How to Respectfully Put in Your Two Weeks Notice

Craig Stevens

Copywriter, Digital Asset Manager, and Business Analyst

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Updated by: Natasha Serafimovska

There can be many reasons you want to leave your job. It may be that you don’t enjoy your current job or you’ve found a better-paying one. Or, it may very well be that you feel like you may be let go soon, so you’ve decided to quit instead. 

Whatever the reason, leaving a job is never easy. Not only do you need to communicate the news to your team and your manager, but you also have to navigate the logistics of moving into a new firm and adjusting to a new working environment. 

With so much going on, how do you give your notice? Do you need to write a two weeks notice letter? If so, what are you supposed to write? Let’s run through the key points you need to consider.

What Exactly is a 2-Week Notice?

A two-week notice is your formal resignation from your current post of employment. It’s a standard procedure of letting your employer know of your departure from the business. While two weeks is the standard notice time, check your contract to see if your employment is tied to a different notice period. 

For instance, some senior or more technical jobs may have a one- to three-month notice period because these roles are harder to fill. 

Why Is It Important to Give One?

If you’re fed up with your job, you might resort to quiet quitting, or you might decide to take the plunge and leave. However, letting your employer know you’re leaving is not only the decent thing to do, but it’s also a great way to protect your professional relationships and your personal brand. While your employer may not take legal action if you leave without saying a word, it can destroy the trust you’ve built with your team and your manager over the years. 

This means that if the time ever comes to ask them for a favor or a professional reference, you’re unlikely to get one. Not to mention, you may come across the same people in another professional context, and that can have ripple effects on your career down the line.

How to Respectfully Put in Your Two Weeks Notice

Review Your Employee Contract

First, you want to review your employee handbook or contract to see what are the legal requirements for giving notice. Sometimes your notice period may be longer than two weeks. So, double-check this before making a commitment with your new employer. 

Likewise, check your employment status. If you’re an “at-will employee,” your employer may decide to terminate you immediately. This means that you should go into the conversation prepared that you may lose access to all work email, laptop, and other work-related accounts that day.

Your contract should outline if you have a non-compete clause that prevents you from working for another employer in the sector. It states the reasons your employer may fire you, but it can also outline the proper way for you to resign. Once you’ve reviewed the regulations, arrange a meeting with your boss specifically for this purpose. Don’t try to tack it on to another meeting.

Plan What to Say. Less is More

Regardless of how you feel about your current employer, it’s best that you leave things courteous and professional. Keep your explanation simple and to the point without going into too much detail about why you’re quitting.

Prepare for Follow-Up Questions

Nine times out of ten, your boss will have questions about your choice to resign. Anticipate these in advance and be prepared to answer them. Proper preparation will help to stay confident and keep you from saying something you may regret in the long run.

Expect a Counter Offer. Know How to Deal with It

Getting a counteroffer is a real possibility, especially if you’re leaving for bigger pay or more responsibility. If you’re well-acquainted with the business and have been with the employer for a while, they won’t want to lose the knowledge and experience you’ve gained over time. Prepare yourself for how you will respond and whether a counteroffer is something you’d consider.

Break the News in Person

While you should write a formal notice, it’s more professional to also give notice in person. This is the best way to demonstrate respect and give your employer an opportunity to ask questions. Resigning in person also allows you to solidify the network connection you have with your (now former) boss.

Come Up with Good Reasonings

Your employer would like to know your reason for leaving. Many conduct separate exit interviews to learn more about how departing employees feel about the business. When talking to your boss, offer clear reasons as to why you’re leaving. Keep the conversation professional and constructive. Most importantly, steer away from badmouthing or criticizing the business or other employees.

Offer to Help to Find Your Replacement

Once you leave, your employer would most likely need to find a replacement. In order to leave on the best of terms, offer to help find or train a replacement. Perhaps you can be involved in the interviewing process or offer a referral.

Express Gratitude for the Opportunity

Always demonstrate gratitude for the opportunity. Even if you disliked some aspects of the job or your team, it’s best to show appreciation for the trust and opportunity your employer has given you to date. After all, they did choose you over dozens or hundreds of applicants when you initially applied with them.

Write a Formal Notice

Once you’ve notified your manager, it’s time to hand in your formal notice as well. You may have the letter already prepared. If so, it’s time to send it out. This will notify HR and the wider leadership team of your departure.

End on Good Terms

Keep your relationships and conversations cordial and agreeable for the remainder of your time within the business. Even though you’re leaving, now is not the time to start gossiping around or bad-mouthing your employer.  

Work as Hard in the Remaining Time

The biggest mistake many people make is assuming that because they’ve submitted their resignation, they are done working. That is not so.

Your two-week notice is a commitment to the company to continue working for the next two weeks. Don’t break that agreement by deciding it’s time to slack off. Your employer still needs your input. So, complete your tasks and responsibilities dutifully until the very last day.

The Two Weeks Notice Letter

What should you say in the two weeks notice letter? How should you structure it?

First, if the word processor you’re using has templates, look for a business or formal template. This is a business matter, after all. If there’s a two weeks notice template, don’t assume that it’s going to prompt you to fill in all the information that you’ll need to cover. It’s up to you to ensure that all the bases are covered. Be led by your contract or employee handbook.

Put the Proper Headings on the 2-Week Notice Letter

At the top of the two weeks notice letter, put your’s and your employer’s address and contact details. While this may seem outdated, it’s standard practice for a business letter.

Follow this with the date. It’s critical that you put the date on the letter, as this will help prevent any confusion about when you resigned. Also, ensure that this date matches the date you will meet with your manager.

The Body

Once you start the body of your letter, try to keep things brief. There’s no need to write a lengthy exposition here. Just keep it simple, polite, and professional. You can start with a simple statement that you’re resigning because you’re moving on to a new opportunity and follow this with confirmation of when your last day will be.

That done, it’s a good idea to thank them for the opportunity that they gave you. If you’re struggling with this bit, think about why you wanted this job back when you started. You can also think about what you’ve learned in the role. If you’ve gained new skills in this role or had the opportunity to lead projects, no matter their scale, then express gratitude for that. If nothing else, you’ve probably put these experiences on your resumé or leveraged them in the interview for your new job. Be grateful.

Finally, offer to help with the transition. Will your replacement be in the role before you leave? If so, offer to help train them, as that is something you’ll be able to add to your resumé. If not, is there something else, like documentation, that’ll help smooth things over? This is another classy step, as it illustrates that you understand this will have a negative impact on your employer, and you want to minimize that.

Close Strong

Then, close the letter formally. ‘Sincerely,’ ‘Yours truly,’ ‘Regards,’ or ‘Best regards,’ followed by your name on the next line are all viable options.

A 2 Weeks Notice Email

If you cannot meet with your manager in person to submit your resignation, you can still resign via email. Start by composing an email with the subject line “Resignation.” Although you don’t need to include the address or date headings in an email, it is still important to begin the email in a formal manner. The rest of the email can be written just as you would write a resignation letter.

If you are certain that you are resigning and are not open to counter-offers, it may be helpful to CC HR in the email to ensure that they are aware of your departure. HR will need to process any remaining pay before you leave, so it is in your best interest to keep them informed.

It is worth noting that resigning via email is not the most professional or respected option. If possible, provide your manager with a two-week notice letter and have a face-to-face meeting to discuss your resignation. However, if that is not possible, resigning via email is an acceptable alternative.

2-Week Notice Letter Example

SAMPLE 1: If you want to provide a reason for your departure.

SAMPLE 2: If you don’t want to provide a reason for your departure.

2-Week Notice Email Example

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Legally Required to Put In the Notice?

While there are no state or federal laws that mandate a two-weeks notice period, you may be in breach of your employment contract if this is a stated requirement. This contract is legally binding, and your employer may decide to pursue legal action if you forgo giving them notice.

Can You Just Verbally Put in the Notice?

Theoretically, yes. However, if you want to stay compliant with your employment contract, it’s always best to have a written record of the time and date you notified your employer of your departure. The HR department would also like to keep the letter for their records, so it’s always best to send in a written notice as well. 

Do 2 Weeks Mean 10 or 14 Days Exactly?

The two-week notice usually means ten business days or exactly two weeks from the day you’ve submitted your resignation. However, since there is no law regarding this, you have the flexibility to define your exact day of departure. 

Moving on

There, you’ve done it. The hardest part is probably done. Be prepared for an emotional last day whether you enjoyed your job or not. If your coworkers organize a leaving party, be sure to go, if only for a little while. It’s important to keep a good relationship with former employees, even if you didn’t really like them that much.

Once you’ve taken that step, there’s just one thing left to do: pat yourself on the back and look forward to your new job! Happy Job Searching!