What Is a Short Resignation Letter

A resignation letter is a brief document notifying your employer of your intention to resign from your position. The letter is short and may not mention why you are leaving or thank the employer. A basic letter of resignation can help keep your tone professional and prevent you from commenting about negative experiences you had on the job. It may also be useful when you have to leave your job at short notice.

1. When you don’t want to tell your employer the reason for resigning

By limiting your parting words to a few sentences, you can avoid telling your employer the reason for leaving. Whatever the reasons behind your decision, a short letter of resignation allows you to provide your employer with a notice while preserving your relationship with the company and your colleagues.

2. When you don’t want to thank the employer

It is always good to appreciate your employer for the opportunity to work with them. However, your experience on the job may suggest that the company is not deserving of your gratitude. It is better to keep your parting words brief to avoid negativity if you don’t have kind words for your soon-to-be former employer.

3. To keep the door open for future jobs

In some industries, companies have a small pool of talent for selecting employees. In such a situation, you want your resignation letter to at the minimum leave the door open for future opportunities. Using a brief resignation letter that only informs the employer of your decision to quit can help to preserve your relationship with supervisors and colleagues. That way, you have a better chance of coming back to the company when opportunities that align with your professional aspirations become available.

4. Improve your employability

Writing negative things about coworkers, managers, or your employer in a resignation letter not only hurts people’s feelings; it can also dim your career prospects. Employers and employees who feel slighted by comments in your resignation letter can spread negative news about your professional conduct. They will likely have few kind words to say about you if potential employers contact them. It is better to be brief and avoid complications that may arise from lengthy resignation letters.

Note these tips when learning how to write a short resignation letter:

Provide a minimum of two weeks’ notice

Whenever possible, give your employer at least two weeks’ notice of your intention to resign. Giving notice well ahead of time allows your employer to make preparations for finding your replacement and training the person. It also allows them to plan upcoming projects knowing that you won’t be available to handle them and make arrangements to pay outstanding remuneration and benefits due to you.

Use a business letter format

Regardless of the length, a resignation letter must have a business letter format. That means including the date, your contact information, and the employer’s contact details in the top left corner of the letter. If you are writing on paper, include a handwritten signature at the end of the letter.

Include vital details about your resignation

Your short letter of resignation needs to clearly state that you are leaving and mention your last day on the job in the first paragraph.

Be brief

Keep the resignation letter straight to the point. The most important point is to mention the day you will leave your job. When appropriate, you can mention why you are resigning. However, it is best to avoid going into more detail if the reason for leaving is negative.

Appreciate your employer

It is ideal to thank your employer for the opportunities you had while working in the company. Expressing gratitude helps end your relationship with your employer on good terms, even if your experience at the company was not the best.

Avoid negative comments about your boss or co-workers

Stay positive, polite, and professional when writing a resignation letter. Regardless of your experience, avoid including negative comments about the company and colleagues and don’t compare them to another employer.

When writing a brief resignation letter, include these important elements:

• Your contact information
• The employer’s contact information
• Date
• The date you will leave your position
• When appropriate, reasons for resigning
• Your signature (if you are writing on paper)

Example 1

Dennis Fowler

43365 Bartleby Ln

New Haven, NC 27011

 

November 2, 2020

 

Managing Director

York Farms

Paddington Creek

New Haven, NC

 

Dear Mr. Palmer,

Please accept this letter as my formal notice of resignation from my position as Administrative Manager of York Farms effective Monday, November 16th.

Thanks for the opportunities to grow and gain expert insights about the latest innovations in commercial agriculture.

Please let me know how I can assist to make this transition easier. I’ve completed most ongoing projects and already prepared detailed notes to guide my replacement.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dennis Fowler

 

Example 2

Maria Stone

3345 Hucklebeach Avenue

San Domingo, NM 44509

mariastone@email.com

 

9 November 2020

Beatrice Degea

Managing Editor

San Domingo Herald

Harbor Boulevard

San Domingo, NM 44992

 

Dear Ms. Beatrice Degea,

I am writing this letter to notify you officially of my resignation from my position with the San Domingo Herald on 5 December 2020.

Please let me know if I can be of assistance during this transition.

 

Sincerely,

 

Maria Stone