It’s common courtesy to give your employer at least two weeks’ notice of your resignation, but sometimes that’s not an option. There are many circumstances that may warrant an immediate resignation. Perhaps you’re dealing with a hostile or unsafe work environment that’s jeopardizing your mental or physical health. Maybe you’ve been offered a new position that aligns better with your long-term goals, and there’s an immediate start date. Sometimes there are health or family emergencies that leave us no choice but to move on from our jobs and take care of ourselves and others. In these cases, sending a resignation letter with notice may not be feasible.
Leaving a job is a huge life decision and can be stressful, especially when you need to leave without notice. Writing a strong resignation letter might feel like the least of your concerns, but doing so can preserve your reputation and your relationship with your employer. Remaining professional, transparent, and appreciative in your resignation letter can help soften the news for your employer and leave a positive and lasting impression.
In this article, we cover everything you need to know about writing a resignation letter without notice and provide an example to get you started.
Overview of resigning without a notice period
A resignation without notice is when an employee resigns from their position without the typical two weeks’ notice. When resigning without notice, your letter should state clearly that the resignation will be effective immediately. Adding context and expressing gratitude can help preserve your professional reputation.
How to write a resignation letter without notice
The goal of a resignation letter without notice is to clearly and quickly communicate that you are leaving the company. Read on for everything your letter should include.
Essential elements of a resignation letter:
Statement of resignation
Your statement of resignation directly states the purpose of your letter. In the first sentence, clearly state your intention to resign and that your resignation is effective immediately. (For example, “I regret to inform you that I will be resigning from my position, effective immediately.”)You may want to follow your statement of resignation with an apology or statement of gratitude to soften the news of your first sentence. For example, “I understand that this is inconvenient for the company, and I apologize for any distress my immediate resignation may cause.”
Reason for immediate resignation
Including your reason for immediate resignation can help provide transparency, but it is not necessary. If the reason for your resignation is out of your control, letting your employer know the reason can help avoid misunderstandings and keep the relationship intact.If you’re resigning due to an unhealthy working environment, it’s OK to state that, but hold off on going into too much detail. For example, “The current state of this work environment has been harmful to my mental and physical health. I need to prioritize my health, so I am resigning immediately.”
Expression of gratitude
Gratitude is everything. Express your appreciation for the time you worked there, the new skills and experience you gained,and the relationships you built. The more specific you are about what you appreciate about the company the more sincere you’ll come across. Focusing on what you’re grateful for can leave a positive lasting impression on your employer and lighten the mood overall.
In the case of an unhealthy work environment, you might focus on specific colleagues that helped you, or aspects of the job that initially drew you to the role.
Contact information
Keep your channels of communication open. At the top of your resignation letter, put an email and/or cell phone number under your name. If you intend to keep in contact with your employer once you leave, it’s a smart idea to include your personal email or phone number because your company email and phone number will likely be deactivated.
Tips for maintaining sincerity and warmth in the letter
Striking a sincere, warm, yet professional tone in your letter is important for conveying genuine appreciation and leaving a positive impression. Grammarly’s free tone detection feature can help ensure that you’re striking your desired tone. And customers with a paid plan can adjust their tone in a single click, using Grammarly’s tone suggestions. To get started, here are ideas to help you convey warmth and sincerity in your letter:
- Emphasize how grateful you are for the experience you had working there.
- Talk about specific projects, opportunities, or support you received.
- If you’re comfortable doing so, be transparent about your reasons for leaving. It can help your employer understand why you made the decision to leave. It shows your willingness to be open and honest with the company and enhances your sincerity.
- Express your hopes and well wishes for the company’s future endeavors.
- Avoid harsh criticism.
- Open and close the letter with a warm greeting and sign-off.
Tips for maintaining professionalism in the letter
As important as it is to be warm and sincere in your resignation letter without notice, it’s perhaps even more important to remain professional throughout. Here’s how to strike a confident and professional tone:
- Format your letter as you would any formal business letter.
- Address your employer by using their appropriate title and correct surname.
- Avoid colloquial language, jokes, and slang.
- Use the active voice to sound more self-assured and declarative.
- Steer clear of unnecessary qualifiers before statements, such as “I think…” or “I could be wrong but….”
- Opt for plain language instead of jargon to convey clarity and confidence.
- Wield emotion strategically. Emotions deliver impact and may have a place in your letter. But it’s better to save stream-of-consciousness venting for a trusted confidant.
- Avoid overexplaining your circumstances, and aim to keep the letter short and to the point.
- Ensure that your letter is error-free. Grammarly can help you check your letter for concision, professional tone, and grammatical errors so that your message is clear.
Example of a resignation letter without notice
[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, Zip Code] [Your email address] [Your phone number]
[Date]
[Employer’s Name] [Company Name] [Company Address] [City, State, Zip Code]
Dear [Employer’s Name],
I am writing to inform you of my immediate resignation from my position as [role] at [Company Name]. After careful consideration, I have concluded that it is in my best interest to step down from my role effective immediately.
I want to express my gratitude for the opportunities and experiences I’ve gained during my time at [Company Name]. Thanks to this role I have increased my skills in [area of skill increase] and made invaluable connections. However, due to unforeseen personal circumstances, I have no choice but to leave immediately.
I understand that my sudden departure from the company may come as a shock, and I apologize for any inconvenience it causes.
I am thankful for the support and guidance I’ve received from you and my colleagues during my time here. I have appreciated the chance to contribute to the team and wish [Company Name] continued success in the future. Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Signature]
Final touches: Formatting and proofreading
- Proper letter formatting can get tricky. Grammarly’s generative AI can help! Enter prompts to have Grammarly generate a formatted letter for you.
- If you’re stuck on how to write a letter of resignation without notice, Grammarly’s resignation letter generator can help with a first draft.
- Don’t skip the proofreading process! Grammatical mistakes and spelling errors can make you appear unprofessional. Grammarly’s real-time writing suggestions catch easy-to-miss errors and check for tone, clarity, conciseness, and more so you can review, rewrite, and revise in a few clicks, not a few hours.
- Double-check that all the details in your letter are accurate, especially your resignation date.
After your resignation letter is complete, you might want to craft a farewell message to your fellow colleagues. People make invaluable connections at work. Letting everyone know the circumstances surrounding your resignation and wishing them well in their future endeavors can help ease any lingering hesitation about moving on.
Resignation letter without notice FAQs
What is the typical notice period for a job resignation?
You should try to give at least two weeks’ notice when resigning from a job.
Why would someone need to resign without notice?
Reasons that someone may need to resign without notice can include:
- The work environment is unsafe
- A better opportunity has come along that has an immediate start date
- There’s been a family emergency
- Health reasons
- Ethical concerns with the company
- Legal reasons
How can I ensure a smooth transition when resigning immediately?
You can ensure a smooth transition when resigning immediately by being transparent about your reasons for leaving, expressing your sincere appreciation for your time spent at the company, and offering to assist with the transition process until your final day.
How can I use AI to help me write a resignation letter without notice?
You can use Grammarly’s resignation letter generator to generate a draft or outline of your letter. Then let Grammarly’s feedback on tone, conciseness, clarity, and more help you revise your letter. Grammarly’s built-in proofreading can ensure that your final draft is polished.
