12 min read

The Best Way to Write a Two Weeks' Notice Letter

Kevin Jusino

November 20, 2022

What you'll learn

What you'll need

If you just got hired at a new company, you’re probably excited to get started!

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However, before you can move on to your new role, you need to resign from your current position. To do this, you’ll need to provide your current employer with a two weeks’ notice letter.

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So, what exactly is this crucial piece of business correspondence?

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In short, a two weeks’ notice letter is the formal document you write for an employer notifying them of your plan to resign two weeks from its delivery. This is a document you would send after a job complaint letter if you’ve decided to end your relationship with your employer.

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Though it sounds simple enough, getting around to writing this notice can be daunting if you aren’t sure how to start. Fortunately, we’re here to help make your transition to your new position as easy as possible.

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Whether you’re a part-time employee or a full-time social media manager at a giant corporation, this guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to write a two weeks’ notice letter.

Why should you write a two weeks’ notice letter?

A two weeks’ notice letter is more than an age-old formality. It ensures your employer has enough time to:

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Guide you through the resignation process
Begin searching for candidates to take your place
Avoid feeling disrespected

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Frankly, it’s just the right thing to do.

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When it comes to the professional world, maintaining business relationships is a top priority. Not only does this help make your working environments more comfortable, but it also increases your chances of nailing your dream job.

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After all, imagine the opportunities that could come your way if previous employers are willing to speak highly of your abilities!

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By providing a two weeks’ notice letter, you avoid burning bridges that could have otherwise led you somewhere great.

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Finally, since referrals are four times as likely to land candidates a job compared to traditional website applications, there’s no reason you shouldn’t aim to preserve a positive relationship with an employer.

8 tips for writing a simple two weeks’ notice letter

If you want to ensure you maintain your professional relationships after a resignation, you must make sure you put genuine effort into writing your two weeks’ notice letter.

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Much like writing your job-winning resume, you’ll need to focus on proper formatting, wording, and more to remain on good terms with the company.

Tip #1: Your letter should be written in a business letter format

Similar to any document you send to someone at a company, your two weeks’ notice letter should use a business letter format to maintain professionalism. We have a template specifically made for sales people when they want to resign.

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The top of your letter should include the following information (in the same order):

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Your contact information: Write your first and last name, address, phone number, and email.

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Date: Include this as the month, day, and year you’re sending the letter (e.g., Aug 26, 2022),not the date you intend to be your last.

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Recipient’s contact information: This step is only necessary when submitting your notice as a physical letter. If you are, include the recipient’s name, title, company name, address, phone number, and email.

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Following this heading, you can proceed with:

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A formal greeting
The body of your letter
A closing statement with your signature

Tip #2: Show gratitude

Whether you’ve been part of the team for decades or a few months, briefly showing gratitude towards an employer is a great way to incorporate a personal touch.

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It isn’t a concrete rule to include a thank you. However, doing so is usually in your best interest, as it proves you truly appreciate the opportunity granted by the company.

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If you want to go the extra mile, you can:

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Mention a specific example of how your boss helped you achieve new skills
Discuss reasons why you enjoyed your time at the company
Talk about something else that ties into your personal experience

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Remember, you might ask the same recipient for a job referral in the future, so keeping the relationship positive is a no-brainer.

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Even a general statement, such as, “I appreciate the opportunity to work for you and the company,” can go a long way.

Tip #3: Be professional when writing about the company, management, and coworkers

It would be dishonest to say your job experience will be positive every time, all the time. You’re bound to have at least a few negative experiences, whether due to management issues, clashes with coworkers, or something else.

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With that being said, your two weeks’ notice is not the place to discuss these feelings. Though you might be leaving due to personal grievances with the position, it’s never a good idea to mention them anywhere in the letter.

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Even if you’re on good terms with your manager, going into detail about your problems with coworkers or the company isn’t likely to improve your business relationship. In the worst case, you could even damage it.

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Furthermore, there’s no guarantee that your notice letter will solely be read by one recipient. Depending on the company, it may end up in several inboxes. There’s no telling what could happen to your future employment prospects if the wrong person comes across your negative letter.

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So, as a general rule, it’s best to remain positive and professional when writing your two weeks’ notice.

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(Don’t worry, you can always save the gossip for lunch with your personal friends.)

Tip #4: Summarize your reason for leaving

It’s best practice to include a short sentence summarizing your reason for leaving. Again, it’s entirely possible that you’re resigning due to negative reasons, but they should not be mentioned.

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Instead, simply state that you’ve been offered a new position at another company. You can even mention why you decided to take the opportunity, whether for a salary increase or to relocate to another city.

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Depending on your relationship with the company and your involvement in the team, you don’t always have to provide details. For instance, if you were a part-time employee who only signed on for a few months, something as simple as, “I am writing to confirm my resignation date,” can suffice.

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Regardless of your reasons, be sure to keep it brief. Anything longer than a sentence should be trimmed down.

Tip #5: Use bullet points to highlight your contributions

Another great way to leave your position on good terms is by briefly highlighting your top contributions to the company.

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Not only will this remind your managers of what an outstanding employee you were, but it also serves as a solid reference point if you need a recommendation in the future.

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Some items you might consider adding include:

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Projects: Did you help the company on a major project that resulted in success? Don’t forget to mention your involvement!

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KPIs: If applicable, include some metrics that you helped the company achieve. This can be anything from clicks on a webpage you developed to the number of sales you made.

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Personal achievements: You can show gratitude to the company once more by describing some personal goals you achieved thanks to the position. For instance, you might’ve taught yourself how to use a new software that helped the company improve productivity or enhanced your management skills by overseeing various group projects.

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Again, be sure to keep this section brief.

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Though it might initially seem self-indulgent to discuss your contributions, doing so will only improve your employer’s impression of your professional abilities and can even highlight your appreciation for the opportunity.

Tip #6: Include the date that you’re planning to resign

Now comes the most important aspect of your two weeks’ notice letter: your resignation date.

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It’s best to include this in the very first line of your letter. You can accomplish this in one of two ways, depending on your situation:

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If you are leaving exactly two weeks from the letter’s delivery, you can keep things simple by saying you’re resigning two weeks from the current date.

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If your letter is being sent longer in advance, it might be better to explicitly state your end date..

Tip #7: Offer to assist with the transition process

By now, you’ve probably realized two weeks’ notice letters are mostly about maintaining amiable ties with your former employer.

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While remaining positive and displaying gratitude goes a long way, there’s always more you can do to preserve the relationship, particularly when it comes to what happens after your letter is received.

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Offering to train new hires can be of tremendous help to your employer, allowing the company to get back up to speed following your departure.

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This isn’t something you’re obliged to do, but it will definitely help the company remember you fondly.

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If this isn’t possible, you can always offer general help in a smaller scope.

Tip #8: Keep it short and sweet

Finally, the most important aspect to consider when writing your two weeks’ notice letter is its length.

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Though you might be eager to detail every reason you enjoyed your time at the company and what you hope to achieve in the future, your managers won’t be thrilled to receive a novel-length notice.

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So, don’t be afraid to edit it down to as little as two or three concise paragraphs that cover your main points.

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If you need help reworking your sentences, try using our free sentence rewriting tool to keep your letter short and sweet.

Two weeks’ notice letter example

You can use the following two weeks’ notice letter template to help you start writing yours:

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[Your name, address, & contact information]

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[Current date]

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[Recipient's name, address, & contact information]

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Dear Mr./Mrs. [recipient’s last name],

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This letter serves as my notice of resignation from my position as marketing lead at [company name]. My final day will be [resignation date].

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The decision to move on was not easy, but I could not overlook the opportunity to work at [future employer] in a city I have wanted to live in for some time.

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Working at [company name] has been an enriching experience. In my time here, I have accomplished a number of goals, including:

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Increasing product sales by 20% over a 12-month period
Leading a team-wide project that resulted in a consumer-celebrated branding shift

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I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity to expand my professional skills. As such, I would love to offer my hand in helping train new hires before my departure.

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Sincerely,

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[Your signature]

[Your name]

Who should you send your two weeks’ notice letter to?

In most cases, you’ll send your two weeks’ notice letter to a manager or someone in your company’s human resources department.

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It’s a good idea to ask who manages employee resignations when you’re first taking on a position, as this will prevent awkward conversations later on.

When should you give your two weeks’ notice letter?

Your two weeks’ notice letter should be sent two working weeks (10 business days) prior to your expected departure date.

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With that being said, some companies may include a notice requirement in your contract, so be sure to review your agreement before planning your resignation.

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Now, there actually isn’t any law that requires employees to submit their notice before this cutoff point. In fact, you could even send it the day of!

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However, you can expect to burn bridges with your employer by submitting a two weeks’ notice later than the professional standard.

Can an employer deny your two weeks’ notice?

Unless your employment contract restricts you, an employer cannot deny your plans to resign.

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Leaving a job is a smooth process for most employees as long as they follow a standardized approach. Unfortunately, there’s always a chance that your experience will not be so easy.

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Consider the following if you suspect your employer will resist your departure plans.

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Review your contract

First, review what your contract of employment says regarding resignation.

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There may be specific instructions regarding how far in advance you must notify them of your plans, which could give your employer legal backing to deny your notice.

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If resignation details are included in your contract, you may need to consult with an attorney before moving forward.

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Give your notice in person

Sending your two weeks’ notice as an email and a physical letter can ensure your employer does not “lose” it amongst other documents.

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You might also consider delivering the physical letter in person as an added measure.

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Continue with your plans

If worse comes to worst, your employer may still attempt to deny your resignation notice.

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However, even if your employer resists, you can still continue with your plans so long as you:

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Followed proper protocol
Adhered to your contract
Gave both physical and digital notice

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Remember, no law requires employees to forgo quitting a job simply because their employer said so.

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Chances are, your employer will accept your notice with grace. However, in the rare event they don’t, you still have the power to move forward with your decision.