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A two weeks’ notice letter is a resignation naming your last day. It tells your employer you are leaving and gives them time to plan the handover. Employees need one when resigning, especially when they want a good reference later.
Below you will find what to put in the letter, five steps to write it, a fill-in template and three samples you can copy: a standard letter, an email and a short version.
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A two weeks’ notice letter is a short, formal resignation letter that tells your employer you are leaving and names your final working day. People also call it a notice of resignation or a resignation notice.
The letter does three jobs. It announces the decision, fixes the date of your departure and opens the handover. It is not the place for complaints or a long story about why you are going.
If you want a fuller format with more detail about your role, start from our formal resignation letter instead.
Giving two weeks’ notice in writing puts your decision and your last day on paper, so you and your employer work from the same date and your manager has time to plan for your absence.
A two weeks’ notice letter informs your employer that you are resigning and will be leaving your job in two weeks’ time. This allows your employer the time to hire a replacement for you, and gives the job more stability during the transition.
A written notice also works in your favor:
Your employer may choose to end your job on the day you hand in your notice instead of having you work the two weeks. Whether you are paid for the days you would have worked depends on your employment contract, company policy and the law where you work, which this page does not cover. Read your contract and the employee handbook before you resign, and keep some savings ready in case your last day comes sooner than planned.
A two weeks’ notice letter includes the date, your contact details, the manager’s name, a clear sentence that you are resigning, your job title, your last working day, a short thank-you and your signature.
To write the letter, add a header, announce your resignation and last day in the first paragraph, thank your employer, offer help with the handover, then close, sign and send it to your manager.
Write your two weeks’ notice as a short business letter of a few brief paragraphs: put your contact block at the top, the employer’s block below it and your signature at the end.
Use a plain font, block paragraphs and no decoration. In an email, the same text goes in the message body, and your contact details move under your name.
Leave out anything your employer does not need: complaints about the company, criticism of a manager or colleagues, salary details of your new job and a long account of why you are leaving.
Your employer may keep the letter for a long time, so write only what you would be glad to see again. Save the details of why you are leaving for a conversation in person.
This template has a blank for every detail: replace each bracket with your own information, delete the optional sentence if you prefer not to give a reason, then sign it.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]
[Date]
[Manager’s Name]
[Manager’s Job Title]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Dear [Manager’s Name],
I am writing to provide my two weeks’ notice that I will be leaving my position as [your job title] on [date of termination].
[Optional: I have accepted a new role that fits my career goals.] Thank you for the opportunities I have had here, and for your support during my time with [Company Name].
Over the next two weeks, I will finish my current work and help train my replacement. Please let me know how I can make the handover easier.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
The two weeks’ notice samples below show the template filled in three ways: a standard letter, a resignation email with a subject line and a short notice for a job you held only briefly.
All three samples cover the same points:
This sample is a standard notice letter for a manager who has worked at the company for some time.
Dear Ms. Carter,
I am writing to inform you of my resignation as Marketing Manager of Marketing Solutions Inc. The final day I will perform my job duties will be September 15.
My family is moving to another city, and I have decided to follow them. I am grateful for the experience I have had at Marketing Solutions Inc. and appreciate the investment you have put into my career.
If there is anything I can do to assist in finding a replacement, or if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach me. I have included my contact information above.
Regards,
Alex Morgan
This sample is a two weeks’ notice email: the subject line names the resignation, and the contact details sit under the signature.
Subject line: Resignation, Jane Sanders, Junior Designer
Dear Mr. Lopez,
This letter is a notification that I am resigning from my position of Junior Designer with the LaBelle company. My last working day will be December 22.
I have accepted an offer to become a Senior Designer at another company, which is a strong opportunity to develop my skills. I am giving notice now so that you have time to find a replacement.
Thank you for this job opportunity and for everything you have done to improve my skills.
Over the coming two weeks I will wrap up my duties and help train a new colleague. Please reach me by email or phone if I can help in any other way.
Best regards,
Jane Sanders
Junior Designer, LaBelle
janesanders@labelle.com
This short two weeks’ notice example fits a part-time or recent job, where a few plain sentences are enough.
Dear Sam,
Please accept this letter as my two weeks’ notice. My last shift will be Friday, June 12.
Thank you for the chance to work on your team. I am happy to help train whoever takes over my shifts.
Best,
Taylor Reed
Hand in your two weeks’ notice in a face-to-face talk with your manager when you can, give them the printed letter at that meeting, and send it by email when your manager works remotely or is not available.
The best approach is to talk to your employer and hand in the resignation letter during a face-to-face conversation. If your boss is not available, send the two weeks’ notice letter by email instead.
Follow your employer’s process where there is one: check your employee handbook or ask your manager how they want to receive notice. Keep a copy of the letter or the sent email for yourself.
After you give two weeks’ notice, your employer will either ask you to work the notice period, end your job earlier, or try to keep you with a counteroffer, so plan for all three before you hand in the letter.
Giving notice is usually better than quitting on the spot, because it lets your employer plan your replacement and keeps the door open for references. Notifying your employer of your intent to leave in advance allows them time to find a replacement and may be beneficial if you plan to seek future references or referrals.
Emailing a two week notice is not unprofessional when your manager works remotely, is away, or your company accepts notice by email. Give the same details you would put in a letter, and if you can, tell your manager in a call or in person as well.
The subject line should say “Resignation” followed by your name and job title, for example “Resignation, Jane Sanders, Junior Designer.” It tells your manager what the email is before they open it.
Putting in two weeks’ notice does not guarantee that you will work those two weeks: your employer may decide to let you go on the day you resign. Whether you are paid for the unworked days depends on your contract, company policy and the law where you work, so read your employment contract and company policy before you resign.
Your notice works without a reason. One neutral line, such as a new role or a move, is enough; keep any detailed reasons for a conversation in person.
If you receive a counteroffer after giving notice, take time to consider your options carefully. The offer may be appealing, so weigh these points before you decide:
It can be helpful to discuss the offer with someone you trust. Another perspective makes it easier to reach an informed decision that is best for you.
The letter should fit on one page, usually three or four short paragraphs. Your last day, a thank-you and an offer to help are enough.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
