How to write a notice

If you are looking for a new role or you have landed a new opportunity and are looking to submit your resignation, you may be wondering what the formalities are or what to include in your letter of resignation. 

At Michael Page, we know that handing in your formal resignation can be stressful, that is why we want to explain how to write a notice to your business to notify them that you are leaving in a professional way.

Here’s everything you need to know about writing your notice. 

Who your notice should be addressed to?

Your notice letter should be addressed to your line manager or the head of your team, whoever you report directly to. It is important that you include the address, date, and full name of the person you are writing to. 

This letter is kept by the human resources team of the business and stored after you have left the organisation.

Who should I give my notice to?

• Once you have written your letter of resignation you should print it off, sign it. Or if you are unable to, a formal email should suffice, and pass it on to your line manager in a private meeting. 
• During your notice period, as pre-agreed in your contract of employment, it is important to remain professional.For example: 
• Do not tell others in the business before your manager
• After informing your manager, keep the correspondence private until it has been announced to the wider business by the management team
• Do not de-stabilise or slack off in your final weeks
• Create a handover document to give to your successor so the process is made smoother

When handing in your notice, it is important to remain polite and professional throughout the meeting. Despite the reasons why you are leaving the business, you should not highlight these within your resignation letter as these points can be discussed in person if needed.

Some businesses will offer you the chance to have an exit interview with them in order to talk through the reasons that you are leaving the business. Remember, you will still, in most cases, be required to work through your notice period before you officially leave the organisation. 

Therefore, having a good relationship for the remainder of your time there will be beneficial to everyone involved.

What does your notice need to include?

Your letter of resignation should include the following as a basis:

• The date
• Your current company’s address
• The full name of the person it is addressed to
• Include the date of your last day of employment (as worked out by your contract of employment and notice period agreement)
• If you want to, include a thank you to your employer for the opportunity
• Your full name
• Your written signature/or a formal email to your line manager

Here’s a resignation letter template you can use for when you want to leave your current job role. 

What next? 

If you are looking for new opportunities, submit your CV today and one of our expert consultants will be in touch when a job role matches your skillset.