Leaving a job can be a significant step in your career. If you have found a new job opportunity, chose another industry or simply want to move forward, the way you resign from your current role might affect relationships with your employer and co-workers.
Well-written and professional two-week notice letter will help you to officially state your decision and leave time for preparation on the side of the employer. Even though the “two-week notice” is frequently used phrase, workers in Ireland need to check their employment contract because the notice period might be longer than the statutory minimum. According to the Irish employment laws, if a worker has more than 13 weeks of continuous service in a company, she/he is usually obliged to give at least one week of notice unless a longer period is stated in the contract.
What Is a Two-Week Notice Letter?
Two-week notice letter is a formal letter in which you officially notify about your resignation. The letter usually contains the position, resignation and the date when you are leaving.
There is no need to explain in details why you are leaving. In fact, it is better to be concise, polite and professional in this case.
The resignation letters might appear in your employment records later on; therefore, it is better to avoid any emotional comments, complaints or criticism of your employer or co-workers.
What Should You Include?
Professional resignation letter might include the following elements:
– Date of the letter
– Manager or employer’s name
– Position you are currently holding
– Resignation statement
– Final date of work
– Words of appreciation
– Offer of help
– Formal ending
Modern career advice suggests specifying the final date of work and offering reasonable help with the transfer.
Simple Two-Week Notice Letter Template
Below there is a template which can be easily adjusted to your situation:
Subject: Resignation – [Your Name]
Dear [Manager’s Name],
Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my position as [Job Title] at [Company Name].
According to my notice requirements, my last working day will be [Date].
I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunities, experience and support I received while working for the company. I am thankful for having had an opportunity to work in the team.
I will do everything I can to make the transition smoother and to help with the work and transfer of responsibilities where needed.
Thank you once again for the opportunity.
Kind regards,
[Your Name]
Example for Someone Moving to a New Opportunity
The disclosure of the new employer or details of the next job is not required.
For example:
Dear Ms Murphy,
Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my position as Marketing Executive at ABC Company.
My final working day will be [Date], according to the notice period stated in my employment contract.
I am grateful for the experience and professional development I received while working for the company. I enjoyed working with the team and thank you for the support I have received.
I will continue to perform my duties and help with the transfer before leaving.
Kind regards,
[Name]
Such letter leaves positive impression while giving the employer necessary information.
What If You Are Leaving Due to Difficult Circumstances?
Not all resignations happen in the best way. A worker might leave the job due to dissatisfaction in the workplace, changes in personal life, career advancement or some other delicate reason.
In this case, the resignation letter is not the place to list all the problems you have. If you want to report about them, you need to use the procedure suggested by your company for such problems separately.
How to Make Your Notice Period Work for You
After resigning, try to maintain professional behavior. Create a list of your ongoing projects, deadlines, contacts and responsibilities. Prepare your files in order to make it easier for someone else to understand your work.
Where needed, offer to document processes or to train someone in doing your work. This will help you to leave the good impression about yourself.
Also, it is recommended to keep professional relations with your colleagues and managers. You can find useful information about them after leaving and use your former colleagues as references or customers in the future.
Your Resignation Is Also a Career Transition
Leaving the old employer usually means the beginning of a new stage in your career. When accepting your resignation, you need to review your professional documents.
Your résumé (CV) needs to be updated in order to represent the most up-to-date responsibility, achievements and transferable skills you have gained. If your current CV was made several years ago, it will require considerable updating before starting applying for new positions.
In this case, the résumé writing service can help you to evaluate the positioning of your experience.
Updating Your LinkedIn Profile after Resigning
LinkedIn CV should match the CV. Check your headline, professional summary, work experience and skills to make sure that everything is accurate about your experience.
However, LinkedIn strategy is more than just copying the CV to your profile. LinkedIn provides you with the opportunity to tell about yourself, your career interests and achievements in a more casual manner.
If you are actively looking for a new job, your profile needs to fit the target positions while representing your true employment status.
Preparing for the Irish Job Market
For professionals who plan finding new positions, updating career documents is especially helpful before starting a new job hunt.
The candidates who need CV writing help in Ireland need to emphasize documents which represent your experience but are still appropriate for the target job and industry.
The objective is not to make a CV too complicated; on the contrary, it should make it easy for someone to see and understand your experience quickly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Some mistakes can ruin your resignation letter:
– Uncertainty about the final date: always make sure about your last working day according to the contract and notice period.
– Emotional content: resignation letter must remain professional even if you did not have good experience with the company.
– Too much detail: employers need only the information about your resignation, not a full list of reasons why you have left.
– Not checking the contract: in Ireland notice period in the contract might be longer than the statutory minimum.
– Poor handover planning: finishing your important work and preparing your responsibilities will simplify the process for everyone
Final Thoughts
Writing a two-week notice letter does not necessarily have to be complicated process. The best resignation letters are usually clear, polite and focused on practical issues.
Before writing your letter, check the employment contract and calculate the notice period and your final working date accurately. After sending the letter, use this time to finish the work, facilitate handover process and maintain professional relations.
Finally, remember to use resignation as one of the steps in your career development. Updating your CV and LinkedIn profile before starting to apply for new positions will help you to present your recent experience accurately.
Note: Employment contracts and individual situations vary. The above information is only career advice and not legal consultation. For any issues with employment rights or obligations in Ireland, contact Workplace Relations Commission or qualified professional.
