vipond said.

So, keep the letter brief. You can provide feedback on the company in a one-on-one with your boss or coworkers.

You'll need to include the following for a stress-free offboarding process:

• Your name
• Your job title
• A notice of resignation
• Your end date (usually two weeks from the date of the letter)

The following are optional, but good to include if you want to maintain the relationship with your old employer:

• Information on how you'll train or help recruit your replacement
• A thank you to your boss and the team