Handing in your notice the right way: how to make a clean cut

Breaking up with your employer isn't something you do every day and it takes effort, but with our resignation tips, handing your notice in the right way will be as painless as possible.

Why do you want to hand your notice in?

Quitting a job isn't just unpleasant, in many cases it's also a serious decision – especially if you're actually quite happy with what you're doing. So is it really the right decision to quit? What's the right reason for leaving a job? 

First of all, clear up a few questions for yourself beforehand: why do I want to quit in the first place? Is there any chance of me enjoying my work again with my current employer employer or could we try to iron out the problems? If you think all is not lost, maybe try to find a solution with your manager. 

If you still can't see any hope in terms of prospects in your current job, then it's really time to hand in your resignation letter once and for all. 

Talk first, then quit: tell your boss

Your mind is made up, you've weighed everything up and have decided you definitely want to quit. But before you dive right in and just put the resignation letter on your boss's desk, you should try to tell them you're leaving in person. Even though it may not be the most comfortable conversation, it's the polite thing to do and adds a personal touch. This is the best way to ensure you and your employer part on good terms. 

Why do you want to quit? Your boss is sure to ask you your reasons for leaving, so have a think about what you'll say beforehand to make sure you give a confident answer. 

Even if you're not necessarily happy at work, you shouldn't be too harsh or emotional when explaining things to your boss or say anything overly negative about your colleagues – keep it professional. Letting off steam in this way may feel good at first, but the satisfaction doesn't last long and will ultimately cause you more trouble than it's worth  – especially when it comes to getting a good job reference. You want to come out of the whole ordeal of quitting looking professional, calm and collected, so think carefully about what you'll say.

Tips on writing a resignation letter

After the conversation with your boss, it's time to hand in your letter of resignation. To be legally valid, a resignation letter must always be submitted in writing – you can send an e-mail if you really have to but it's always more personal and professional to hand in a paper version, either handwritten or typed and signed. 

You can find resignation letter templates for free online that you can download and adapt to your situation. 

In addition, when writing your resignation letter, you can use the following checklist to help you. It covers all the important points for handing in your notice the right way. 

Checklist: how to write a resignation letter

1. The details of the sender and the addressee (your employer) are at the top
2. The document is dated – this is important when it comes to observing your notice period 
3. The subject line should contain "notice of resignation"
4. The recipient of the resignation letter is your supervisor, company management or the HR department
5. Start your letter with a concise sentence stating you are resigning and therefore terminating the employment relationship
6. Be sure to include the effective date of resignation here
7. Thank your boss and/or the company for the opportunity and their support, if you like 
8. Then ask for an official job reference – you're entitled to this
9. Make sure to sign your letter of resignation

Make sure to comply with your notice period!

Now you've finally  made up your mind to quit, you need to be aware of your notice period. Your notice period will be in your employment contract and can differ from company to company and depending on your role and how long you've been at the company. Your employment contract will usually specify a notice period of one calendar month, but if it doesn't: 

• a notice period of one week is the legal minimum in the UK. But if you're working abroad, other countries have different statutory notice periods and you may have to resign on the 1st or 15th of the month.

If this is the case, your resignation should be on your boss' desk at the latest by that day of the month. It's best to deliver in the letter in person, by registered mail or hand it in to the HR department in person. This way you can be sure that yournotice has definitely been received. 

Our recommendation: 

• Don't agonise over your resignation letter for too long and stress yourself out – just be professional, cover all the required legal bases and hand it in. Rip off the band-aid! And if you take too long over it, besides getting more and more anxious, you may get sick or something else unpredictable could stop you from acting on your decision in good time. 
• This way, you also give your boss more time to fill your position – that's a nice move and will definitely leave a good impression and earn you a few brownie points. 
• Last but not least: if you can, get a confirmation of receipt  of your letter of resignation in writing. The date of resignation should be noted in the acknowledgment of receipt.

What if you want to quit during your probationary period?

If you find out during the probationary period that things between you and your employer aren't working out, then quitting is fairly simple: 

• Your employer may have specific notice periods for employees during their probationary period, but otherwise the UK legal minimum of one week applies.
• However, as before, giving your employer more time to find your 6 replacement, makes you look good – period of notice is 4 weeks ought to do it.

Remember: probationary periods exist to make sure you're a good fit for your employer, but it works both ways. If you're really not happy in your new job and have tried to work things out, you're perfectly entitled to hand in your notice and move onto something better. 

Be nice, say thank you!

All's well that ends well: even if you don't necessarily leave your job on good terms and are glad that you won't have to see a certain colleague or two again anytime soon, be polite: say goodbye anyway and thank your manager and colleagues for everything. If you like, you can have a little goodbye party over lunch or invite your colleagues to the pub on your last day. By being polite and gracious about leaving, you're reinforcing how great you are and how hard it could be for your employer to lose you as a employee. And you never know, it could still be good for you, professionally speaking. 

You can find your new job with JobTeaser

Have you handed in your notice without already having a new job lined up? Or are you looking to quit your current job right away and want to find another internship or job at another company? Then plan your next move with JobTeaser. 

Whether you're looking for a student internship or a job for young professionals or graduates: we have a large selection of vacancies on our platform the JobTeaser app just waiting for you to apply to!

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Still wondering whether to resign? Check out our 9 signs that you should quit!