How to Resign From a Job in 9 Steps

Whether you’re moving on from a job for a new opportunity, a career pivot, or something more challenging like a conflict of interest with your employer, resigning can be an exciting and refreshing change. With a good resignation letter and the right approach, resigning from a job can be a simple nine-step process. Read on to learn how to resign from a job in nine steps while paving the way for your career advancement.

Step 1: Have your next steps planned

Your resignation should be thoughtfully crafted to bring maximum benefits. Even if you feel a strong urge to resign immediately, having a clear action plan in place will help you move towards your desired goal faster than if you quit first and think later.

This means considering the timing of your resignation. Are you in the middle of a project that will be beneficial to finish so you can add it to your CV? Are you making a career change that will require taking time out for training? Can you afford to resign and have a gap in employment? These are questions to consider before planning your next steps towards your resignation.

To minimise any gaps in employment or oversights in upskilling, aim to have a job lined up, interviews secured, a job search plan in place, or a skill-building course in mind. 

Step 2: Prepare a professional resignation letter

Once you are certain you're ready to resign, begin writing your resignation letter. Even if you verbally resign, a letter is essential because of the need for official documentation. Writing a letter is also a professional approach and respectful to your employer. Follow these steps when thinking about how to write a resignation letter:

a. Include your end date.

Include your last day of work to give your employer an official date to work towards and it make your intentions firm and clear. It’s best to resign in writing to mitigate potential disputes about you not working through your notice period. With this in mind, check any notice period requirements with your HR department or on your employment contract. Typically, if you’ve been in your job for over a month, you need to give at least a week's notice. You can inform your employer even earlier as a gesture of goodwill.

b. Thank your employer for the opportunity.

Maintain your professionalism by thanking your employer and showing gratitude. Even if finding positives about your job or employer feels challenging, you can still express your thanks for the opportunity. If you have had a positive experience, you can give details of what you’ve particularly enjoyed or learnt. If you want to express a reason for leaving, this is a good time to do it. However, it’s a good idea to keep things simple, ensuring a positive and professional approach that minimises any potential problems later on. Keep your message concise and maintain a professional tone.

c. Offer assistance with transition and training.

To foster a good partnership with your employer, you can offer assistance with any transition period between you and your successor. Proactively offering to help can leave a favourable impression. This may involve helping with interviews, talking the recruit through the role, or offering training.

d. Extend your well-wishes.

Finally, express well-wishes and offer to stay in touch if you would like to. Make it clear you’re open to any new opportunities in the future if this is the case.

Dear [Person Name],

I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as [Job Role] effective [date].

Thank you for all of your support and the opportunity to develop, both personally and professionally. I enjoyed my time at [company name]. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help smooth the transition.

Sincerely,

[Name]

Step 3: Resign in person

Resigning in person is good practice in addition to writing a resignation letter. This shows professionalism and integrity while ensuring your letter doesn’t come as a surprise to your manager. Resigning in person promotes clear communication and reduces the chance of any rumours or office gossip reaching your manager before your meeting.

If your manager works off-site or travels occasionally, or you work remotely, resigning in person might not be an option. In these instances, it is acceptable to pick a different means of resignation along with your letter, such as a video call or phone call.

How to quit a job over the phone

If you can’t resign in person, you can do so over the phone, particularly if you’re using a video calling feature. Carefully consider what you’ll say. Short and to the point is effective while maintaining a positive tone and professional manner. Practise and prepare for any questions that might come up.

When to resign from a job by email

Resigning by email is not recommended, as it can come across as cold or rude. Resigning in a face-to-face meeting or a call is preferable and provides an opportunity for a more open conversation between you and your employer. Emailing your manager or HR to ask for an appropriate time to call is also an option.

If you have had a bad experience with your employer, or you cannot face them in person for any reason, you could choose to email them. Write your email exactly as you would your resignation letter so that it’s an official proof of your resignation. You can also consider attaching a PDF version of a signed resignation letter to the email.

Step 4: Give adequate notice, but be prepared to leave right away

You should know your notice period and aim to meet those requirements. However, some employers may prefer to terminate your contract immediately and are within their rights to do so. This is typical in industries where contacts, files, and ideas could be easily moved to a new company. Your employer will want to avoid this from happening by limiting your time in the office and accepting your resignation.

Step 5: Make a transition plan

Along with offering to support a new employee with their transition, prepare a transition plan for yourself. This is a way to ensure your work and legacy continue. Making a transition plan also shows you have a professional attitude and dedication to your work. Such efforts keep the resignation positive and pave the way for future communication about opportunities.

A transition plan includes outlining duties and responsibilities in detail so the new employee knows what’s expected of them in their role. You’ll also detail any ongoing projects or unfinished projects so they can pick up where you left off. You may also include a list of useful contacts and significant dates the new employee might need to know.

Step 6: Save your personal files

When leaving a job, take all your personal belongings with you—or personal files—and make sure you don’t take any company property. These might include things you’ve worked on that you plan on using in a portfolio. You can also consider organising files that belong to the company in a way that is easy for your successor to use and consider any data protection policies that prevent you from taking the wrong information.

Step 7: Ask for a recommendation

Another reason for maintaining a professional attitude throughout the resignation process is that you might want to ask your employer for a recommendation. It helps to foster goodwill before asking for this favour. When requesting a formal recommendation, plan to ask someone who is familiar with your work. Specify when you need the letter and which skills or experience you’d like highlighted.

Step 8: Prepare for an exit interview

When you hand in your resignation, your employer may ask you to take part in an exit interview. These interviews are an opportunity to provide feedback you feel is important, as well as express your gratitude to your employer. Expect questions such as, “Could you share some of the reasons behind your decision to move on?” and “What did you like about working here?”

Step 9: Say farewell to your coworkers

Once you have notified your employer of your intention to leave, you can tell colleagues. Make sure your boss receives this news first; otherwise, they might find out about your impending resignation from a secondary source.

You might choose to say goodbye in person to coworkers you see frequently. You can use email to contact coworkers you see less often or who work in a different area. Keeping in touch with coworkers is useful for networking. 

What's next after resigning? Learn more on Coursera

An important part of resigning from your job is having a plan for your next steps before you give notice. Think about boosting your skills for your next role by getting a Professional Certificate on Coursera to help you become job-ready in an area of your choice.