How to Write a Two Weeks Notice (With Templates)
Three copy-ready two weeks notice templates (standard letter, email, short notice), what to leave out, and the right order for telling people you are leaving.
You have accepted the offer, or decided you are done, and now you need the actual document. If you are wondering how to write a two weeks notice, the good news is that it is one of the shortest pieces of professional writing you will ever produce. People run into trouble by adding to it.
A resignation letter is not the place to explain yourself, settle scores, or say goodbye. It is a dated record that you are leaving and when. The conversation with your manager carries the human part. The letter just makes it official.
Below are three templates you can copy, a list of what to leave out, and the order in which to tell people so nobody important hears it secondhand.
A two weeks notice should state that you are resigning, give your exact last day, thank your employer briefly, and offer to help with the handover. That is four or five sentences. Tell your manager in a conversation first, then send the letter or email the same day. Leave out your reasons, your complaints, and your new employer’s name.
What a Two Weeks Notice Letter Needs to Include
Every version of this letter has the same five parts:
- The date you are writing it. This starts the clock on your notice period.
- Who it is addressed to. Your direct manager, by name.
- A plain statement that you are resigning, with your job title.
- Your last day of work, as a calendar date. Write “Friday, October 9,” not “two weeks from today.” Count ten working days from the day you deliver it and check the result against a calendar.
- A line of thanks and an offer to help with the transition. One sentence each.
That is all. A good two weeks notice fits on a phone screen without scrolling much.
Before you write it, check two things. First, look at your offer letter or employment agreement for a required notice period. Some contracts ask for more than two weeks, and senior roles often do by custom. Second, confirm your new start date leaves you room. If your contract has terms you do not understand, such as a non-compete or repayment of a signing bonus, talk to an employment attorney before you resign. That is outside what a letter template can solve.
Template 1: Standard Two Weeks Notice Letter
Use this when you are handing over a printed letter or attaching a document. It works for nearly every situation.
[Your Name]
[Your Address or Email][Date]
[Manager’s Name]
[Title]
[Company Name]Dear [Manager’s Name],
Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my position as [Job Title] at [Company Name]. My last day of work will be [Day, Month Date, Year], two weeks from today.
Thank you for the opportunities I have had here over the past [length of time]. I have learned a great deal, particularly from [one specific thing: a project, a team, a skill], and I am grateful for your support.
I will do everything I can to make this a smooth transition. Over the next two weeks I will finish or hand off my current projects and document my responsibilities for whoever takes them on. Please let me know how else I can help.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
If you cannot think of anything specific to thank them for, cut that clause and keep “Thank you for the opportunities I have had here.” A short true sentence is better than a warm false one.
Template 2: Two Weeks Notice Email
Most notices are now sent by email, often minutes after the conversation with your manager. An email can be even shorter than a letter. The subject line matters because someone in HR will search for it later.
Subject: Resignation: [Your Full Name], effective [Last Day Date]
Hi [Manager’s Name],
As we discussed today, I am resigning from my position as [Job Title]. My last day will be [Day, Month Date, Year].
Thank you for your support during my time here. I am glad to help with the transition, including documenting my current work and handing off [main project or responsibility] before I go.
Please let me know the next steps on your end, and whether I should contact HR directly about final paperwork.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Personal phone or email, so they can reach you after your work account closes]
A few notes on the email version:
- Send it to your manager and copy HR if that is your company’s practice. If you are unsure, send it to your manager and ask.
- Send it from your work account so it sits in the company’s records, and forward a copy to your personal email.
- If you did not talk first, replace “As we discussed today” with “I am writing to let you know that.”
Template 3: Short Notice Resignation Letter
Sometimes you cannot give two full weeks. The new employer needs you sooner, a family situation changed, or the workplace has become bad enough that staying is doing damage. Less than two weeks may cost you some goodwill, so give as much as you honestly can and say it plainly.
Dear [Manager’s Name],
Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as [Job Title] at [Company Name]. My last day of work will be [Day, Month Date, Year].
I understand this is less than the customary two weeks, and I am sorry for the difficulty that causes. Circumstances require me to leave sooner than I would have liked.
In the time I have, my priority will be handing over [most important project or duty] and writing up the status of everything else. After my last day, I am willing to answer brief questions by email at [personal email] to help whoever picks up my work.
Thank you for the opportunity to work here.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
You do not need to explain the circumstances. “Circumstances require” is complete. And only offer the follow-up email help if you mean it.
What to Leave Out of Your Resignation Letter
The letter lives in your personnel file for years. It may be read by future HR staff checking a reference, or a manager deciding whether to rehire you. Write for that reader. Leave out:
- Your reasons for leaving. Not required, and any reason can be read badly.
- Complaints about your manager, pay, workload, or the company. Even fair ones. If you have feedback worth giving, the exit interview is the place, and you should be measured there too.
- The name of your new employer. You are not obligated to share it, and in some industries it triggers a same-day exit.
- Apologies and long emotional passages. “I am sorry to leave” once is fine. Three paragraphs on how hard the decision was is not.
- Negotiating language. If you would stay for the right counteroffer, that is a conversation to have before you resign, not a hint to drop in the letter.
- Promises you cannot keep. Do not commit to finishing a project that will take six weeks.
| Instead of this | Write this |
|---|---|
| ”Due to the lack of growth here, I have decided to move on." | "I am resigning from my position as Senior Analyst." |
| "I have accepted a role at [Competitor].” | Nothing. Omit it. |
| ”My last day will be in two weeks." | "My last day will be Friday, October 9.” |
Who to Tell, and in What Order
The letter is one step in a sequence. Get the order wrong and your manager hears about your resignation from someone else, which is the fastest way to sour an exit that would have gone fine.
- Get your new offer in writing first. Signed, with start date and pay. Wait for any background check or contingency to clear if you can.
- Prepare quietly. Save personal files, copies of your performance reviews, and contact details for colleagues you want to stay in touch with. Take nothing that belongs to the company. Do this before you resign in case your access ends that day.
- Tell your manager, live and in private. Ask for 15 minutes. Open with the point: “I wanted to tell you in person that I have decided to leave. My last day will be October 9.” Then stop and let them respond.
- Send the written notice right after, the same day.
- Ask your manager how they want to tell the team. Let them decide the timing of the announcement. Do not tell work friends before this step, however much you trust them.
- Tell close colleagues, mentors, and clients once your manager has agreed on the message.
- Post publicly last, after your final day or once you have started the new job.
For what to say in that conversation, how to respond to a counteroffer, and how to handle your final two weeks, see our full guide on how to quit your job gracefully.
If Your Employer Walks You Out the Same Day
Some companies end your access the moment you resign, particularly if you are going to a competitor or handle sensitive accounts. It feels like an insult. It is almost always a standing policy.
This is why step two above comes before step three. Assume it could happen:
- Have your personal belongings and files sorted before the conversation.
- Stay composed. “I understand. What do you need from me before I go?” is the right response.
- Ask HR by email how final pay, unused vacation, and benefits will be handled, and when. Practices differ by employer and by state, so get their answer in writing. If something seems wrong, that is a question for your state labor office or an employment attorney.
- Let your new employer know you may be able to start earlier, if you want to.
Having offered proper notice still counts, even when they decline it. You did your part, and that is what people will remember.
Make Sure You Are Leaving for the Right Thing
If you are reading this with an offer signed and a plan in place, copy the template, fill in the date, and go have the conversation. You are ready.
If you are writing a resignation letter because you cannot stand another month and have nothing lined up, slow down for one day. Leaving may still be right. Our article on the signs it’s time to quit your job can help you check your reasoning, and a session of one-on-one career coaching is a good place to pressure-test the plan, rehearse the conversation with your manager, and decide what you will say if they ask you to stay.
If you want a second opinion before you hand in the letter, take the two-minute quiz and get matched with a coach. Many Realign coaches are former recruiters and hiring managers, so they know how exits look from the employer side.
Frequently asked questions
What should a two weeks notice say?
Four things, in about five sentences: that you are resigning from your position, the exact date of your last day, a brief thank you, and an offer to help hand over your work. Address it to your direct manager, date it, and sign it. It does not need to say why you are leaving, where you are going, or what you thought of the job. It is a record for your personnel file, so keep it short, neutral, and free of anything you would not want read back later.
Can I give notice by email?
Yes. Email is a normal way to deliver the written notice, and for remote workers it is the standard one. The better sequence is to tell your manager in a live conversation first, in person or on a video call, and then send the email within the hour so there is a dated record. Resigning by email with no conversation is acceptable when your manager is unreachable, when you work different time zones, or when the relationship makes a conversation unsafe or pointless.
Do I have to give a reason?
No. A two weeks notice does not need a reason, and leaving it out is the safer choice. The letter goes in your file and may be read by people you never met. If your manager asks in conversation, a short, forward-looking answer is enough, such as 'I accepted a role that is a better fit for where I want to go.' You are not required to name your new employer, and you should not use the letter to list complaints.
What if my employer walks me out the same day?
It happens, especially in sales, finance, and roles with access to sensitive data, and it is usually policy, not personal. Prepare before you resign: save personal files and contacts you are entitled to keep, return nothing in anger, and know your start date flexibility. Stay calm, ask in writing how your final pay, unused vacation, and benefits will be handled, and check your employment agreement. Whether the notice period is paid varies by employer and location, so ask HR directly.