Leave your job on good terms. Covers resignation letters, notice periods, transition documentation, benefits review, exit interviews, and reference requests.
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Before You Resign
Secure a signed offer letter from your next employer before giving notice
Never resign based on a verbal offer. Wait until you have a signed offer letter with start date, salary, and benefits confirmed in writing. Offers get rescinded 5-10% of the time due to budget changes, hiring freezes, or background check issues. The signed letter is your safety net.
Review your employment contract for notice period, non-compete, and equity clauses
Some contracts require 30 days notice or have non-compete clauses that affect your next role. Stock options may have a 90-day exercise window after departure. Equity vesting schedules may make it worth staying an extra month. Read every clause — do not assume you remember the terms you signed years ago.
Save personal files, contacts, and work samples before announcing your departure
Once you resign, your access to company systems may be restricted quickly — sometimes within hours. Save personal files from your work computer, export contacts you want to keep, and screenshot or download any work samples for your portfolio (respecting confidentiality agreements).
Write Your Resignation Letter
Write a brief, professional resignation letter (3-4 paragraphs max)
Include: your statement of resignation, your last day (based on your notice period), a thank-you for the opportunity, and an offer to help with the transition. Keep it positive regardless of your actual feelings. This letter goes in your HR file permanently.
State your last day clearly, based on the standard 2-week notice period
Two weeks is standard in the US. Count 10 business days from your resignation date. Some industries (finance, healthcare, senior roles) expect 3-4 weeks. Check your contract and industry norms. Offering less than 2 weeks burns bridges unless the company has treated you poorly.
Keep the tone positive — do not list grievances or burn bridges
Your resignation letter is not the place to air complaints. Even if you are leaving because of a terrible manager, write: 'I am grateful for the growth opportunities during my time here.' You may need references, future collaborations, or industry connections from this company for years to come.
The Resignation Conversation
Tell your direct manager first, in person or on a video call
Your manager should hear it from you before anyone else — not from HR, not from a colleague, and not from an email. Schedule a private 15-minute meeting. Start with: 'I have made the difficult decision to move on to a new opportunity. My last day will be [date].' Be direct and respectful.
Be prepared for a counteroffer and decide in advance if you would accept
50% of employees who accept counteroffers leave within 12 months anyway. If you are leaving for reasons beyond money — growth, culture, management — a raise will not fix those issues. Decide before the conversation whether any counteroffer would change your mind. If not, politely decline.
Offer to help train your replacement or document your responsibilities
This is the single most professional thing you can do during your notice period. Say: 'I want to make this transition as smooth as possible. I am happy to document my processes and train whoever takes over.' This goodwill pays dividends in references and reputation for years.
Transition and Documentation
Create a transition document covering all your ongoing projects and responsibilities
Include: project status, key contacts, deadlines, account credentials (shared appropriately), and where to find important files. A 2-3 page document takes 1-2 hours to write and prevents 20+ hours of confusion for your team after you leave. This is your parting gift.
Introduce your replacement or interim point of contact to key stakeholders
Send a brief email to each stakeholder: 'I am transitioning my responsibilities. Going forward, [name] will be your point of contact for [area]. I have briefed them on our current work together.' This prevents stakeholders from feeling abandoned and protects relationships your team needs.
Complete any critical deliverables before your last day
Identify the 2-3 most important tasks that are close to completion and finish them. Leaving projects 90% done is almost worse than 0% done because someone else has to figure out the remaining 10% without context. If something cannot be finished, document exactly where you stopped.
Benefits and Financial Review
Check your health insurance end date and COBRA options
Most employer health insurance ends on your last day or at the end of the month. COBRA lets you continue the same plan for 18 months but you pay the full premium (typically $500-$700/month for individuals, $1,500-$2,000 for families). Know the gap between your coverage end date and your new plan's start date.
Review your 401(k) balance and rollover options
You have 3 options: leave it in your current employer's plan, roll it into your new employer's plan, or roll it into a personal IRA. Direct rollovers avoid tax penalties. If you have a 401(k) loan, the remaining balance typically becomes due within 60 days of departure.
Check for unused PTO payout or forfeiture rules
Some states require employers to pay out unused PTO. Others allow companies to forfeit it. Check your employee handbook and state law. If your state mandates payout, verify the amount on your final paycheck. This can be worth $1,000-$5,000 depending on your accrued days.
Review stock option exercise window and vesting schedule
If you have unvested stock options, those are typically forfeited. Vested options usually have a 90-day exercise window after departure. Calculate the cost to exercise and the potential tax implications before your last day. Letting options expire because you missed the deadline is an expensive mistake.
Last Day and Exit
Participate in the exit interview honestly but diplomatically
Exit interviews are an opportunity to give constructive feedback that might help your former colleagues. Be honest about systemic issues (poor processes, unclear goals) but avoid personal attacks on specific people. What you say may be summarized and shared with leadership — keep it professional.
Request LinkedIn recommendations from your manager and close colleagues
Ask before your last day while the working relationship is fresh. Send specific requests: 'Would you write 2-3 sentences about our work on [project]?' Recommendations written during the goodbye period tend to be warmer and more detailed than those requested months later.
Return all company property: laptop, badges, keys, parking passes
Create a checklist of everything you need to return: laptop, charger, monitor, phone, access badges, keys, parking passes, and any company-purchased equipment. Some companies withhold your final paycheck until all equipment is returned. Ship items with tracking if you are remote.
Send a brief farewell email to your team with personal contact info
Keep it short: thank the team, share one positive memory, and include your personal email or LinkedIn URL. Do not send a company-wide email unless you are senior enough that it is expected. Send it on your last afternoon, not your last morning — leaving time for replies makes departures awkward.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much notice should I give when quitting?
Two weeks is the standard minimum in the US, though senior roles and specialized positions often warrant 3-4 weeks. Check your employment contract for specific notice requirements — some include 30-60 day clauses, and violating them may trigger repayment of signing bonuses or relocation expenses. Give notice on a Monday or Tuesday rather than Friday, which gives your manager time to react and plan during business hours.
Should I accept a counteroffer from my current employer?
Studies consistently show that 70-80% of employees who accept counteroffers leave within 12 months anyway — the underlying reasons for wanting to leave rarely change. Counteroffers often create resentment from management who view your loyalty as conditional and may deprioritize your future advancement. Accept a counteroffer only if the original motivations for leaving (specific project, team conflict, commute) are directly and permanently resolved by the offer.
What should I say in my resignation letter?
Keep it to 3-4 sentences: state that you are resigning, your last day (calculated from your notice period), a brief thank-you for the opportunity, and an offer to help with the transition. Do not include reasons for leaving, criticism of the company, or details about your new role. The resignation letter becomes part of your permanent HR file and may be referenced in future background checks or rehire decisions.
Can my employer walk me out immediately after I resign?
Yes — employers can end the employment relationship immediately upon receiving your resignation, even if you offered two weeks' notice. Some industries (finance, defense, tech with competitive concerns) routinely escort departing employees out the same day. In this scenario, most employers pay out the notice period ('garden leave'). Check your state laws — some states require immediate final paycheck upon termination, even if you resigned.
What happens to my benefits when I quit?
Health insurance typically ends on the last day of the month in which you resign, though some employers terminate coverage on your last working day. COBRA continuation coverage allows you to keep the same plan for 18 months at 102% of the total premium (employer + employee share), which averages $600-$700/month for individuals and $1,700-$2,000 for families. 401(k) funds remain yours — roll them into an IRA within 60 days to avoid the 20% automatic withholding on direct distributions.