How To Write An Immediate Resignation Letter (Template + Examples)

It is a professional courtesy to give your employer a two weeks notice when you leave your job. Sometimes that isn’t an option and immediate resignation is the way to go.

If you need to resign from your job immediately, we have the steps to write your resignation letter, examples of a resignation letter, reasons for immediate resignation, and tips to keep in mind.

Key Takeaways

• To write an immediate resignation letter, make sure to write a formal letter with some details stating your immediate resignation.

• A two weeks notice letter sometimes isn’t an option in situations such as of family crisis, unsafe work environment, or illegal work activity, immediate resignation is the best option.

• Keep things professional between your coworkers and boss that way you can keep those professional relationships for future references.

How to Write an Immediate Resignation Letter

1. Formal letterhead. Stick to the formal business letter format here, which means kicking things off with a formal letterhead. This should include your name, position, contact information, and the date. For a physical letter, put these things at the top. In an email, you can put this information at the bottom, after your sign off.

2. Salutation and intent to resign. No need to get fancy here; a simple “Dear [supervisor/manager’s name]” will suffice. Follow that up with a statement that you are resigning from X position and giving the date of your last day of work.

3. The body. This is your chance to explain your situation a little bit. It should come as no surprise that leaving immediately is bound to create some tension, inconvenience, and maybe even resentment on the part of your employer, so aim to keep this section positive. Here’s what to include in the body:

   • Some details. You’re not obliged to tell your employer any reason at all, but if you want to leave on better terms, it’s a good idea to give them at least a sketch of your situation. Only provide information you’re comfortable sharing.

     If there’s no part of your reasoning that you feel all right divulging, good old “personal reasons” covers all the bases. Remember that you can round out this letter with an actual conversation or less formal emails to relevant people.

   • Transition info. This one is a maybe: you don’t want to say you’ll help out with the transition if you have no intention of doing that.

     Ideally, you want to at least say you’re available to respond to emails asking about your progress on certain projects, how your replacement should handle tasks, and handing over any documents that the company needs to keep the day-to-day operations floating along.

     Maybe you don’t feel bad about leaving your coworkers in the lurch (hell, maybe your relationship with these people is the reason for your immediate resignation), but how you handle this difficult situation will be the lasting impression your employer has of you — try to make it as positive as possible.

   • Express how grateful you are. This is when you say grateful you are to have been given such a great opportunity to work for the company. Focus on the skills that your employer helped hone and why you enjoyed working there. Don’t go over the top and provide oodles of praise — a quick 1-2 sentences will suffice.

     If you want, you can thank people personally in more detail later on, face-to-face, or in personalized emails to people who had a positive impact on your work experience.

4. Formal sign-off. No surprises here; end your letter with a formal sign-off (i.e. “Sincerely”) and provide your signature and printed name (don’t sweat the signature if it’s an email). You can also include a bit more gratitude (“Thanks for the opportunity…”), but judge including this based on how much gratitude you’ve already infused into the body paragraph(s).

   If you’re comfortable with it, also let your employer know that you’re available to contact if they need help with the transition.

5. Keep it professional. In most scenarios, an employer is going to be a little peeved about an immediate resignation. Smooth this over by being as courteous and professional as you can be in the letter.

   Remember, this is the official document that marks your termination, and will likely be kept in an employee file that might be shared with future potential employers. Take it seriously and don’t give anyone a reason to think your letter was ill-conceived.

Immediate Resignation Letter Example

Immediate Resignation Letter Template

Reasons for Immediate Resignation

There are plenty of valid reasons why someone might need to quit a job without providing advanced notice. While it’s not a good idea to go into too much detail about your reasons in your resignation letter, it helps to have it clear in your mind if you choose to explain your decision more in person.

Common reasons to quit a job immediately include:

• Family emergency

• Mental health

• Medical issues

• Personal crisis

Reasons that have to do with work environment include:

• Unsafe working conditions

• Mental, physical, emotional, or sexual harassment

• Illegal or unehtical workplace practices

• Breach(es) or contract

Note that in the above cases, it might be prudent to follow up with reports to relevant regulatory bodies. It’s also worth noting that it may be possible to receive unemployment after quitting if you can show that you tried to resolve the above issues but your employer failed to respond adequately.

Tips For Immediate Resignation

Even though resigning without a notice period isn’t ideal, there are still some steps you should take to make sure you leave your post on the best terms possible:

1. Talk to your boss. There’s no getting around the fact that this is going to be an awkward conversation. Power through and schedule a meeting as soon as possible; even an extra day or two of notice will go a long way in making it a smoother transition for both you and your employer.

2. Provide reasons for leaving. Resigning from your post immediately is generally frowned upon by employers who will be left in the lurch by your absence. The least you can do is state your reason for your immediate departure.

   Otherwise, your employer might assume the worst: that you were negligent in planning and you’ve put the company in a tough spot for no reason other than your laziness. You don’t need to go into great depth when providing a reason, but anything is better than leaving immediately without any reason at all.

3. Plan as much as possible. While two weeks’ notice might not be plausible in your scenario, you should still aim to give as much notice as possible.

4. Hand in your resignation letter. This is the official documentation that will be kept in your employee file, and it’s vital that you provide this to make your departure as professional as it can be.

What Not to Include in an Immediate Resignation Letter

• Too many details. You don’t need to give the timeline of medical treatments or the grisly details regarding a sudden family crisis. This is an official document, and you don’t owe your employer the nitty-gritty details of your difficult situation — the barest facts you can provide are good enough.

  And if you choose not to include your reason for leaving here at all, that’s fine too; as long as your name, position, and your final date of work are clearly stated, you’ve handed in an acceptable resignation letter.

• Negativity. This is not the time or place to air your grievances against horrible coworkers/managers or rip into the unethical work practices of your company. If you feel obliged to report a person or practice to HR or a watchdog group, go for it, but don’t be negative in your official resignation letter.

• Questions about pay or benefits: If you need to find out about your final paycheck, what’s going on with your benefits, or how to roll over your 401k, talk to HR or payroll. This letter isn’t the place for such queries.

• Promises you can’t keep. It’s nice to offer your help with the transition, but be realistic. If you have no intention of responding to emails or answering calls from your soon-to-be former employer, don’t mislead them. Think about what you’re willing to do and offer nothing more than this.

• Errors. It goes without saying that you want your last impression to be error-free, so give your letter a careful proofread to make sure there are no typos or grammatical mistakes.

Immediate Resignation Letter FAQ

1. Can I resign immediately?

   Yes, you can resign from your job immediately. While it is courtesy to give your employer a two-weeks notice, it is not required. Most U.S. states have at-will employment which means that an employee is able to resign at any time. There can be some issues such as legal action from an employer for ending an employment contract early.

2. Can I quit without giving a two-weeks notice?

   Yes, you can quit your job without giving your employer a two-weeks notice. There is no state or federal law that requires you to give your employer two weeks before leaving your job. You can give your employer as much or as little notice when resigning from a job.

3. Can an employer refuse an immediate resignation?

   No, an employer can’t refuse an immediate resignation from an employee. Before handing in an immediate resignation letter, double-check your employment contract to avoid breaking it and have possible legal actions taken against you.

4. What is an immediate resignation letter?

   An immediate resignation letter is a formal document informing your employer of your immediate departure from your job. This letter should state your intent to resign, a reason for leaving, which is optional, transitional information, and your gratitude for the job and opportunity. Reasons for an immediate resignation letter include family emergency, unsafe working conditions, or medical issues.

Final Thoughts

Leaving a job without advanced notice of resignation might not be ideal, but there’s still a way to pull it off gracefully. Writing a resignation letter is a polite and professional way to leave your position without burning your bridges entirely.

References

1. Northeastern University – Resignation Letter Sample

Author

Matthew Zane

Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.