How to Resign from Work

You have been offered a new job and negotiated the details of it with your prospective employer. Now you are ready to begin the process of quitting your job with the aim of leaving your current employer on good terms. It’s important to leave a good impression when resigning from a job because you may want to work for the organisation again one day, to ensure that your reputation in your industry as a professional with integrity is preserved and you may require character and professional references from them for future employment.

We have come across many candidates who falter at the thought of knowing what to say when resigning. Here, we have shared some advice on how to resign from work whilst keeping your reputation and networks intact.

• Make sure you have your offer of employment with the new organisation in writing prior to quitting your job.
• Inform your current supervisor of your intention to leave the company.
• Write a resignation letter to your current employer before revealing your future plans to co-workers.
• In the unfortunate situation that you have decided to resign because of a disagreement or conflict at the workplace, tailor your resignation letter to acknowledge your reason for leaving.
• Remain focused on your present job until your employment contract has finished.

Your notice period

The amount of notice you need to give your employer will normally be stated in your employment contract. Check your contract to work out the timing before deciding when to announce your resignation, and the date from which it will be effective.

If you're after a suitable resignation letter format, we have included an example. Please download our resignation letter template here.