Michael Page Logo

Main menu

  • Home
  • Jobs+

    Searching for a job?

    • Job search
    • Submit your CV
    • Career advice
    • Salary guide
    • Salary comparison tool

    Looking to return to Singapore?

    • https://www.michaelpage.com.sg/
    • Returning to Singapore

    Contracting

    • Contractors
    • FAQs for Contractors
    • View Contracting Jobs
    • How Michael Page Can Help

    Job search advice

    • Changing jobs
    • Resume and cover letter
    • Salary and negotiation
    • Interview
    • Starting out

    Search for jobs

  • Contracting
  • Recruiting+

    Looking to hire?

    • Recruitment services
    • Reasons to partner with Michael Page
    • Our sourcing methodology
    • Candidate verification
    • Management advice
    • Job Advertising: ReachTalent

    Outsourcing / Project Recruitment

    • https://www.michaelpage.com.sg/
    • About Page Outsourcing
    • Our approach
    • Our successes
    • Our team of experts
    • Our testimonials

    Ready to Recruit

    • Contact us now
    • Contact us now

    Recruitment expertise

    • Recruitment expertise
    • Banking & Financial Services
    • Construction
    • Digital
    • Engineering & Manufacturing
    • Finance & Accounting
    • Healthcare
    • Human Resources
    • Legal
    • Life Sciences
    • Marketing
    • Procurement & Supply Chain
    • Property
    • Retail
    • Sales
    • Technology
    • Executive Search

    Contracting

    • About Michael Page Contracting Services
    • Meet the Mobile Economy
    • Hiring Contractors - Free Guide
    • About Michael Page Contracting Services
    • FAQs for Employers

    ABC's of Technology

    • https://www.michaelpage.com.sg/
    • Download Humans of AI report
    • Download Humans of Blockchain report
  • Advice+

    Career advice

    • Career advice
    • Career progression
    • Changing jobs
    • Interview
    • Productivity and performance
    • Resume and cover letter
    • Salary and negotiation
    • Work-life balance

    Powering Asia's Future

    • https://www.michaelpage.com.sg/
    • Stories from 9 inspirational leaders in Asia

    Transformational Leadership

    • https://www.michaelpage.com.sg/
    • Eight Executive Trends for 2020

    Management advice

    • Management advice
    • Engagement and retention
    • Hiring
    • Leadership
    • Staff development
    • Diversity and inclusion

    Market insights

    • Employment market updates
    • Industry reports
    • The Future of Hiring

    Leading Women

    • Leading Women in Interviews
    • Leading Women in Interviews

    Most popular articles

    • Prioritising wellbeing and a positive mindset
    • How to negotiate the salary you want
    • Common interview questions
    • Virtual job interviews tips
    • Onboarding in remote teams
    • Job hunting over 50
    • Writing a resignation letter
    • Knowing how to resign and leave well
    • 8 must have qualities of an effective leader
    • Highest paying jobs in Singapore in 2021
  • About+

    About Us

    • What we do
    • Media Releases
    • Reviews
    • Awards
    • About PageGroup
  • Join PageGroup+

    Join PageGroup

    • About PageGroup
    • Why choose us?
    • Your role here
    • Use your skills
    • FAQs
    • Apply now
  • Contact+

    Contact

    • https://www.michaelpage.com.sg/
    • Find our offices
    • Looking to hire?
    • Submit your CV
    • Feedback
Sign In
Saved jobs (0)
Saved jobs (0)
Sign In
Login or Sign up
Search for a job

You are here

Home>Advice>Career Advice>Changing jobs>How to write a resignation letter

How to write a resignation letter

by Michael Page
-
19/09/2019

Whether you want a fresh start in the new year, or you’re just looking for a way to improve your life, you may be wondering if a new job is the answer. But with the exciting success of finding as new job comes the awkward task of resigning from your current position. If you’d like to keep things professional and not burn any bridges, you need to write a resignation letter.

Many people are unsure how to write a resignation letter. It’s a daunting task, so we’ve put together some useful advice on how to resign from your current employer once you’ve landed your new role. If handled properly, a well-written resignation letter can solidify a lasting relationship with your existing employer.

What should I include in my resignation letter?

Your resignation letter acts as a formal recognition of your intent to leave the company. But, it can still be used to reflect positively on you, as it will stay on file after you have departed. Resignation letters do not require a huge amount of detail, though.

You do want to include the basics – your name, the addressee, and the date. These things are typical in any letter, but it’s important to remember them. You want to formally, officially state that you’ll be terminating your employment and include your exit date. Lastly, you want to sign the document.

Also, thanking your employer is a good note to end on. This will leave a civil and professional impression throughout the resignation process.

What shouldn’t I include in my resignation letter?

As with most professional matters, it’s a good idea to check your emotions when you write a resignation letter. You do not need to explain why you’re leaving in your letter, as this could reflect badly on you. If you want to explain your reasons for finding a new position, it’s best to do it in a face-to-face meeting or exit interview. This shows tact and gives you a chance to ensure that the relationships you have are maintained.

When and how should I hand in my resignation?

Delivering your resignation news can be the most nerve-racking part of the entire process. You should communicate this once you have written confirmation of your offer from your new employer. While giving two-weeks notice is customary, it will help your current employer if you can buy more time before leaving. This gives them a longer transition period, allowing for a more thorough search for your replacement.

Usually, this is a prompted by a conversation between you and your manager, where you inform them of your intent to leave. Many employees seek new opportunities because they have had discrepancies with their current manager. If this is the case for you, then you may be expecting a difficult meeting. Keep composed and professional throughout the conversation, explaining that you are moving on to a new role and not airing any personal issues with them throughout the meeting.

Depending on your relationship with them, you can either have the letter prepared beforehand with the pertinent details, or write it up and send it to them after your meeting.

What happens afterwards?

Once the hard part’s done, you now have to serve your notice period. To preserve your professional relationships, it’s important to give 100% for the duration of your tenure. This means preparing thorough and detailed hand-off documents, being on hand to train your replacement, if able, and fully fulfilling all of your job responsibilities.

In some companies, the HR department will arrange an exit interview with you. This is a more formalized way to give feedback on your experience in your position, and to confidently bring to light any glaring issues you may have experienced. This is your chance to hopefully improve the organization for future employees. In summation, leaving a job is never not awkward, but if you simply communicate clearly and are sufficiently tactful, you can preserve your professional integrity with your old employer. If you still haven’t found that new dream job yet, browse our current job listings. If you choose to apply, one of our expert recruitment consultants will be in touch with relevant opportunities.

In summation, leaving a job is never not awkward, but if you simply communicate clearly and are sufficiently tactful, you can preserve your professional integrity with your old employer. If you still haven’t found that new dream job yet, browse our current job listings. If you choose to apply, one of our expert recruitment consultants will be in touch with relevant opportunities.

Previous article
7 trends impacting Singapore’s job outlook
by Michael Page
Read article
Next article
Diversity & Inclusion: The Importance of Work-Life Integration
by Crystal Gilliam
Read article

Join over 50,000 readers!

Kick start your success and sign up for free weekly email updates from our advice blog.

Advertise Your Role With Us

Advertise Your Role With ReachTalent

Sign up to receive job alerts

We will let you know when any new !keyword jobs are available.| We will let you know when any new !keyword jobs in !location are available. | Create an account to enable features like one click apply, and set up more than 5 job alerts

Topics

  • Career Advice
  • Management Advice
  • Market Insights

Popular Articles

Most popular articles

  • Prioritising wellbeing and a positive mindset
  • How to negotiate the salary you want
  • Common interview questions
  • Virtual job interviews tips
  • Onboarding in remote teams
  • Job hunting over 50
  • Writing a resignation letter
  • Knowing how to resign and leave well
  • 8 must have qualities of an effective leader
  • Highest paying jobs in Singapore in 2021

Tags

changing jobs
Michael Page Logo
  • Read our blogRead our blog
  • Follow us on facebookFollow us on facebook
  • Connect with us on linkedinConnect with us on linkedin
  • Watch us on youtubeWatch us on youtube

General

  • Change country/region
  • Page Personnel Singapore
  • Page Executive
  • Investor site
  • PageGroup corporate site
  • WARNING! Email security message
  • Email disclaimer
  • Feedback
  • Site terms
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy

Jobs by function

  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Digital
  • Engineering & Manufacturing
  • Executive Search
  • Finance & Accounting
  • Healthcare
  • Human Resources
  • IT
  • Legal
  • Life Sciences
  • Marketing
  • Procurement & Supply Chain
  • Property
  • Retail
  • Sales
  • Secretarial & Business Support
 

Contact

  • Feedback
  • Looking to hire?
  • Submit your CV

Our Offices

  • Raffles Place

Accreditations

ISO27001 Accreditation

© Michael Page International Pte Limited, company number 199804751N (including Page Executive (53295516A)) operating as an Employment Agency under Licence number 18S9099. Registered Office: One Raffles Place, #09-61 Office Tower Two, Singapore 048616.