No Notice Resignation Letter Examples and Writing Tips

When you resign from a job, the standard practice is to give two weeks' notice to your employer. This gives you some time to wrap up any projects and allows your employer time to plan for your replacement.

However, while you should make every effort to notify your supervisor of your resignation as soon as possible, sometimes circumstances require that you leave immediately.

If you need to leave your job right away, review advice on how to resign without providing notice, what to do before you quit, and examples of no notice resignation letters.

How to Resign Without Notice

What's the best way to resign without providing your employer with advance notice? How should you handle what could be a difficult situation when you need to resign right away? What should you do if you need to give a shorter notice than the standard two weeks most employers expect?

Once you decide to leave without notice, use this resignation letter example to inform your employer that you need to resign immediately, and will not be able to give two weeks' notice. Also, read below for tips on writing a resignation letter or email without notice.

What to Do Before You Quit

Before you turn in your resignation, check on the terms of your contract if you have one.

• Check your contract. If you have an employment contract, review the terms to be sure you comply. You are legally bound by the terms of the agreement. If you're not in compliance, you may wish to consult with an employment attorney before resigning.
• Speak to your employer first. If possible, tell your boss in person that you will be leaving the company. Then, follow up with an official business letter. Send or email a copy of the letter to your manager and to the human resources department.

Tips for Writing a Resignation Letter Without Notice 

Here are some tips on how to write a letter resigning from your job without notice.

• State the date. In the letter, include the date you plan to leave the company. If you can stay for a week or so, say so. However, if you have to leave immediately, state this clearly at the beginning of your letter.
• Don’t go into details. You do not need to give details on why you are leaving, or what you will be doing next. You want to keep your letter brief.
• Express gratitude. This is a good opportunity to express your gratitude for the time you have worked at the company.
• Keep it positive. If you are unhappy with the company, do not complain or say anything negative in your letter. You want to maintain a good relationship with the employer, especially since you might have to ask him or her for a letter of reference in the future.
• Ask any questions. If you resign without notice, be sure to clarify how your last paycheck, benefits, company equipment, and any other details regarding the termination of your employment should be handled. Your letter is a good opportunity to ask these questions.
• Provide contact information. List any non-company email address, phone number, or another form of contact information that you want to include so that your employer can get in touch with you. This is especially important if you are leaving right away.
• Follow business letter format. Use business letter format when writing your letter. If time is of the essence, you might consider sending a resignation email instead of a letter.

Immediate Resignation Letter Example

You can use this no notice resignation sample as a model. Download the template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or read the text version below.

Resignation Email With No Notice

Sending an Email Resignation Message

If you’re emailing your letter, here's how to send your email message, with what to include, proofing, double-checking that you have all the information you need, and sending a test message.

List your name and the fact that you're leaving in the subject line: Your Name - Resignation. Include your contact information (email, phone, and mailing address) in your signature under your typed name instead of in the heading of the letter.