How To Tell Your Boss You're Quitting

When you leave a job, it is important to maintain your professional relationships with former employers and colleagues. They could serve as a reference or lead you to another career opportunity in the future.

In this article, we discuss how you can tell your boss that you’re quitting while preserving the relationships you have worked hard to build.

How to tell your boss you’re resigning

If you follow these seven steps, you will be more likely to maintain a positive relationship with your employer and colleagues after you have left your position.

1. Request an in-person meeting

Meeting in person is good professional etiquette that allows you to have a productive discussion about your departure and how to facilitate a smooth transition. If you work remotely, request a private virtual meeting.

If you have a resignation timeline in mind, you can schedule your meeting in advance to give you and your employer enough time to prepare for your leaving. Taking time to meet in person also shows that you value your employer’s time and your experience in this position.

Related: 15 Signs It's Time To Quit Your Job

2. Outline your reasons for leaving

During your meeting with your boss, you can state the general reason why you’re leaving, but you don’t need to offer specific details. If you’re leaving to pursue other career opportunities, you can explain what you have learned with your employer that will benefit you as you enter a new job and what career opportunities the new position will offer you.

Related: Should You Quit a Job Before Finding a New One?

3. Give an appropriate two weeks’ notice

Providing two weeks’ notice is a standard professional courtesy in many workplaces. This allows you to notify your employer of your final day while giving them time to hire and train your replacement or redistribute your responsibilities among existing staff. Shorter notice periods should be reserved for situations in which your new employer needs you to start earlier or other extenuating circumstances that require you to leave before two weeks. 

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Two Weeks Notice Letter Format

1. Start by including the recipient's company and address (name optional)

2. State your resignation with the date of your last day

3. Add a statement of gratitude

4. Wrap-up with next steps

5. Close with your signature

Example reads:

Jan 5, 20XX

John Delaney

ACT LLC

123 Up Street, Columbus, Ohio 13456

Dear Mr. Delaney,

This letter is to give you two weeks' notice of my official resignation from ACT LLC. My final day as a sales associate with ACT LLC will be [two weeks from today's date].

It has been a pleasure working with ACT LLC. I appreciate the time and commitment the company has shown me in helping to develop my sales associate experience and skills.

I intend to continue providing ACT LLC with the same high-quality work from now until my last day of employment. If there is anything you need me to do during this transition time, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Smith

4. Offer to facilitate the transition

To help your employer facilitate an effective transition, you can:

• Help identify strong potential replacement candidates

• Complete as many of your current projects as possible

• Outline requirements and next steps for projects you will not be able to complete

• Train your replacement, if possible

Related: 10 Things To Do at Work After Resigning

5. Express gratitude

When you meet with your employer, it is important to express gratitude for the opportunities you have been given at the company. For example, you’ve likely developed new skills and gained professional connections in the position, both of which you can thank your employer for as you prepare to resign. This position may even be one of the reasons you received a new opportunity.

You can also thank your employer in your resignation letter—you might also consider sending a thank you note. If you worked closely with certain coworkers, you can also express your gratitude for their help and support during your time with the company through a goodbye note or email. These gestures can solidify your professional connections as you progress through your career.

Related: Guide to Thank You Notes (With Examples and Tips)

6. Provide your formal letter of resignation

It is also standard to prepare a formal resignation letter so you and your employer have an official record of your resignation. This letter should express your gratitude, identify your official last in-office day and state your indication to assist with training or preparation for your leave, if applicable. You should provide a printed copy of the letter when you attend your in-person meeting to keep your resignation as professional as possible. You can also email your resignation letter after the meeting if you're meeting virtually.

Read More: How To Write a Resignation Letter (With Samples and Tips)

Sample letter of resignation

Your formal resignation letter includes many of the same elements you use when discussing your resignation in person, such as:

• Your resignation date

• Any offers to help facilitate a smooth transition

• A declaration of your two weeks’ notice

Here is an example of how to write a letter of resignation:

Notice of Resignation: Sam Jones

Dear Jan,

I have greatly appreciated my time at ABC Incorporated these past three years, and I want to inform you that my final day will be Friday, August 16.

During my time at ABC, I have gained valuable connections and expanded my skill set, which has allowed me to grow and pursue more advanced opportunities in my career. I am very grateful for the experiences I have had here.

If I can help you in any way during this transition, please let me know. I am happy to answer questions and provide training and support over my final two weeks. I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

Sam Jones