Tips For Creating An Effective Resignation Letter

You've just been offered the job of a lifetime and you find it necessary to leave your current place of employment. You have a lot of fond memories of your time here but you also recognize that it is time to move on. The change in employment may be a difficult process, but you believe it will be worth it in the end.

Your task now is to write a resignation letter. This can be particularly difficult if you've never done it before. The good news is that you can craft an effective departing letter by following a few simple steps. It's a formula you can use again and again as you progress in your career.

Be brief

Unfortunately, some of us are long-winded especially when we get in front of a computer keyboard. We're so afraid that we'll forget an important point that we pack our letters with a great deal of useless information. You need to remember that brevity is not only the soul of wit, it is also the key to writing an effective resignation letter.

Your letter should be limited to a single page. In the end, a short letter that is to-the- point will be more effective than one that goes on for pages and pages. There is no need to re-hash your entire work history in a single letter. Instead, you'll need to focus on a few key points.

Thank your employer

The first thing you should do in your resignation letter is to thank your employer. After all, no matter how negative your work experience has been, you did earn a paycheck while you were there. By thanking your employer, you show him or her that you really appreciate the efforts of management.

In addition, offering thanks to an employer is simply the polite thing to do. If you need a reference on down the road, your former employer is more likely to give you a favorable recommendation if you left the company on good terms.

Do not include a long list of grievances

A resignation letter is not the appropriate place for a recitation of grievances. If you have complaints, it is better to share them in your exit interview. In a resignation letter, your complaints can sound unduly harsh. Also, there's no opportunity for your employer to supply a rebuttal.

Include the date of your departure

Be sure to include your date of departure in your resignation letter. This helps your employer prepare for your final day of employment. It is best if you can offer your employer at least two weeks' notice. If you leave the same day you deliver your resignation letter, your employer might have a tough time forgiving you for abandoning him or her. The incident could lead to negative references on down the line.

Be courteous

Finally, your resignation letter should be courteous in tone. You want to leave your employer with a good impression. If you are rude or spiteful, your final days of employment on a given job could prove to be quite difficult..

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