12 FREE Two-week Notice Letter Templates

If you’re planning to leave your job, one of the things you’ll want to do is write a two-week notice letter. This letter notifies your employer that you plan to leave in two weeks and explains your departure. This way, you can vacate from your current position on good terms with your employer and in a formal manner. In addition, giving your employer two weeks’ notice is enough to seek a replacement and re-assign your duties to a suitable employee.

This article will highlight why and how to write a two-week notice letter and what to include in the document.

Two-Weeks Notice Letter 

A two-week notice letter is a formal document informing your employer that you plan to leave your current position within two weeks.

The letter should be written following company guidelines and employment contract stipulations. You should review applicable resignation guidelines before drafting the letter to ensure compliance. In some instances, the letter is a formal requirement but in most cases sending the letter is standard practice.

Given below are two weeks notice letter templates:

In some cases, employers will request that you leave your post immediately. So, always anticipate this outcome by being financially prepared for premature termination.

Reasons to Give Two-Weeks Notice Letter

The purpose of the two weeks notice letter is to provide your employer with an official notification that you intend to leave your position at a particular future date. Some of the reasons why you should send this letter include:

• By notifying your employer in advance and providing them with reasons for leaving, you create an opportunity for them to understand the decision better. This ensures you retain a better working relationship before and after you leave your employment. This can be helpful if you intend to use them as a reference. References can be crucial in successfully securing employment in the future.
• Even if you have found a new job, communication regarding your intention of leaving will help coordinate with HR in preparing for the recruitment of your replacement. A notice thus makes this process more straightforward and less stressful while demonstrating your professionalism.  
• Parting ways on good terms is always advantageous for everyone involved. By keeping your current employer informed of your plans, you demonstrate a willingness to continue working with them and that you respect their work.
• By issuing an advance notice of resignation, you give the employer enough time to settle any accounts associated with you. In addition, this ensures you receive any financial details, such as paychecks and retirement accounts.
• The letter is typically filed once submitted. This ensures a written record of your decision to quit for future reference if needed. Employers also use it to determine why employees are leaving their company.

A two weeks notice letter shall be drafted in the business letter format as it is a formal document. Take into account the following formatting guidelines when writing a two weeks notice letter:

Header

A header should be provided in the letter. The header should contain the date, company details (name and address), and recipient’s name. The document is usually addressed to the company’s HR department or manager who oversees your work area. Informing the department head will allow them to distribute this information in the right hands and inform other departments that might be affected by your departure.

Introduction

The objective here is to inform your employer of your plans to leave. You should also include the final date of employment. In addition, it is essential to mention the exact position you are resigning from.

Body

The body of the letter should be thoughtfully constructed. The notice letter is an excellent way to put in writing an explanation for your departure. Most employers will require you to provide information on why you decided to quit to get insight into the situation. You can also highlight noteworthy details of your time as an employee and things you’ve learned at the particular position while appreciating the employer’s opportunity to work for them. 

Conclusion

To conclude the letter, outline how you would like to be of assistance with the transition before the final date of employment. Also, you should use the standard closing format, a complimentary close followed by your name.

Preparing a two weeks’ notice letter can be a daunting task. It requires you to think about your relationship with your boss and co-workers and what’s been happening at work. There are several principal factors to consider before writing a letter.

Here are guidelines that you should follow:

Meet with your employer

You should always inform your boss ahead of time, informing them at least two weeks in advance. Next, schedule a meeting with your employer, preferably your direct supervisor. An in-person meeting is preferred, but if it is impossible, you can plan for one via phone or video conference. If your supervisor is unavailable, schedule a meeting with HR. Schedule the meeting in good time so a concrete exit plan can be devised.

Verbally inform them of your decision

Before crafting the two weeks’ notice letter, inform your employer of your decision. When having a conversation, be honest without delving into unnecessary details. Therefore, plan which information you want to share with your employer. Lastly, be prepared for pushback and incentives such as pay rise. This is because most employers will try to retain excellent employees. So, if that is the situation, you must be prepared if you are willing to propose a counteroffer. If you don’t want to accept any incentives and offers, prepare a polite and professional statement.    

Prepare the draft of the resignation letter

Once you have met your employer and preferred the resignation date, you can start working on the letter. First, however, it is essential to prepare your thoughts in advance. This can be done by first preparing a draft of the letter. This can be done by jotting down the main points in a document and editing the draft into a comprehensive letter.

Once you’ve decided to resign from your job, you can then prepare a resignation letter. Certain information must be included in the letter, and it should be professionally written and represent you as a credible employee.

The critical information to include in a two weeks’ notice letter is as follows:

Announce your resignation 

From the onset, why you are writing the letter should be clear. Therefore, indicate that you are resigning from your position in the opening statement. Ensure to mention that you will officially resign in two weeks. Specify the exact date of resignation too.

Reasons for the decision 

Provide a brief explanation regarding the reasons behind your decision to resign. If you have any issues regarding your working conditions, personal issues, pay, benefits, or other issues, mention them here. Your employer will understand this, giving them a positive outlook on your decision.

Express your gratitude 

It would be best to express your gratitude to your employer for the job opportunity, support, and time they’ve accorded you and how they played a part in helping you achieve your goals. Mention how valuable your work at their company is to your career and personal growth.

Ensure to work for two more weeks 

Next, reassure the employer that you intend to work diligently during the next two weeks until the resignation date. Also, offer to help the company with the transition. 

End on good terms 

Make sure you are ending the letter on good terms. Resignation is typical and expected in the workplace. Therefore, try not to make it a hostile exchange. Your employer and colleagues are part of your professional network, and it is important to part ways on good terms to ensure the relationships are not broken.

Here are a few tips for crafting this short but important correspondence:

Use business letter format

Use a business letter format when creating the two weeks’ notice letter. This allows you to present an organized and professional document. Provide your contact details, employer’s contact details, and date at the top of the letter. 

Keep it short

The two weeks’ notice letter should be concise and to the point. It should only contain your reasons for quitting and how much notice you give them.

Be positive

It is best to focus on providing a reason for your resignation and avoiding personal criticism or negative comments about your employer, colleagues, or work ethics. This way, your letter can remain as professional as possible. In addition, a positive resignation letter is a good way of terminating your employment on good terms.

Send the letter to the right people

It is imperative to ensure the letter is delivered to the right person. This ensures a smooth resignation process. You will typically have to send a copy to your immediate supervisor and another to the HR department.

Read sample letters

It is also recommended that you read sample letters before sending yours, as they help you craft a proper resignation letter. This is so that you can better understand the language used in a resignation letter. Review the samples but do not duplicate the samples when preparing your two weeks’ notice letter.

When to Issue a Two Weeks’ Notice Letter? 

Depending on the case, you may or may not be required to issue a two weeks’ notice of resignation. For example, you may resign without notice if you cannot give any notice due to unavoidable circumstances. However, in some instances, you may have to stay for the notice period to help with the transition. In other circumstances, employers will request that you quit your duties immediately after they receive your notification letter. 

Consequences of Not Giving the Notice 

First and foremost, a two weeks’ notice letter is not a legal requirement under federal or state laws. However, some employers will include it as a resignation requirement in the company policies and employment contracts. Therefore, failure to issue a notice of resignation in such instances may result in loss of send-off benefits such as unused vacation days. Thus, familiarize yourself with employment contract terms and company policies to ensure you remain compliant.

Failure to give notice when quitting also leaves a negative impression. This can ruin your chances of getting good references or employment from the company. Strong references are invaluable in the employment sector.