Congratulations! You found the brand-new opportunity you were looking for. Now it is time to take the next step, to let your current employer know your intention to leave the company. Writing your formal resignation letter is important to leave the doors open, mostly if you spent many years in your current company. We will go through the process of typing your resignation in the following paragraphs.
What is a Resignation Letter?
A resignation letter is a short letter that informs your employer of your intention to leave the job. Some people write it because they have a new job lined up while others just want to move on. It is an important document because it enables you to maintain a positive relationship with your soon-to-be-ex-employer.
You must write a resignation letter in Trinidad and Tobago to alert co-workers, management and human resources of your decision to leave your current position. In most cases, you should send it at least two weeks before your intended departure date. Remember, you might need your employer to provide a reference so as well as serving official notice of your decision; it can ensure your exit is a smooth and dignified one.
The structure of a Resignation Letter
You should keep it short and to the point; most resignation letters are less than one A4 page long and follow this structure.
INTRODUCTION
Perhaps you have spoken to your manager about your reasons for leaving already. Whether you have or not, there is no need to include them in the letter. Begin with a simple notification:
“Dear [Boss’ Name],
Please accept this letter as formal notice of my intention to resign my position as [title] with [name of organization]. My last working day will be [insert date here; it is typically two weeks from the day you serve notice]
MAIN BODY
You use this as an opportunity to thank the company for the opportunity while outlining aspects of the role and organization that you enjoyed. This isn’t the time to write about how delighted you are to leave and how much you dislike Steve in accounts. You might need this company to provide a reference in future so keep it courteous and professional!
CONCLUSION
State that you are willing to assist the company in the transition. Avoid going into great detail and don’t promise something that will be tough to deliver. Again, something basic will suffice:
“During the last two weeks, I will do whatever I can to help train other team members and complete my remaining duties. Please let me know if there is anything specific I can do to assist.
I hope the organization continues to enjoy sustained success and would like to remain in touch.
Yours Sincerely
[Your Name]
What to Include in your Resignation Letter
Although brevity is the goal, there are a few pieces of essential information to include:
Relevant Details: Your name, date of resignation, the position you are leaving, when the resignation will take place and your signature.
Reasoning: You are under no obligation to discuss the reasons for your departure, but it may be worth mentioning a few things if you believe it will be constructive. For example, you could be honest and say there are limited opportunities to progress in the role, you want a new challenge or you have landed a new job.
Professional Tone: If things started to go sour between you and your employer before the end, it is tempting to let them have it with both barrels. In reality, you have to stay restrained and use a courteous tone. It is always a good idea to thank them for the opportunities they provided to you over the years.
Tie up Loose Ends: You want your exit to be a stress-free exercise so use the resignation letter to bring your employer up to speed. For instance, if you are in the middle of a project you can explain how far along you are, say where the work is saved and provide the next person with tips on successfully completing the project.
Proper Formatting: As well as typing the resignation letter, make sure it follows standard letter writing conventions. Address it to the correct person, include the date and use short paragraphs.
What NOT to Include in your Resignation Letter
If you had a particularly fractious relationship with a manager or an executive at your company, it is normal to want to outline your dislike of them in a resignation letter; don’t do it! Here are a few things you should NOT include:
Negativity: Your resignation letter isn’t a confidential document, and it might be shared with the very person you are critical of. Likewise, don’t say anything that suggests the company is inferior to a rival. An example is: “I am moving to an industry leader.”
Mentions of Money: If you have received a job offer with better financial terms, meet with your boss and discuss the matter instead of resigning immediately. You never know, your company may be willing to meet or even exceed this offer.
Immediate Notice: Never say you are leaving immediately because it could be in breach of your employment contract. You might be in an ‘at will’ employment contract which means you or your employer can sever it at any time with no notice. If you are a contract worker and leave before your time is up, you could incur financial penalties.
Leave your position for good
Before creating a resignation letter in Trinidad and Tobago, research your employer’s policy on resignation to clarify the notice period. Did you know that an organization is allowed to ask you to leave on the day you resign? In other words, if you don’t already have another role lined up, consider whether it is a good idea to leave immediately. It might be better to look for new vacancies in Trinidad before handing in the letter.
Although you are leaving your position for good, the world of recruitment is smaller than you think. All it takes is a company to contact your old employer, and you’ll miss out on your dream role because you didn’t display tact when writing your resignation letter.
