There’s plenty of advice out there on how to land a great job, but what about how to resign professionally? Whether you’re unhappy in your current role, have found something better, or simply feel it’s time for a change, resigning can be a stressful experience.

While the idea of dramatically announcing your departure may be tempting, it’s essential to remain professional. Taking the high road with a courteous resignation letter ensures you leave on good terms, preserving relationships and your reputation – something you’ll be grateful for later in your career, trust me!

Even if you don’t intend to return to the company, remember that your paths could cross with your former manager or colleagues at different companies in the future. Keeping your exit as professional as possible helps maintain your credibility, even if you’re leaving under less-than-ideal circumstances. Resigning with professionalism is key to safeguarding your reputation within the industry.

Here are some professional resignation tips from Daly Recruitment:

Having the resignation conversation can be awkward, but maintaining positive relationships with former colleagues is invaluable. These connections can be a valuable resource down the line, whether you’re seeking references or looking for opportunities at companies where former managers may have moved.

First, check your contract or employee manual to understand the required notice period—whether it’s two weeks, a month, or more. Honoring these guidelines is not just a contractual obligation but a matter of professional courtesy. It’s more than good manners; your termination benefits could depend on it. No matter how eager your new employer is for you to start “ASAP,” you have a commitment to your current company to fulfill your notice period. How you treat your current employer will be a reflection of how you might behave with your new one. If you leave your current employer in the lurch, your new employer may question your reliability. Remember, if they truly value you as the “right person” for the role, they’ll be willing to wait.

Before you have that conversation, make sure you’ve signed your new employer’s contract and confirmed your start date. Never resign without the proper paperwork in place.

IMPORTANT: If your new job is with a competitor, make sure you are not violating any clauses in your contract. If you choose to proceed with the new job despite any potential conflict, be aware that you may be asked to leave your current position immediately.

Telling your manager – Always do face to face

Show courtesy by telling your boss first, and face to face never just send an email or text.

Request a meeting to say that you’re leaving, following up immediately after with an official resignation letter (or bring this along). Do this before you tell others within the company, and it reaches your manager from another source. This is never good and shows lack of respect.

Use this meeting to clarify any points, such as your notice period and leaving date, how you will inform others (colleagues or external clients, contacts and suppliers).

Be courteous

During your resignation meeting, always make sure to take the opportunity to thank your boss for the experience and the opportunity you’ve had at your current job. In hospitality everyone knows everyone!

Keep it professional and positive

Never complain to co-workers about your dissatisfaction at work. NEVER bash your current job or bosses during an interview with a potential new employer. And never, ever, ever criticise your current job/manager on social media. Even after you’ve given you’re notice and moved on, refrain from public declaration about how excited you are to get out of there.

When asked why you are leaving, the ideal answer is “for a better opportunity.” If you don’t have another job lined up, you may have to be more honest, but always put a professional spin on it: “This isn’t the right environment for me” sounds a lot better than “I hate working here!”

Keep your resignation short and direct. Be confident about your decision to move on, you have gone through the selection and interview stage to get here, be appreciative of the opportunities you’ve had.

Notice period

Maintain professionalism and courtesy with everyone until your last day and beyond.

Make every effort to ensure that your colleagues, replacement, and clients are well-prepared for your departure. Avoid leaving loose ends and ensure there is a proper handover to your replacement or manager.

How do you write a good resignation letter?

Always keep a resignation letter simple, courteous and professional. You don’t need to mention your reason for leaving – especially if it reflects negatively on the company. Instead, focus on thanking your manager for the knowledge and skills you have received during your employment.

Tips for writing your formal resignation letter

1. Address it to your direct manager. When writing a resignation letter, ensure you address it to your direct-line manager, rather than an HR manager.

Start by saying something along the lines of:

“I am writing to formally give notice of my resignation from my post/position/role as (job title) at (name of employer).

    2.  Include your leaving date. Before you hand in your resignation letter, make sure you are aware of your responsibilities in terms of the company’s notice periods ‒ you’ll often find your notice period listed in your employment contract. It is important to list your leaving date in your resignation letter as it will act as your formal written notice.

Say something like:

According to the terms of my contract, the notice period is (length of notice period) and my final working day will therefore be (leaving date).”

    3. Keep a professional tone. Despite taking on a new role, you may need to contact your former employer in the future for references. Adapt a positive, professional tone in your letter and avoid any negative language towards the company, your managers or colleagues.

  4. Always say thank you. You may need to leverage this position in the future, so you want to avoid burning any bridges. Thank your manager and the company in your letter, telling them you appreciate everything you’ve learned while in your position. That way you can move to your new job and maintain the industry connections you have at your old one.

Say something like:

“I have enjoyed working here and particularly appreciate/would like to thank you for … “

You can also mention your appreciation at being able to work in a great team or to develop your knowledge of the industry, for example.

  5. State your willingness to hand over

If you are currently in the middle of a task at work, it is favourable to include a brief handover action plan in your letter.

You could include something along the lines of:

“I will do my utmost to complete existing tasks and to assist where possible in the hand-over process.

Yours sincerely … “

Where you can, complete a full handover with replacement or manager.

Letting colleagues know of your decision to move on:

In addition to informing your closest colleagues in person, you may wish to send a brief email to others in the company. Be sure to discuss this with your manager beforehand.

Keep the message concise and professional, such as:

“As you may know, I’ve made the decision to leave the company to pursue new opportunities (in [industry/role]) and take the next step in my career.

It’s been a pleasure working with all of you, and I hope our paths cross again in the future.”

ALWAYS, remain calm, professional and courteous to all.
Hospitality is a small industry and you don’t know when or where you will meet your current team along your career journey in the industry!
Trust me on this! 

If you are a candidate of Daly Recruitment, we will mentor and assist you with any concerns you may have throughout this stage of the process.