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6 Things You Must Include in a Resignation Letter for Personal Reasons (2023)

6 Things You Must Include in a Resignation Letter for Personal Reasons (2023)

You’ve decided you need to quit your job for personal reasons, but doing so often requires letting your boss know you want to quit via a resignation letter. From your expected leave date to gratitude, here are six answers to the question, “What are the most important things to include in a resignation letter for personal reasons?”

  • Highlight What You Learned
  • Give Them Time to Prepare
  • Offer to Assist in the Transition
  • Include Your Leave Date
  • Be Honest With Your Reasons
  • Express Gratitude

Highlight What You Learned

When you leave a business, even if it’s not on the greatest terms, think to yourself, “What did I learn?” 

You might have learned how not to do something, or how you would do something different if you were in a leadership role. From every experience, come out a little smarter. Listing the things you learned in a resignation letter lets you know you are coming out of the experience with something positive, such as knowledge. 

This helps to put a spin on what might be a negative job experience and shows that there was something positive out of the situation. This can help you personally to move on to your next role.

Evan McCarthy, President and CEO, Sporting Smiles

Give Them Time to Prepare

The date that you intend to leave is a crucial component of a resignation letter because it allows your employer to plan for the replacement and ensure everything is in order before you go. This is especially important if you’re leaving under a cloud of suspicion, or if your employer is liable to suspect you of taking company secrets with you. 

By including the date that you intend to leave, you give your employer the opportunity to prepare for your departure and reduce the risk of any issues arising.

Offer to Assist in the Transition

When resigning from a job because of personal reasons, one thing you should definitely include in your resignation letter is an offer to assist with the transition process. This could involve helping to train a new hire or making sure any outstanding projects are finished.

Offering to do these things shows that you still care about the company and want to make sure the transition is smooth. It also helps create a positive relationship between you and your employer, which is important if you ever need to call on them for a reference in the future. So, in my opinion, it’s something one must include in a resignation letter for personal reasons.

Include Your Leave Date

Writing the date you will leave in a resignation will help you look back at your work history. With all the things happening in the world today, we forget exactly when they happened. 

We constantly must be reminded on paper. When you look back at your documents years later, you will see exactly what day you left that job. Also, make sure it shows the fact that you are resigning, say thank you, and offer to complete any outstanding work.

Lydia Mwangi, Content Writer, Barbell Jobs

Be Honest With Your Reasons 

In a resignation letter for personal reasons, explain your reasons for leaving. You should be honest and specific about why you are leaving, as this will help your employer understand why you are departing and what they can do to prevent this from happening again. 

For example, if you are resigning to care for a family member, your employer may want to consider offering more flexible work schedules or working-from-home options for employees with caregiving responsibilities. Once they realize workers can take advantage of this working model, they can offer it to other employees, avoiding future resignations.

Luciano Colos, Founder and CEO, PitchGrade

Express Gratitude

Resigning from a job doesn’t have to mean burning your bridges. In fact, the more people you have a good working relationship with, the greater your professional network and future career opportunities are. 

When you write a resignation letter for personal reasons, you don’t need to go into details about your motives. Still, express gratitude for valuable work experience, what you have learned, and chances of growing. Kindness costs nothing, and it pays off. Be sure to always leave a good impression. You never know what the future brings.

Agata Szczepanek, Community Manager, LiveCareer