How to resign

Before you draft your letter of resignation:

• Are you being paid enough?

• Do you get on well with your colleagues?

• Is the culture supportive?

• Is the training effective?

• Could you develop your role/be promoted?

If you answered yes to three or more of the above, you might want to reconsider your decision. If not, we’ve got some useful advice on how to resign.

Drafting a resignation letter

A resignation letter only requires:

• Your name

• Date

• Addressee

• Notice of termination of employment

• When this is effective from

• Your signature

Thanking your employer is optional, complaining is not. You should remain civil and professional throughout the resignation process. 

Delivering a resignation letter

You can arrange a meeting with your manager and tell them you’re resigning. It’s quite dramatic but they’ll ask you to put it in writing. Avoid this thunder-stealing moment by taking a letter of resignation with you.

The counter-offer

If your employer makes a counter offer, think carefully: will a pay rise or promotion make you happy? Will you feel comfortable with colleagues that know you wanted to leave?

The last days

They offered you shares and a company car but you stood firm. Make sure your boss knows how proactive you’ve been in completing your handover – they may be less ferocious when it comes to settling any outstanding salary, holiday entitlement or commission owed to you.