How to Write a Letter of Resignation Without Burning Bridges

Leaving a job is hard sometimes. But I have found that writing your resignation letter is something that you want to put some thought and time into. It is a reflection of your professionalism and can help you down the road (See step 1).

Instructions

1. Don't burn bridges. From experience, you NEVER know who you will encounter down the road. They might be the one that makes the decision if you get hired or they could be your new boss. I even had to be interviewed by an ex-girlfriend 10 years after we broke up!

2. Be positive. Even if it was the worst place in the world to work, find something positive about your time there.

3. If you can, find some way that you have helped the company and work that in. After all, unless you are parting company on VERY, VERY bad terms, you time there was productive and good for the company.

4. Also, find some way to leave the door open for you to possibly work there again. Or, if you don't want to work there again, a well written letter of resignation can go a long way toward getting a positive letter of recommendation from your boss or employer.

5. For the technical parts of the resignation letter, be sure that you give a specific date that will be your last day and try to work in a sentence or two about what you will try and do to help with the transition after you are gone.