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The Resignation Letter
Basic ground rule - The resignation letter should be short and direct.
Remember that this is your official notification that you are leaving your current employer. It is normally the point-of-no-return.
You are physically leaving; however, it's not "goodbye," you will be using your boss and peers as references in the years to come.
People seem to remember how an individual leaves a company when it is a "classy exit" or when it's the opposite of that, they remember even more.
It is not the time to "vent" or review problems - no burning of corporate bridges, especially if you are remaining in the same industry and/or profession, you may work with these same people in the future.
A sample of a resignation letter:
Dear Susan:
Please accept my resignation as Development Project Leader for ACME Corporation. I have sincerely enjoyed our association.
This letter is a two week notification and my last day of work will be Friday, August 24, 2001.
I wish you and the company continued success.
Very truly yours,
John Smith
Other Ancillary Resignation Issues
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You may wish to tell your current employer which company you are going to work for and in what capacity, however it is not necessary.
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Your two week notice is considered normal and within corporate expectations. If you give less notification, you are burning a corporate bridge.
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After you give "two week's notice" with a resignation letter, the company (because of the nature of your position or the industry you're working in) may ask you to leave prior to the two week date.
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Do not feel offended. That may be normal operating procedure for the company and/or may be dictated by security issues.
Should you get paid for the full two weeks? - probably.
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If they ask you to stay on for a period greater than two weeks, you have to make the decision.
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Your new employer will be expecting you in two weeks, the future is represented by your new position and loyalty should be with your new position.
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You have met your obligations with a two-week notification
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If you have a high level Vice President or CIO position, then two to four weeks time to leave is an acceptable time period for this level of position.
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Remember, make yours a "classy exit" and no corporate bridge burning.
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