by Lana Stockton

Created on: January 27, 2010   Last Updated: March 26, 2011

Your goal is to resign from the company without burning bridges. Saying the wrong thing in your resignation letter could be the first step in failing to land your next job. Keep in mind that this letter will be retained by the company for a number of years for several reasons. Some reasons are to your advantage, others are to protect the company.

1. What to include in a

resignation letter:

Stick to the bare facts. For example: On a piece of paper jot down the date and a simple statement such as, I am writing this letter to inform you of my decision to resign from (you will put the company's name here). Please accept this as my 2 week's notice as I will be leaving on (then give exact date of departure).

2. Why give 2-week's notice when resigning?

Often an employee who does not give sufficient notice is no longer eligible for re-hire. Even if you are absolutely certain you will never want to work there again, think of your future attempts at employment. When a prospective employer calls for references he would be informed you are not eligible for re-hire. Unfortunately, the reason may be left up to his imagination as he may not be told it was simply due to lack of proper notice.

3. What if the facts include a legally reprehensible reason for quitting?

Before writing the letter it would be best to consult an attorney as your letter could be used as evidence. You may wish to include the legal reason for your departure such as, no longer being able to work for the company due to safety concerns. Or due to the fact that another employee is making unwelcome advances which the company had not addressed. Maybe you have been subjected to a "hostile environment" which can include a number of unprofessional situations not being remedied by the company. But do consult an attorney before making any specific accusatory statements about the company.

4. When health is an issue

Be careful here. If you state this as a reason, it will benefit you when applying for unemployment insurance. However, when applying for another job it could work against you, perhaps making it appear you are incapable of performing the required new duties.

5. Don't burn your bridges

What if the company has done you an injustice? What if you so hate your job that you don't care what you say or what anybody thinks of you? Putting hatefulness or contempt in a resignation letter is the surest way to guarantee you will never work for that company again. You may not care at the moment, but when getting a new job seems hopeless, you may have to return to a less desirable job in order to provide the necessities for yourself and your family.

So keep it civilized. Keep it simple. And unless legally advised otherwise, burn no bridges. You never know when you may need to use that bridge again.

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