The template:

Hi [Manager],

Please accept this email as formal notice of my resignation from [Company]. My last day will be [Date], two weeks from today.

I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had here and happy to help with handoff over the next two weeks. Let me know how I can make the transition smooth.

Best, [Your Name]

That's it. 3-5 sentences.

What to include

  • Formal notice statement
  • Last day (two weeks from today)
  • Brief gratitude
  • Offer to help with handoff

What to skip

  • Reason for leaving (optional verbal; don't put in writing)
  • Long emotional farewell
  • Specific complaints
  • New job announcement

Variants

Standard:

"Please accept this email as formal notice of my resignation from [Company]. My last day will be [Date]. Happy to help with handoff."

Warmer (for a manager you like):

"It's been a meaningful chapter for me, and I'm grateful for the time. Please accept this as my formal two weeks' notice; my last day will be [Date]."

Brief (after a difficult relationship):

"Please accept this as my formal notice of resignation. My last day will be [Date]."

When to deliver

After a verbal conversation with your manager. The letter is documentation; the conversation is the actual moment.

What to avoid

  • Burning bridges
  • Detailed complaints
  • Offering opinions on the company's future
  • Anything you wouldn't want forwarded to HR

What happens after

  • HR will reach out about offboarding
  • You'll have exit interviews (optional but expected)
  • Final paycheck and benefits info
  • Equipment return

The bigger pattern

A clean two-week notice protects your reputation. The world is small; managers move; references matter.

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For more: two week notice template, how to write a resignation letter, resignation letter example.