Resignation Letter Samples With Thank You

Woman typing on laptop — Photo:
PixelsEffect / E+ / Getty Images

When resigning from a job, it is always a good idea to leave on a positive note. After all, you might need to ask your employer for a reference or letter of recommendation in the future. One way to leave on good terms is to write a polite, professional resignation letter in which you thank your employer for your time at the company.

You also may want to send a personal letter or email to your boss. It's wise to stay connected and saying thank you for the support and leadership during your time at the company is a good way to do that.

Tips for Writing a Resignation Letter

Read below for tips on writing a resignation letter, as well as sample resignation letters.

Tell Your Boss in Person

Whenever possible, tell your boss about your plan to resign in person first. Then, follow up with an official business letter.

Choose a Letter When Possible

Send a hard copy letter (you can email as an attachment) after you speak with your boss. Send a copy to both your boss and the human resources office, so that the letter goes into your file. However, if time is of the essence, you can write an email instead. You can send the email to your boss, and carbon copy (cc) the email to human resources.

Follow Business Letter Format

Make sure to follow proper business letter format in your letter. Include a header with the employer’s name and address, the date, and your name and address. If you are sending an email, read here for tips on writing a professional email resignation letter.

State the Date

In the letter, state the specific date you plan to leave work. Try to give at least two weeks' notice. Two weeks is considered the standard amount of time for giving notice.

Note

Need to resign without giving notice? Don’t just ghost your employer. Prepare a letter of resignation and conduct yourself professionally during the transition.

Keep Your Reasons Brief

You do not have to go into detail as to your reasons for leaving. You might simply say, “I was recently offered a new position” or, even more simply, "I am writing to confirm my resignation." You may choose to provide a bit more information (for example, the name of the company or the position, or the reason you are taking this new job). However, keep the letter brief.

Stay Positive

You might need to ask your employer for a recommendation in the future. Therefore, keep it positive when you talk about your experience at the company. Don’t go into detail about how this new job is so much better than your current job. If you are leaving because you dislike the job, do not go into detail as to why you are unhappy.

Say Thank You

One way to maintain a strong relationship with your boss is to express your thanks for your time at the company. You might provide a specific example of how much your boss helped you, or why you liked the company so much. However, you can also give a more general thanks, such as “Thank you for the opportunity to work for this company.”

Offer to Help

If possible, offer to help the company during the transition period. You might volunteer to train a new employer or to help in some other way.

Provide Contact Information

Include an email address and/or phone number where you can be reached once you leave the job. You can include this information in the body of the letter or beneath your signature.

Note

Whether sending a letter or an email, you should thoroughly proofread your message before sending it. Again, you may need to ask for a recommendation from your employer, and you want all your work to be polished.

Example Resignation Letters With Thank You

Download the resignation letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Microsoft Word) or see below for more examples.

Resignation letter with a thank you — The Balance

Download the Word Template

Resignation Letter With Thank You (Text Version)

Judy Rodriguez
123 Main Street
Anytown CA 12345
555-555-5555
judy.rodriguez@email.com

April 18, 2022

Ms. Josephine Billings
Chief Executive Officer
Acme Company
456 Main St.
Philadelphia, PA 12345

Dear Ms. Billings,

This letter is to confirm my resignation as the Online Editor at Acme Company. I have accepted a position as Senior Online Editor at a growing media company in New York. I am looking forward to my new position and the challenges that await me.

My last day of work will be April 29, which provides plenty of time for me to finish ongoing projects and to turn over my position to my replacement.

You can always reach me at 555-555-5555 or judy.rodriguez@email.com. My experiences at Acme have been very rewarding. I appreciate having had the opportunity to work for such a fine company, and I wish you and the company continued success.

Sincerely,

Signature (hard copy letter)

Judy Rodriguez

Resignation Letter With Thank You and Offer to Help

John Lee
20 Chestnut St, Apt 2
Hudson River Village, NY 10700
John.Lee@email.com
718-555-3434

July 12, 2022

Marial Gomez
Senior Manager
XYZ Corp
Yonkers, NY 10400

Dear Ms. Gomez,

I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as Customer Service Manager, effective July 30, 2022.

Thank you so much for the opportunities for professional and personal development that you have provided me during the last 10 years. I will always appreciate your mentorship as I navigated my first management position.

I have appreciated working at the company and value the support provided me during my tenure with the company. I greatly enjoyed working with you and wish you well in your future endeavors.

I am also happy to provide any information or training for my replacement, if this would be useful.

You can continue to contact me at 718-555-3434 or John.Lee@email.com.

Sincerely,

Signature (hard copy letter)

John Lee

Thank-You Letter to Boss After Resignation

Review an example of a thank you letter written to a boss after an employee has resigned from a job.

Thank-You Email to Boss After Resignation

Subject Line: Thank You

Dear Sarah,

I’d like to take the time to thank you, most sincerely, for the support and the leadership you’ve given me during my tenure with ABC Organization. Resigning from our company was a momentous decision for me, attended by feelings both of excitement for the future and some sadness that I won’t be working with you and the team every day.

Thank you for always being ready to listen to and consider my opinions – your “open door” policy made me feel like a valued member of our department. I’ve always admired how you led us all by your personal example, inspiring us with your work ethic and going the extra mile to support us in our daily tasks. Your wry sense of humor and the fact that you always greeted us with your cheerful smile was an added bonus.

I’m also grateful for your recommendations to senior management that I be chosen for the various training workshops and industry conferences I’ve been privileged to attend over the years. These experiences were invaluable in enabling me to develop my professional skills and to advance to the level of responsibility I’ve enjoyed under your leadership.

I hope that we can keep in touch in the future – please give me a call or shoot me an email if you’d ever like to meet for coffee.

Thanks again,

Joe Johnson
834-555-6778
Joe.Johnson@email.com

More Resignation Letter Examples

Review more resignation letter samples for a variety of circumstances and get templates you can use to write your own letter.

Key Takeaways

When you quit a job, always write a resignation letter containing the details of your last date, your thanks for the opportunity, and an offer to help in the transition.
Give two weeks’ notice whenever possible in order to give your employer time to line up your replacement.
Use standard business letter format for your resignation letter if you send a hard copy; if you send via email, you can omit the address paragraphs.
Be sure to proofread your resignation letter to ensure that it is accurate and free of typos.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!