A formal resignation letter with a brief notice period is known as a “short notice resignation letter” and is written by an employee on behalf of their employer. This notice period is usually less than a two-week timeframe. And can be as short as a few business days.
For an employer, a short notice resignation is not ideal. Less time is available for the employer to train or recruit a replacement for the departing employee as a result. As there is little to no transition period for the employer to change roles and responsibilities, this abrupt departure may leave the employer on bad terms with the departing employee.
The first step when quitting a job quickly with an employer is to discuss the resignation with a manager, supervisor, or boss. Have a discussion with them about the need to quit the job as soon as possible. It’s crucial to give the current employer some information about the circumstances surrounding your resignation. Some good reasons include:
If there is little notice, a resignation email should be used instead of a resignation letter. It’s best that as an employee, time is spent writing a professional and good resignation letter with a healthy amount of respect for the job and the company, even though there may only be a few business days left of employment.
Keep the resignation letter format professional. Format the letter as a business letter using a formal writing style. Always be courteous, sincere, and sorry for the stress the formal notice has caused the company. Realize that abruptly “quitting” will stress out coworkers, teammates, and possibly even the company’s goals A formal letter with proper grammar, punctuation, and language should be used in a professional resignation letter.
How to Resign on Short Notice
How to write a short notice resignation letter
When drafting a letter of resignation with little notice, keep the following in mind if you want to keep a good working relationship with your employer:
1. Tell your manager first
It is ideal to speak with your manager over the phone or in person if you can before submitting your letter of resignation. Offering your manager this is a considerate and thoughtful act that can ease tensions between you and your employer. It also gives you a chance to talk about your final salary, your benefits, and any other queries you may have about leaving the business.
2. Use the business letter format
3. State the position you are resigning from and the effective date
In your letter of resignation with little notice, it’s crucial to include a statement of resignation as soon as possible. This method of letter writing keeps you on topic and communicates to the reader the letter’s specific purpose. Before moving on to the following section of your letter, double-check that your effective resignation date is accurate.
4. Explain why you are resigning on short notice
If you have a reason for leaving on short notice, you should then elaborate on it. It’s best practice to briefly explain your reasons for leaving a company. A family emergency, a move, the need to start a new job right away, etc. are a few causes for short notice resignations.
5. Express gratitude
Before you end your letter, you might want to express gratitude to your employer for the chance and the knowledge you gained while working for them. You could express gratitude for the opportunity to participate in particular projects or for the overall experience. Even if there were parts of your position that you weren’t happy with, saying “thank you” is greatly appreciated.
6. Close with your signature
The short-term resignation letter should be concluded by adding your name to the document. It’s critical to include your name at the end of emails you write.
What is a short notice resignation letter?
A letter of intent to resign from one’s current position with less than two weeks’ notice is known as a short notice resignation and is delivered to the employer. In order to prepare for your departure and start the hiring process, most employers demand at least two weeks’ notice. However, there are times when you may need to give a short notice resignation letter due to unforeseen circumstances.
Template
To help you write your resignation letter, here is a sample of a short notice resignation:
[Date]
[Managers first and last name]
[Managers title]
[Company name]
[Full address]
Dear [Mr., Ms. or Mrs. Managers last name],
I am formally resigning from my [position or title] at [company name] as of [date]. I regret having to provide this letter so quickly, but I must resign with little notice due to [reason].
I want to thank this company for the opportunities it has given me over the past [number of years worked here].
I appreciate your patience, and I’m ready to assist in making this transition less difficult over the coming [days/week]
In order to help the new hire get up to speed, if you need to get in touch with me after I leave, I’m willing to chat over the phone or email and provide information about my [work, current projects].
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Your name]
[Position or title]
Short notice resignation letter examples
Here are a few real-world illustrations of resignation letters with little notice:
Example #1: New job
January 26, 2020
Ms. Kate SpinnerStore ManagerFarm Table Inc. 20345 Sunshine LnElite, TN 10046.
Dear Ms. Spinner,
Accept this letter as my resignation in full, effective as of the third Monday in February. I would have given you at least a two-week notice if I could, but I accepted a job offer for a position that starts right away. I hope you accept my apologies for such short notice.
I appreciate you giving me this chance and assisting me in creating fresh leadership approaches.
Please let me know if there is any way I can help with the transition. I’ve started making notes about significant tasks I won’t be able to finish before I leave.
Sincerely,
June Tart
Example #2: Stress
May 15, 2019
Mr. Caleb Schuster
Supervisor
Sweet Water Windows
5555 New Address Ln
Minnow, NY
Dear Mr. Schuster,
I am resigning from my position as office manager at Sweet Water Windows, so please accept this as my resignation. Unfortunately, I am unable to give the necessary notice because of recent events that have caused me a great deal of stress. I’ll be leaving Sweet Water on May 19th, a Wednesday. I apologize for the short notice, but despite working with HR to address the problems that have been the source of my intense stress, no steps have been taken to address these problems. I have no choice but to leave.
Working with you and my coworkers has been fun, and I have benefited greatly from your advice. Before I leave, I’m willing to assist with the transition over the coming few days.
Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
Best wishes,
Leslie Duran
Example #3: Personal reasons
December 8, 2019
Ms. Linda Rim
Manager
Sunglass Shack
1111 Tully Ct
Lexington, KY
Dear Ms. Rim
Please accept this letter as my official resignation effective tomorrow.
I’m leaving my job as a sales associate for personal reasons. I enjoyed my time here and don’t harbor any ill will toward the business or anyone who works here. If I could, I would have given the required notice.
Thank you for the chance, and I hope you will welcome me back if I can work for this company again in the future.
Please let me know if there is any way I can help with the transition. A few weeks after I leave, I’ll be available to assist by phone or email.
Sincerely,
Jessica Storm
FAQ
How do you politely resign quickly?
Keep It Short. Like a resignation letter, your email should be brief. Simply mention your resignation, the date you will be leaving, and (if appropriate) include a brief note of gratitude and an offer to help with the transition.
How do you write a resignation letter for less than 2 weeks?
Dear [Mr. /Ms. /Mrs. Surname], I am writing to officially notify [company name] of my impending resignation, effective as of [departure date]. I sincerely apologize for not being able to give notice, but I must resign immediately due to [reason for leaving].
What is a short notice period?
- Start by including your name, date, address and subject line.
- State your resignation.
- Include the date of your last day.
- Provide a brief reason of resignation (optional)
- Add a statement of gratitude.
- Wrap up with the next steps.
- Close with your signature.
