A resignation letter can be hard to write especially when you are in the middle of a transition and have a million things going on. So here is a resignation letter example or template. Feel free to copy and paste, and edit as you see fit.

I wrote this and submitted it myself when I switched jobs late last year. I was transitioning from the government consulting industry, specifically, working for Booz Allen Hamilton, to a government agency. 

At Booz Allen, there is a website (Workday) for employees where you can actually find a button to resign under your profile, under “Job Change.” I clicked on this button and uploaded the following letter when the time came to give my two weeks notice. 

Then, I also emailed my bosses and attached the same letter. Of course, before all this happened, I met with the appropriate people in person to figure out my options. More about that in a separate post. This post is about when you have decided already that you are leaving.

You probably have your next opportunity lined up. Maybe you already have a start date for your next job. And the time to spill the beans about you leaving is NOW. So you have no time to waste but also don’t want to burn any bridges whilst saying goodbye. 

I totally feel you. It feels like a mad rush to take exactly the right steps to close up here (this job) and start up there (new job). 

This is about notification, not a discussion

Keep in mind that the resignation letter is not about negotiation and further discussion, it is about notification. You are giving your two weeks notice because that is the only option left now. If you have not kept people in the loop much about your job search (this could be for good reasons like you don’t want to say anything until matters are settled with the new job) then your bosses might try to set up meetings and talk about what happened.

However, YOU might not want to discuss much further with them because you are done, leaving, and starting your next job soon. In that case, you NEED to do this step in a timely manner. Hence, it is about notification, not about dilly-dallying and taking more time. You can still set up the meetings to discuss or let them set up meetings, but the notice part must be done on time for your two weeks exit.

The point is don’t let all the stress of leaving overtake this action. You leaving is a big deal to YOU. The company gets resignation letters all the time. 

Please note that I wrote this letter once I had already gone through discussion and negotiation for more pay, etc. I tried to work things out, and when they did not work out, I wrote this letter to start the process of my exit. It felt weird but it had to be done. Slavery is over. Nobody owns you. Resign and get out. 

Resignation Letter Example

October 1, 2020

Jane Smith
Booz Allen Hamilton

Jane,
I would like to notify you that I am resigning from my position at Booz Allen effective October 15.

Thank you very much for this opportunity and the chance to learn and contribute. I have loved working at this company and would hope to remain in touch going forward.

I am accepting the government position at AFRL and starting in the new role next month. It has been a pleasure to work on the projects on your team. I will make sure to wrap up my current project with plenty of documentation for the person who might work on it next.

Sincerely yours,
Oindree Banerjee