Professional resignation letter
A professional resignation letter is short, dated, and unambiguous. It protects you and your employer by recording the last day and notice. Use this checklist, then fill the classic letter sheet on the home page.
Classic letter format
- Header: your name and contact details
- Date of the letter
- Recipient: manager name, title, company, optional address
- Salutation (Dear Ms. Rivera, / Dear Taylor,)
- Body: resignation + last day, notice/handover, optional reason, thanks, forwarding contact
- Closing and signature
Tone checklist
- Lead with the decision and the date — do not bury the last day
- Use “I am resigning” / “Please accept this letter as notice,” not soft hedges
- Offer cooperation on handovers without over-promising unpaid overtime
- Thank the team in one or two sentences
- Proofread names, dates, and company spelling
US and Australia
US workplaces often expect about two weeks unless a contract says otherwise. In Australia, check your award, enterprise agreement, or employment contract — notice can scale with service. The template includes US and AU sample tones you can edit.
After you write it
Tell your manager first when you can, then deliver the letter or email. Keep a copy. Use Copy letter, Download .txt, or Export JSON on the template so you have a backup outside localStorage. Related: quit letter sample, examples, email guide.
Open the free fillable template, load a US or AU sample, copy or download .txt, and save a JSON backup if you need it later.
Open resignation letter templateFAQ
What makes a resignation letter look professional?
Clean letter format, a clear last day in the opening paragraph, polite but brief language, and no typos. Serif printouts and a calm email version both work if the content is clear.
Should I put a reason in a professional resignation letter?
Only if you want to. A one-line neutral reason is optional. Detailed career plans or criticism rarely belong in the letter.
Do I need a signed hard copy?
Many workplaces accept email. Some HR teams still ask for a signed PDF or printout for the file. The fillable template supports both: print a signed sheet or copy the text.