The great resignation letter generator

Deciding to leave your job is not easy. But getting out should be. Around 25% of workers quit their jobs in 2021. And around 40% are trying to make that decision right now.  Unprecedented workforce hemorrhaging is a lingering pandemic aftershock that few employers likely saw coming. And for departing workers “the right way to resign” has become a top-of-mind career management  topic.

With emphasis on the correct resignation letter format, this blog will cover:

• The so-called Great Resignation and its impact
• The foolproof do-it-yourself way to format a letter of resignation
• Using Resume.io’s interactive resignation letter generator
• Step-by-step guide to quitting your job — before and after handing in your formatted letter of resignation

Why the heightened interest in writing and formatting a resignation letter?

Even with the easing and eventual lifting of pandemic lockdown measures, the watershed occurrence known as the Great Resignation has not subsided. It’s a time that the world will look back on as a point when workers took back control of their destiny.

Internationally, around 25% of workers quit their jobs in 2021. The same year, and persisting into 2022, the U..S. quit rate was 4 million employees per month. As of March 31, 2022, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reported a record high of 11.5 million job openings. 

And the trend continues as workers keep grappling with job departure decisions. BBC Worklife in August 2022 cited survey data  indicating that 20% of workers in 44 countries plan to leave their jobs in the next year, while the number is 30% in the U.S. and higher still in the UK.

Reasons for quitting multiplied as the pandemic dragged on. Some employees lost faith in bosses who put profit above safety or failed to reach into their pockets when times got tough. Others couldn’t face the prospect of going back to the office when things leveled out. In unprecedented circumstances, the labor force is taking unprecedented steps.

“Workers are burned out. They’re fed up. They’re fried,” says Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor. “In the wake of so much hardship, and illness and death during the past year, they’re not going to take it anymore.”

More positively, some workers quit after finding new interests, new angles, or a whole new way of life during lockdown. It has been an eye-opening period. But whatever your reason for resigning, it is important to do it right. For your dignity. For your reputation. And, indeed, to make sure that it’s actually official.  

That means writing a professional resignation letter. It’s a simple task but feels like a massive obstacle when you’ve just made the momentous decision to leave. 

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How to write a formal resignation letter

There are many reasons why you might choose to resign from your job. You may have found a better job, or you may simply feel that the job is detrimental to your mental health.

How to write and format a resignation letter

The good news is that a resignation letter does not need to be long! It’s quite alright for an official — or “formal” — resignation letter to be short and simple. Up front, it must include certain key information that the employer requires in writing to keep in your HR file. And ideally, it should include one or two more discretionary paragraphs.

Here are is the basic format for a resignation letter:

• Greeting
• Introduction
• Reason for leaving (optional)*
• Statement of gratitude
• Offer to smooth the transition
• Conclusion
• Sign-off

Now let's break down the resignation letter format into sections and briefly describe how to write each one.

Greeting

Address the recipient of your resignation letter with a formal greeting, such as “Dear [First Name]," or “Dear [Mr./Ms. Surname]," as appropriate. 

Introduction — tell the employer you are leaving, and when

This is the official part of your resignation letter, that clearly states your intention in writing. Include the phrase “Please accept this letter of resignation …” or “This is to formally give notice of my intention to resign …” along with your position title, company name and last day of work.

Thank the employer

Express gratitude for aspects of your work that were enjoyable or valuable.

Offer to help smooth the transition

Affirm your willingness to  complete outstanding assignments and otherwise assist during the handover to staff taking over your work.

Conclusion

End on an upbeat note, extending good wishes for the future.

Signing off your resignation letter

Be as informal or formal as you wish here, signing off your resignation letter with “Sincerely,” “Best,” or simply, “Thanks,” above your first name only, or first and last name.

​​Feel free to modify the wording of example below, or simply use it as a template to format your resignation letter. 

The Great Resignation letter generator

To make the writing and formatting of a resignation letter even easier, Resume.io has created an interactive tool for anyone wanting to join the Great Resignation. Simply choose your reason and leave a date where indicated below. From that, we’ll produce a free resignation letter, formatted for you to paste into your word processor of choice.

With that part done, scroll on for our step-by-step guide to handing over your resignation letter, and everything that happens before and after.

Six steps to freedom

The Covid-19 pandemic has been difficult and tragic — and "normal" remains elusive. But from all the suffering and confusion, hope and opportunity have sprung. Whether, for you, that means joining the Great Resignation or creating a better space for yourself with your present employer, think deeply about what it is that you want before you make your move.

Even if you detest your employer, consider your colleagues – all they have invested in your projects, and the workload they’ll inherit. Time your departure carefully. Plan your final weeks for a neat departure with your reputation intact. And remember your humanity. Anybody can start a new job with grace and enthusiasm – it’s how you leave a job that says more about who you are.

Resignation may feel great for some, but it’s not for everyone. In fact, those who don’t quit are in a strong position to renegotiate their role and benefits at their staff-depleted workplace.

Maybe you want the job title your colleague just left available upon quitting. Maybe you want a raise, to continue working from home, to have more responsibility, or fewer menial tasks. Maybe you’ve seen that your firm is struggling to adjust to the post-pandemic landscape — and you have some ideas to share on how to make things better for everyone. Just be careful you don’t end up inheriting your departing colleagues’ tasks without inheriting their benefits; bookmark our resignation letter generator just in case.

As executive coach Amii Barnard-Bahn says: “It’s the same pie as there’s always been, but less people around the table. So, which slice do you want?”

Stay or go; it’s time to reconsider your value to employers and your life goals as the world moves on.

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Two weeks’ notice letter: What to leave in, what to leave out

A two weeks’ notice letter of resignation is a professional courtesy and at times a contractual obligation. Here’s how to let your boss know you’re leaving without any unnecessary unpleasantness.

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Methodology & Sources

To create our resignation letter generator, Resume.io researched the most common reasons people give in their resignation letters and found tips and templates from reputable sources, including The Balance Careers, Reed, Total Jobs, Indeed, VentureBeat and The Muse.