How to Give Notice

Last Updated: September 11, 2020 References

Whether you’ve gotten a new job offer, are going into business for yourself, or want to step away from work to spend some time with family, almost everyone will have to give their resignation notice at work eventually. It’s customary to give at least 2 weeks of notice so your boss can adjust and find a replacement.^{[1]
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Research source} Even if you’ve done this before, it can still be nerve-wracking and anxiety-inducing to think about how your boss might take the news. Don’t worry! With some extra prep time and good manners, you can hand in your notice and move on to the next stage of your life.

Sample Letters to Employer

Two Weeks Notice Template

Sample Two Week Notice Letter

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Having the Conversation

1
Set up an appointment to speak with your boss. Once you’re set on giving notice to your boss, it’s best to have the conversation in person. This might be nerve-wracking for you, but it’s more personal and courteous to your boss. Either email, call, or tell your boss in person that you’d like to speak with them and set up an appointment.^{[2]
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- It’s always possible that your boss will say they have time right now, so be ready to have the conversation as soon as you ask.
- If you work remotely or in a different location from your boss, then face-to-face meetings might not be possible. In this case, it’s okay to set up a phone or video conference call, or send a detailed resignation letter via email.^{[3]
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2
State that you’re resigning and when your last day of work will be. It’s okay to make some friendly small talk with your boss at the start of the meeting, but remember that this is an official conversation. As soon as possible, calmly tell your boss that you’re resigning and giving in your notice. Also tell them when your last day of work will be, which should preferably be at least 2 weeks away.^{[4]
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- Be open and clear when you tell your boss. Say, “I’ve really enjoyed working here, but I’ve decided that it’s time for me to move on to new opportunities. I’ll be leaving on January 8, which gives you 3 weeks to prepare.”
- Don’t hand in your notice without having a firm end date. Your boss needs your end date to plan for hiring a new person.
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3
Prepare for some questions if your boss wasn’t expecting it. It’s hard to tell how your boss will take the news. Some bosses are apathetic and will accept your resignation without much conversation. Others may be caught off guard and question you about why you’re leaving. Be prepared for some follow-up questions and don’t get flustered if your boss asks for some clarification.^{[5]
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- Common questions might be “why are you leaving?”, “Were you unhappy at work?”, or “Is there anything we can do to keep you?”
- Always be friendly and courteous while you’re answering these questions. Don’t turn the meeting into an argument, even if your boss doesn’t take the news well.
- If you were a valuable employee, your boss may make a counter-offer like raising your salary. It’s up to you if you want to accept an offer like this.
4
Be honest about your next career move to maintain the relationship. You’re not under any real obligation to tell your boss what you’re doing next in life, but it’s still a good practice. This maintains your relationship with your boss and avoids burning a bridge that could help you in the future.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Amber Rosenberg, PCC
Pacific Life Coach
Expert Interview. 26 February 2019.} Feel free to inform your boss about your future plans and what you’ll be doing after you leave.^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
Harvard Business Review
Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices
Go to source}
- It’s fine to just say, “I’ve decided to follow my dream of starting my own business, and it’s time for me to commit to it fully.” You could also say if you’ve been offered another job and accepted it.
- Your boss and coworkers will probably find out what you’re doing anyway from your professional or social media profiles, and people might feel misled if you didn’t tell them. It’s best to be open so you can maintain relationships with all your former coworkers.
5
Offer to work longer than your notice period to smooth the transition. Even though 2 weeks is a customary length of time, it’s still fairly short and your boss might not be able to fill your position that quickly. Your boss might ask you to stay on a bit longer than your notice time while they work on finding a replacement. Accepting this request is a good way to maintain a relationship with your boss and smooth the transition.^{[8]
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Harvard Business Review
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- This applies whether you’ve given longer than 2 weeks as well. Your boss might ask you to stay on longer while they find a replacement.
- This might not always be possible, however. Your new job might be starting right away, meaning you don’t have the time to work any longer. Be open with your boss, apologize, and say it’s simply not possible to work longer than your notice period.
6
Thank your boss for the opportunities they gave you. Always end the meeting on good terms if you can.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Amber Rosenberg, PCC
Pacific Life Coach
Expert Interview. 26 February 2019.} Once you’ve informed your boss that you’re leaving and hammered out any details about the transition, then conclude by thanking your boss for their time and the opportunity to work with them. Shake their hand when you leave and go back to finish your work.^{[10]
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- If the meeting went well, you could even conclude by asking your boss if you can use them as a reference. This shows that you want to maintain your professional relationship, even though you’re leaving.^{[11]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Leaving on Good Terms

1
Tell your coworkers after you tell your boss. It’s unprofessional to tell your coworkers that you’re leaving a job before you tell your boss. Word could get back to your boss, meaning they won’t hear the news from you, which could make them angry. Once you talk to your boss, then feel free to inform the rest of the office. Send personal emails or call your work friends so they hear it from you first, especially if you want to maintain contact with them after you leave.^{[12]
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- Your boss might announce the news to the office. If there are people you want to tell yourself, you can ask your boss to hold off until you’ve spoken to your friends and coworkers.^{[13]
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  Harvard Business Review
  Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices
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- News travels in offices, and people might know that you were interviewing or looking for other jobs. The important thing is that you don’t confirm any of this or state that you’re leaving until you’ve told your boss.
2
Put together a transition packet for the person who takes your job. You can really make your boss happy by helping your replacement do well in the position. Make a packet for them describing all of your job duties in as much detail as you can. Also list the projects you were working on and, if you were working with teammates, who was responsible for certain tasks. Leave this packet with your boss so they can give it to your replacement.^{[14]
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- If you have the time, you could also offer to come in and help the new person get adjusted to the position. However, this isn't a requirement, and you might not even have time for this if you start a new job.
3
Stick with the same story about why you’re leaving. It’s also unprofessional to give different stories for why you’re leaving your job to different people at work. You’ll end up looking dishonest, and this could cause personality conflicts at work. Even though you’re leaving, you don’t want any of that. Stay consistent and stick with one story about why you’re leaving to avoid any workplace drama in your last few weeks.^{[15]
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Trustworthy Source
Harvard Business Review
Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices
Go to source}
- For example, if you tell your boss that you’re leaving because you got a new job offer, but tell your coworker that it’s because you can’t stand your boss, that news will spread around. This can cause some controversy in your last few weeks of work.
- This is also important for maintaining relations with your boss and coworkers after you leave. These contacts could be a big help for you later on in your career.
4
Avoid insulting or offending your boss to maintain a good relationship. Even if you didn’t get along well with your boss, it’s important to stay courteous for your remaining time at the office. If you have criticisms or grievances, it’s best to keep them to yourself and avoid angering anyone at the office. This way, you can leave without burning any bridges.^{[16]
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- Remember that your last few weeks of work are the last impression that many people in the office will have of you. You want this impression to be as positive as possible.
5
Provide constructive feedback in your exit interview. Some businesses give you an exit interview after you’ve resigned. They will often ask your reasons for leaving and if anything can be improved. If you did have some problems with the workplace, phrase your answers constructively. Imagine you're giving them advice rather than criticizing so no one feels insulted.^{[17]
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- For example, instead of saying “The culture here is awful,” you could say “I think management could work on building a more cooperative environment for the workers.” This puts a constructive spin on your criticism.
- The exception is if you faced any abuse, harassment, or mistreatment at work. In this case, you should report any problems to the HR department right away.^{[18]
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6
Keep your attitude positive with your boss and coworkers. Even though you’re wrapping up your time in this job, don’t spend your last few weeks settling scores. Avoid complaining about the office or your coworkers. Instead, focus on the positives and what working there gave you. Continue friendly relations with your boss and coworkers so you leave on a high note.^{[19]
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- It’s very possible that you hated your old workplace and can’t wait to leave. You’re not alone if that’s how you’re feeling. However, it still reflects badly on you to start problems in the office after you hand in your notice. Enjoy the fact that you’re leaving and move on.^{[20]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Harvard Business Review
  Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices
  Go to source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Planning for Giving Notice

1
Confirm that your job offer is solid. If you’re handing in your notice to take a new job, then make sure everything is set up with that job before resigning. Some people leave jobs only to realize that the offer wasn’t set yet or the job isn’t what they expected. Confirm that this job is what you want to do and that the offer is definite. This way, you’ll avoid handing in your notice prematurely.^{[21]
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- It’s always good to get everything in writing for your new job. Ask for the compensation, benefits, vacation time, start date, and any other important details in an email or letter to confirm that they’re all set up.
- There is still a chance that your old employer will take you back if the new job doesn’t work out, especially if you were a good employee. However, this is a hassle and could be embarrassing, so you’d naturally want to avoid it.
2
Write a formal resignation letter, even if you’re resigning in person. While this might seem redundant, an official resignation letter is usually part of the process. Companies like keeping resignation letters on file for their records. Ideally, write your resignation letter ahead of time and leave it with your boss when you meet to hand in your notice.^{[22]
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- Resignation letters don’t need a ton of detail. Address it to your boss and open by saying that you’re writing to officially resign. Include the date that you plan on leaving. Always thank the boss and the company for the opportunity to work with them.
- State if you're willing to help train your replacement or work with your boss during the transition in your letter as well.^{[23]
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- If you didn’t write a letter, your boss or HR might ask you to send them one anyway as part of the process.
3
Avoid any complaints or insults in your resignation letter. Even if you hated your job, your resignation letter is not a place for negativity. Keep it simple and friendly so you don't leave on bad terms. This way, your much more likely to make a good final impression on your boss and your company, which could be valuable for you later on.^{[24]
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- Generally, you don't need to include your reason for leaving in a resignation letter. You just have to say that you're moving on.
- If you do have problems with your work environment, then filing a report with HR is the appropriate response.
4
Decide ahead of time if you’re interested in a counter-offer. There’s always a possibility that your boss will ask you to stay and try to make a counter-offer, especially if you’re a valuable employee. It’s totally up to you whether or not you want to accept this. Plan ahead and consider if more money or perks will convince you to stay at your current job so you aren’t caught unprepared if your boss asks.^{[25]
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- If you’re willing to accept a counter-offer, have a salary in mind to suggest if your boss asks what could make you stay.
- It's also perfectly fine to say you're not willing to accept any counter-offers. This is your choice.
- Remember to consider a counter-offer carefully before accepting. More money might be nice, but if you hated your job, it might not be worth it for you.
5
Plan for the possibility that you’ll be asked to leave right away. It’s rare, but there’s a chance that your boss will respond to your resignation by asking you to leave right away without working through your notice period. You can take a few steps to prepare for this in case it happens.^{[26]
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- Clean all of your personal information off your work computer before meeting with your boss. The company will probably do this anyway, but it’s best to do it yourself to make sure everything personal is gone.
- Confirm that you have contact information for any work friends that you want to stay in touch with.
- Think about your finances too. Make sure you can afford not to work for the next few weeks until your new job starts.
6
Quit without notice if you're in an abusive or unsafe environment. While it’s customary and polite to give at least 2 weeks of notice when leaving a job, these rules go out the window if you’ve experienced any abuse or mistreatment at work. This could all put you in danger, and you don’t have to put up with it. Feel free to quit on the spot in this case.^{[27]
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- You should still report any incidents to HR before leaving. This way, you can put any problems on record if you have to build a case against the company.
- Besides incidents of abuse or harassment, there are a few other cases where quitting without notice is acceptable. These include being asked to do something unethical or illegal and not being paid for long periods of time. If you’ve experienced a serious personal or family crisis and are unable to do your job anymore, then this is also acceptable.

Expert Q&A

Question

What do I say when I give notice?

Amber Rosenberg, PCC
Pacific Life Coach
Amber Rosenberg is a Professional Life Coach, Career Coach, and Executive Coach based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the owner of Pacific Life Coach, she has 20+ years of coaching experience and a background in corporations, tech companies, and nonprofits. Amber trained with the Coaches Training Institute and is a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Amber Rosenberg, PCC

Pacific Life Coach

Expert Answer

It will depend on your specific title, role, and the rapport you have with your boss. You may say something like, "I've loved the opportunity to learn and grow in this position, but I'm ready for the next challenge and I'll be moving on in two weeks." Try to leave on a good note, so that you can use your boss as a reference in the future.