Want to quit your job? In order to leave on the best possible terms it's a good idea to provide a resignation letter with a two week notice period.
What should a formal resignation notice look like? What should you include in your formal notice? Here, we'll take you through a range of two weeks' notice letter examples that will help you to leave any job on a positive note.
General guidelines for writing a two week notice letter
Even if you've hated your job, you should still be respectful with your two weeks notice email or letter. Here are some general guidelines for writing a resignation letter that won't burn any bridges:
- Be polite. You don't have to be flattering. You don't even have to offer your best wishes if you don't want to. But do be polite and respectful.
- Don't leave your teammates in the lurch. Offer to use your notice period to wrap up any uncompleted work and to make the transition as smooth as possible.
- Clearly mark the relevant dates. Note down both the date of your two weeks notice letter and the date when you will officially have left employment. Make sure that there's no room for confusion.
- Keep it brief. If you want to thank your employer, that's fine, but don't go overboard with long paragraphs about your time with the company. You can take care of that with a speech at your leaving do. Keep your two weeks notice letter short and focused on the specifics.
Now, let's look at some two weeks notice templates.
Basic two weeks’ notice letter template
Here is a basic 2 week notice letter template. It covers all the essentials (that you're leaving, when you're leaving, the date of the letter and the date you will leave employment). It also offers brief thanks to the employer, and offers to wrap up any uncompleted work during the notice period.
| Sarah Smith Norfolk, Virginia (757) 242-3333 November 15th, 2024 Dear [RECIPIENT], I would like to officially resign my position as [POSITION] at [COMPANY], effective [DATE]. Please accept this letter of [TODAY'S DATE] as my two weeks’ notice. I would like to thank [COMPANY] for the enjoyable and fulfilling time I have spent employed here. I am grateful for the opportunities that have come my way during my employment. I will work with you during the upcoming two weeks to ensure that my resignation is as smooth as possible. Please let me know how you would like to proceed during this transitional period. Many thanks, Sarah Smith |
Formal two weeks’ notice letter template
This is a more formal resignation letter. It gets straight to the point and does its job quickly, efficiently, and respectfully.
| Sarah Smith Norfolk, Virginia (757) 242-3333 November 15th, 2024 Dear [RECIPIENT] I would like to formally tender my resignation as [POSITION] at [COMPANY]. Please accept this letter as my official two weeks’ notice. My resignation will be effective on [OFFICIAL LEAVING DATE], two weeks’ from today, [TODAY’S DATE]. I am grateful for the opportunities provided during my time at [COMPANY]. Thank you for all the guidance and support that has been offered. Please let me know how I can help ensure a smooth transition during the upcoming two weeks. Yours sincerely, Sarah Smith |
Corporate two weeks’ notice letter template
This example is still polite and respectful, but also acknowledges the part that the employer has played in the employee's life. It is warmer in tone than the formal two weeks notice letter example, but is still short and does not stray far from the point.
| Sarah Smith Norfolk, Virginia (757) 242-3333 November 15th, 2024 Dear [RECIPIENT] Please accept this letter as a formal tender of my resignation, effective two weeks from today’s date ([DATE]). I have enjoyed my time at [COMPANY], and am grateful for all the opportunities, guidance, and support that have been offered to me during my time here. However, it is time for me to move on to new things. I wish all of my friends and teammates at [COMPANY] well, and hope that we may collaborate in the future. I will officially leave [COMPANY] on [DATE]. Please let me know how I can help make this transitional period as easy and productive as possible. Many thanks, and all the best moving forward, Sarah Smith |
Two weeks’ notice letter template for leaving an entry-level position
It's best to keep entry-level resignation letters short and sweet. Sometimes, you may even find that entry-level employers won't require you to work out the full two weeks' resignation notice period.
| Sarah Smith Norfolk, Virginia (757) 242-3333 November 15th, 2024 Dear [RECIPIENT], I am writing to resign my position as [POSITION] at [COMPANY]. Please accept this as my official two weeks' notice. I will leave the company on [DATE], two weeks from today's date ([DATE]). If there is anything I can do during this time to ease the transition, please let me know. Thank you for the opportunities you have provided me with during my time at [COMPANY]. I am grateful for all the guidance and support you have offered me. Yours sincerely, Sarah Smith |
Two weeks’ notice letter template for leaving a senior position
Leaving a senior position is a big decision that will have repercussions for both you and your company. So, our two week notice letter template for leaving a senior position is a bit more detailed than usual.
| Sarah Smith Norfolk, Virginia (757) 242-3333 November 15th, 2024 Dear [RECIPIENT/S] I am sorry to announce that I shall be resigning my position as [POSITION] and leaving [COMPANY] on [DATE OF RESIGNATION]. Please view this letter, dated [DATE] as my formal two weeks notice. This has not been an easy decision for me to make. I have greatly enjoyed my time at [COMPANY], and am proud of all that we have achieved together. However, it is time for me to move on to new things and let the capable people of [TEAM/COMPANY] step forward to continue my legacy. There is a lot to do to make sure that the company can find the perfect replacement for me and onboard them seamlessly. Rest assured that I shall do all I can to ease this transition and make sure that I leave no loose ends. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. With the very best wishes for the future, Sarah Smith |
Write the perfect two weeks notice letter with these templates
A good two week notice letter makes sure that you leave employment on good terms with your former employer. It also helps to make sure that your notice period runs as smoothly as possible.
Use the templates we've provided here to write the perfect two week notice letter and move onto your next job on a positive note.
FAQs
Am I legally required to give two weeks’ notice?
A 2 week notice letter is not a legal requirement. However, it is customary and polite to inform your employer that you are leaving. Giving them two weeks notice gives them time to reassign your work, find a replacement for you, and generally tidy up any loose ends.
Some employers may request two weeks' notice before resignation in their employment contract. They cannot force you to stay if you want to resign from your job without giving two weeks notice, but they may sue you for breach of contract if you do so.
If you've been with your employer less than a month before leaving, you should be ok to provide only 1 weeks' notice.
Do weekends count as part of my two weeks’ notice?
Weekends are included within your two weeks' notice. Officially, two weeks is 10 working days and 4 weekend days. It is not 14 working days.
Can my employer refuse my two weeks’ notice?
An employer cannot legally refuse a 2 weeks' notice letter. Nobody is allowed to force you to work. Your two weeks' notice letter is legally binding and must be accepted by your employer.
However, your employer can adjust your resignation timeframe within that two weeks. For example, they may ask you to leave immediately rather than work out your notice. This is more likely to happen for entry-level at-will employees than it is for those resigning from more senior positions.