What do you say in a resignation letter?

By John Kariuki

You may have had a quarrel with your boss and in the heat of the moment declared that you are quitting!

Assuming that the boss does not order the security personnel to escort you off the premises straight away, he or she will expect your resignation letter for the sake of records.

But you cannot write, "I hated you boss, I have been offered more money elsewhere" in a resignation letter! Your mind may be clouded with anger, but saying your thoughts will end up burning your bridges.

You could be in a job that you hate or the pay is meager.

After ducking in and out of interviews, you are made an irresistible offer elsewhere. Blinded by the turn of fortunes, you simply walk out without a word or a resignation letter and join the new company. This may be fine at the time, but a few years down the line, your new employer may expand and promote you.

You may move out to meet potential clients and you come face to face with your old boss, but now he or she is in charge of a new department or company!

And so you kiss goodbye your lifetime chance of proving yourself, performance contracts notwithstanding!

Future path

Many careers are built and broken on personal relationships. And writing a letter of resignation when you leave a job can help to build your possible future relationships. In some instances, people leave their jobs and come back to them after a stint in other corporations.

But the buzz word before they are re-hired is: "how did you leave?" Trust that the HR department will unearth your file and read your resignation letter in such instances.

The way you word a letter of resignation can ensure that you receive a good reference from your ex-employer. So, what do you say in a resignation letter even in the face of personal affront and sour relationships with your boss?

There is always a reason for writing a letter of resignation. Mostly, people don’t like their jobs or they have been offered better ones.

The trick is to write a polite letter that won’t anger your boss or give away your real reason for leaving. Many employers nowadays take a personal interest in their staff and they often take resignations as a personal failure and especially when valued staffers leave. Remember that your boss has to report to other bosses and explain why his team or department has lost one member.

In your letter, absolve him or her of any blame or fault over your departure.

It does not matter whether or not the boss is in the wrong! Put your personal feelings behind you since you are leaving anyway.

Thank your employer for the opportunity of working with them.