A two-week notice letter to your employer is a standard technique to submit a formal resignation. While not legally obligatory, it is common practice to leave your work on a high note.
This notice allows your company time to recruit a suitable replacement or train another staff member to take on your responsibilities. Formalizing your resignation is a professional courtesy and, in certain situations, an obligation.
In this guide, we explain how to write a two-week notice letter and also provide templates, tips, and examples to help you get started.
What Is A Two Weeks Notice Letter?
A two-week notice letter is a document that informs your boss about your upcoming departure. When you leave your job, it is customary to give your management at least two weeks’ notice so that they can recruit a replacement or outsource your responsibilities to someone else.
It also allows you to complete any projects, train others, or create instructions for daily duties, as well as inform your colleagues of your leaving in a good and professional manner.
When you’re ready to write a two-week notice letter, refer to your employee handbook to determine who you should address and deliver it to. Some workplaces require that you give verbal notice to your boss and send a letter to human resources to maintain in your employee file.
Why Should You Write A Two Weeks Notice Letter?
As an employee, writing a two weeks letter is a reputable way of informing your manager about your plans to leave the company.
This letter helps you maintain a good connection with your former managers and colleagues, who could give you a good recommendation should you need one in the future. Human resources can also refer to your letter if a potential employer calls to verify your information.
A resignation letter or two weeks’ notice letter can also help your employer or human resources department start the exit process. They can provide financial and benefit details for your final paycheck or retirement account. A human resource representative may also conduct an exit interview with you.
Your letter also serves as an official notice of resignation. Human resources can use it to determine when they need to officially terminate your benefits and compensation.
How To Write A Two Weeks’ Notice Letter
As you begin to draft your letter of resignation, consider the following guidelines:
- Add a header: At the top of the letter, add your name, date, company, and address.
- Write a salutation: Write a simple greeting that addresses the recipient.
- State your resignation: Directly state that you are resigning from your job on a specific date.
- Provide a brief reason for resigning (optional): You can choose to explain why you’re leaving, such as moving, changing careers, or finding a new job with higher pay. If don’t feel like it, you can leave it out.
- Add a statement of gratitude: Add one or two sentences that thank the employer for the opportunity and any specific experiences you had.
- Include the next steps: Describe what you intend to complete before you leave and if you’re willing to train a new hire or another employee.
- Close with your signature: Include a brief closing, such as “Sincerely” or “Thank you,” then add your signature and printed name.
How To Leave Your Job
When you’re ready to resign, follow these steps to ensure you leave professionally:
1. Find a good time to meet with your manager
Before submitting your resignation letter, try to have a personal conversation with your manager, either in person, by phone, or via video. This is a courtesy to give them time to prepare and to thank them for their support.
Schedule the meeting at a convenient time for your manager, and have your two weeks’ notice letter ready along with notes on your current projects and how you intend to complete them before leaving. If you cannot meet with your supervisor, speak with HR.
It’s important to inform your employer promptly once you’ve decided to leave, so you can work together on an exit plan.
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2. Prepare your talking points
Talking about resigning from your job can be a difficult conversation to have. As with many difficult discussions, preparing ahead of time is a good idea. This preparation can calm your nerves and make it easier to say what you need to say.
- Be honest, but don’t go into unnecessary detail: Share as much as you’re comfortable with, but don’t feel obligated to provide detailed reasons for leaving. If you’re close to your manager, you can offer more detail in person and keep your explanation in your resignation letter brief.
- Inform them of your last day: Have a definite last working day ready to discuss with your manager. While two weeks’ notice is standard, you may need to give more notice depending on your role. Your manager might also allow you to leave sooner if needed.
- Be positive: Maintain a positive tone by thanking your employer and highlighting a few good experiences or learning opportunities. This helps keep the conversation constructive and should also be reflected in your resignation letter.
- Be prepared for pushback: If you’re a valued employee, your manager might offer incentives to keep you. Think ahead about what you’d consider staying for, but be ready to politely decline if you’re set on leaving.
3. Send an email
If you are unable to resign in person or over the phone, you may send an email instead. In this scenario, use a clear, informative subject line, keep the content of the email positive and succinct, and attach your two-week letter as a PDF.
The following is an example of a resignation email:
Subject: Resignation – Elias Morgan
Dear Mr. Marti,
Please accept this as my formal resignation from Bellaire Company. My last day will be June 15, two weeks from today. I am grateful for all of your support during my time here and sincerely appreciate all the valuable experiences I have gained. It has been a pleasure working with you and the team.
Please let me know how I can help during this transition and make it as smooth as possible. I wish you all the best.
Best wishes, and thank you for everything,
Elias
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What to do after submitting your two weeks’ notice
After submitting your two weeks’ notice letter, do the following:
- Thank the company
- Wrap up any pending projects
- Document your processes
- Help train the new employee, if applicable
- Delete personal items on work electronics
- Provide support and assistance to make the transition easier
Example of a Two weeks’ Notice Letter
Here’s a template of how a professional two weeks notice letter should be.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
[Manager’s Name]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Dear [Manager’s Name],
I am writing to formally notify you of my resignation from my position as [Your Job Title] at [Company Name], effective two weeks from today. My last working day will be [Last Working Day, typically two weeks from the date of this letter].
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working at [Company Name] and am grateful for the opportunities and support you and the team have provided. The experience and skills I have gained here have been invaluable, and I will always appreciate the guidance and mentorship I received.
During my remaining time, I will do my best to ensure a smooth transition of my responsibilities. Please let me know how I can assist in this process.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to be part of [Company Name]. I wish you and the team continued success in the future.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
FAQs On How to Write a Two (2) Weeks Notice Letter
No, you don’t need to deliver your two weeks’ notice letter in person. However, delivering it directly to your manager, or at least letting them know in advance that you plan on resigning, is the professional thing to do.
No, an employer cannot reject a two week notice. However, if you’re an at-will employee, they could terminate the contract early instead of paying you for the last two weeks.
In a remote work setting, you can customize the two weeks’ notice letter form to reflect the unique nature of your working arrangement. Provide clear communication channels and availability for any virtual handover or training sessions required to ease the transition. Make sure your contact information is up to date and declare your willingness to help remotely.
Conclusion
Leaving your present job for a new one might be a bittersweet or pleasant shift. As part of the procedure, submitting a well-written, thoughtful two-week notice letter is important. It allows you to depart on a positive note so that you may go on and start fresh with your new opportunity. And what if you need a reference or a recommendation in the future, or if you want to be recruited again? You keep the door open for that as well.
References
- tealhq.com – Ready to Resign? Write Your Two Weeks’ Notice Letter with this Easy Template
- ca.indeed.com – What You Need to Know About Your Two Weeks’ Notice Letter
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