Free Example of Resignation Letter: 6 Templates to Copy

By Mustafa Tarabya, founder of CVBooster · Published 2026-10-07 · Updated 2026-10-07

8 min read

Here is a free example of a resignation letter you can copy today: one short paragraph saying you are resigning, your job title, your last working day, a line of thanks and an offer to help with the handover. That is all a resignation letter has to do. The one constraint is tone, because the letter goes into your personnel file and is often the last thing a future reference checker reads about you. The Alberta government's alis career site puts the purpose plainly: "Your letter of resignation formalizes your intent to leave." Below are a fill in template and six complete letters for the most common reasons people leave. Written by Mustafa Tarabya, who hired for his own company, read every application himself and now writes CVBooster's guides.

You have rehearsed the conversation in the shower, in the car and at 2am. The letter itself is the easy part, and it should be boring on purpose.

Resignation letter free samples: start with the fill in template

Copy this, replace the brackets and delete anything you do not need. Most managers read a resignation letter once, file it, and remember only whether it was polite.

Complete Template: simple resignation letter, any job example, 83 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Template: simple resignation letter, any job (83 words)

Dear [Manager's name],

Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my position as [job title] at [company name]. My last working day will be [date], two weeks from today.

Thank you for the opportunity to work here over the past [time in role]. I have learned a great deal, especially [one specific thing].

I am happy to help with the handover before I leave, including [one or two concrete tasks].

Sincerely, [Your name]

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What every resignation letter needs, and what to leave out

The alis guide lists the contents, starting with "The position you are resigning from", followed by your last day and a thank you. In practice a resignation letter needs five things:

The word resign or resignation in the first sentence, so nobody can read it as a complaint or a negotiation.
Your exact job title and the company name.
Your last working day as a date, not "in two weeks", because people count differently.
One sentence of thanks that is true.
A concrete handover offer: the tasks you will finish and who you will train.

Leave out the reasons you are unhappy, the name of your new employer if you have not told anyone, salary details and anything you would not want read aloud in a dispute. The alis guide says it better than I can: "It's never a good idea to use a resignation letter as a way to vent frustration or point fingers."

Resignation letter for a new job

The most common reason, and the easiest letter. You do not have to say where you are going. If you choose to, one sentence is enough.

Complete Entry level: retail sales associate leaving for a new job example, 87 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Entry level: retail sales associate leaving for a new job (87 words)

Dear Ms. Herrera,

Please accept this letter as my resignation from my position as Sales Associate at Oakline Outdoor. My last working day will be Saturday, November 7.

I have accepted a full time position closer to home, and it was not an easy decision. Thank you for training me on the register and for trusting me with the weekend opening shifts.

Before I leave I will finish the inventory count in footwear and show Caleb how to close out the gift card log.

Sincerely, Marisol Vega

Resignation letter when you are relocating

Relocation letters are the friendliest kind, because nobody takes them personally. Say the move, give the date and, if it is true, say you would consider working with the company again.

Complete Mid level: dental office manager relocating out of state example, 100 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Mid level: dental office manager relocating out of state (100 words)

Dear Dr. Lindqvist,

I am writing to resign from my position as Office Manager at Lakeshore Family Dentistry. My family is relocating to Denver at the end of the year, and my last working day will be Friday, December 11.

Thank you for four very good years. I am proud of the scheduling system we built together and of how the front desk team has grown.

I will document the billing and insurance follow up process, train Renee on payroll entry and stay reachable by email for two weeks after I leave if questions come up.

With thanks, Andrea Kowalski

Resignation letter for going back to school

Keep the door open. Students often return to the same employer for summer or part time work, and this letter is what HR finds when they check.

Complete Entry level: warehouse associate returning to school full time example, 83 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Entry level: warehouse associate returning to school full time (83 words)

Dear Mr. Patel,

Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as Warehouse Associate on the evening shift. I am starting a full time nursing program in January, and my last shift will be Friday, December 18.

Thank you for the flexible scheduling over the past year. It made it possible for me to finish my prerequisites.

I would be glad to work holiday or summer shifts in the future if you need extra help.

Best regards, Tyrell Simmons

Resignation letter after many years

A long tenure deserves a slightly longer letter, but not a memoir. One paragraph of thanks, one of handover, and a date.

Complete Senior level: operations supervisor leaving after eleven years example, 124 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Senior level: operations supervisor leaving after eleven years (124 words)

Dear Karen,

I am writing to formally resign from my position as Operations Supervisor at Midstate Packaging. My last working day will be Friday, January 15, which gives four weeks for the handover.

After eleven years this was a hard letter to write. I started on the line in 2015 and you gave me my first lead role two years later. Thank you for that, and for backing the safety changes on line three.

Over the next four weeks I will write up the shift scheduling process, walk Luis through the vendor contacts and the maintenance calendar, and finish the audit preparation for February. I am also happy to join a call after I leave if anything is unclear.

With real thanks, Daniel Ferreira

Short resignation letter when you want to keep it minimal

Sometimes the relationship is strained and any warmth would sound false. A minimal letter is still professional. It gives the facts and nothing else.

Complete Mid level: customer service representative, minimal letter example, 46 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Mid level: customer service representative, minimal letter (46 words)

Dear Mr. Doyle,

Please accept this letter as my resignation from my position as Customer Service Representative, effective Friday, October 30, two weeks from today.

I will complete my open tickets and update the shared notes for each account before my last day.

Regards, Simone Adeyemi

Employee resignation letter sample for HR

An employee resignation letter sample is the same letter written for the file rather than for the conversation: addressed to HR or your manager, with the date of the letter, your employee ID if your company uses one, and your last working day stated as a date. Send it after you have told your manager in person, never before. If your handbook names a person who receives notices, address it to them and copy your manager.

Complete Mid level: payroll specialist, formal letter to HR with manager copied example, 103 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Mid level: payroll specialist, formal letter to HR with manager copied (103 words)

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Dear Ms. Alvarez,

Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my position as Payroll Specialist, employee ID 40718. My last working day will be Friday, October 23, 2026.

I told my manager, Daniel Reyes, of my decision this morning, and he is copied on this letter.

Before I leave I will close the October payroll cycle, document the quarterly tax filing steps and train whoever takes over the timesheet approvals. Please let me know what you need from me for the exit process.

Thank you for four good years on this team.

Sincerely, Priya Natarajan

How to send it, and what happens to your last paycheck

Tell your manager in person or on a call first, then hand over or email the letter the same day so the date is on record. Email is fine at most US employers; the resignation email guide has the subject lines and short versions. If you want more detail on notice periods and timing, read our 2 week notice letter guide.

Your final pay is set by state law, not by your letter. The US Department of Labor explains: "Employers are not required by federal law to give former employees their final paycheck immediately. Some states, however, may require immediate payment." If you have health coverage through work, ask HR about continuation before your last day; the Department of Labor's termination page notes that some workers "have the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time."

Once the letter is sent, the next document that matters is your resume. CVBooster helps you rebuild it for the new role: you need an account, the free plan lets you fill in your resume by hand and see your ATS score and missing keywords, and the AI tailoring, templates and the finished file are Pro. If you are leaving because of your health, our resignation letter due to a health issue covers what to say and what not to.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the simplest resignation letter example?

"Please accept this letter as my resignation from my position as [job title] at [company]. My last working day will be [date]. Thank you for the opportunity, and I am happy to help with the handover." Add your name and signature. That meets every practical requirement of a resignation letter.

Do I have to give a reason in my resignation letter?

No. A resignation letter only needs your intent to resign, your job title and your last working day. You can add a general reason such as a new job, a move or school, but you never have to explain, and you should leave out complaints about the company or colleagues.

How much notice should a resignation letter give?

Two weeks is the usual courtesy in the US, though most jobs are at will and federal law does not set a notice period. Check your contract or employee handbook, because some roles ask for longer. Senior staff often give three or four weeks to allow a proper handover.

Should I print and sign my resignation letter or email it?

Either works at most employers. Email gives you a timestamp, and a signed printed copy suits a formal workplace or a manager who prefers paper. Many people tell their manager in person, then email the letter the same day and hand over a signed copy if asked.

Is a free resignation letter template good enough?

Yes, as long as you replace every placeholder, use your real last day as a date and add one specific line of thanks and one concrete handover task. Those two personal lines are what make a template read like a letter from a person rather than a form.

Looking for a worked example for your job title? Browse the resume examples by job title.

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