How to Write a Resignation Letter

Video Transcript

"You're ready to leave your current job and move on to the next one. My name is Wade Childress. I'm with the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast and I'm here to tell you how to write a resignation letter. The first thing is to be respectful. The next is to keep it short. You really don't need more than a sentence or two. Give appropriate notice. A lot of times that's two weeks, sometimes for jobs that's four weeks. If you have a contract read your contract and make certain it's not three months, six months or a year. Don't burn any bridges. There's really no need to say anything hateful or hurtful. This is a time for exiting. It's time to move on. It's not a time to be hurtful to the people that you've been dealing with in the past. Say thanks for the opportunity. From whatever time you've spent there you've probably learned something, you've grown, you've gained something. Say thank you for that. You never know if five years or ten years down the road you're going to be working with these people again and you want to leave them with a good impression. In general, the letter is going to be short and it's going to be sweet. You're probably going to want to also have a conversation with your boss and talk to them a little bit. The letter is just a formality, but have the conversation. Let them know what's going on and where you're going. Offer to help train the new person coming in. Give any details about your job that maybe you think that they need to know or have in writing for the next person and just in general during the last couple of weeks make sure you're real helpful with everything. My name is Wade Childress. I'm with the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast and I've told you how to write a resignation letter."