To resign, read your contract, tell your manager directly, put the same words in writing that day, and confirm your last day. Before you tell anyone, know whether notice has to be in writing, how much notice applies to you, and what a bonus, vesting date, or repayment clause does to the timing.
This assumes you have decided to leave. If you are still deciding, start with how to decide whether to leave without overthinking it.
Before you tell anyone
If you have a new offer, wait until it is in writing and its conditions (background check, references, permits) are cleared. Accepting an offer before telling your current employer covers that order.
Read what you signed. Look for the notice period, whether notice must be written, any non-compete, any repayment of sign-on bonus, relocation, or training costs if you leave before a date, and any rule on final pay, unused vacation, or garden leave. Check your contract and any employee handbook it points to.
The channel
Tell your manager first, in person or on a video call, before anyone on the team hears it. Then send the written notice the same day so the date is on record.
Keep the spoken part short. Say that you are resigning and give your last day. You do not owe a long explanation or the name of your next employer.
The date
In the UK, notice usually runs from the start of the day after you hand it in. In the US, your contract or handbook may say how it is counted.
Your last day is the final day of the notice period, counted from the day notice starts. If a bonus or vesting date falls near that day, read the plan: some plans pay only if you are still employed, or have not resigned, on that date. Quitting before or after a bonus or vesting date covers how to weigh it.
What gets written down
Keep the letter short. Date it, say you are resigning from your role, and state your last day. You do not need to give a reason, list complaints, or make demands.
[Date]
Dear [manager's name],
I am resigning from my position as [role] at [company]. My last day will be [date].
[Your name]
Send it by email or hand it over, and keep a copy that shows the date it was sent. In the UK, ask when you will get your P45 (GOV.UK, handing in your notice).
Notice: how much
United Kingdom. You must give at least one week's notice if you have been in your job for more than a month. Your contract may require more, and it says whether notice has to be in writing; if it doesn't, you can give it verbally. Giving too little notice, or giving it verbally when the contract asks for writing, can put you in breach of contract. Give it in writing anyway if you may need to point to the date later. If you resign in the heat of the moment and change your mind, tell your employer immediately; they can choose whether to accept the resignation. Source: GOV.UK, giving notice.
United States. Two weeks is the common custom; federal law does not set a notice period for an employee who resigns. Your contract, employee handbook, or state law may. Federal law does not require your final paycheck right away, but some states do (US Department of Labor, last paycheck). If you may need unemployment benefits, check your state's program before you resign: benefits go to people unemployed through no fault of their own, as each state's law defines it, and voluntarily leaving work without good cause is one of the most common reasons for denial; some states pay if you quit in certain circumstances (US Department of Labor, termination; unemployment insurance fact sheet). If you have health coverage through work, ask HR the date it ends and when your new employer's coverage starts. At employers with 20 or more employees, COBRA generally lets you and your family keep the group plan for a limited time after you quit, but you may pay up to 102% of the full premium (US Department of Labor, COBRA).
Other countries have their own rules. If you are leaving with nothing lined up, quitting without another job covers what to weigh before you give notice.
If they counteroffer
After you resign, your employer may offer more money, a different role, or new terms. Don't answer on the spot. Hold the offer against the reasons you decided to leave, as well as the new number. How to respond to a counteroffer walks through that choice.
The handover and the last weeks
Write down what you own, what is in flight, and who can take each item. Ask your manager what they want handed over and in what form. Work the notice period unless a written agreement says otherwise. Aim for a clean transfer and a neutral tone.
If you are still deciding
If the decision still feels open, don't hand in notice yet. Once you resign, getting the job back depends on your employer. How to decide whether to leave without overthinking it helps you name the two or three facts that would settle it.
Once the letter is out, the notice and the handover are easy to plan. What is harder to see is what of your record goes with you: which results a next employer would pay for, and which only make sense inside this team. Before you hand in notice, a Position Audit sets out what you can count on, where you are exposed, and what you can still make visible while you are there.
A Position Audit reads your career the way an investor reads a position. It asks what you really have, what you might be overestimating, what's working against you, and what you can still change before you move. You get a clearer view of what you can count on, where you're exposed, and what to check or improve before you act.
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FAQ
What should I do before I tell anyone I'm resigning?
Read your contract and handbook. Look for the notice period, whether notice must be in writing, any non-compete, and any repayment of sign-on bonus, relocation, or training costs if you leave before a date. Know your unused vacation and what your final pay will include. If you have another offer, wait until its conditions are cleared before you tell your manager. Do not tell coworkers first.
How should I tell my manager I'm resigning?
Tell your manager first, in person or by video, and send the written notice the same day. Keep the conversation short: say you are resigning and give your last day. You do not need to explain why or say where you are going.
How much notice do I need to give my job?
In the UK, you must give at least one week's notice if you have been in the job more than a month, unless your contract says more. In the US, no federal law sets how much notice an employee must give; two weeks is a common custom, not a federal rule. Check your contract, handbook, and state rules. Other countries differ.
What should a resignation letter say?
Date, the role you are leaving, and your last day. A short letter of three or four lines is enough. You do not need to give a reason, vent, or list demands. Keep a copy.
Can I change my mind after resigning?
In the UK, GOV.UK says that if you resign in the heat of the moment and change your mind, you should tell your employer immediately, and they can choose whether to accept the resignation. Anywhere, if you want to take it back, ask quickly and in writing, and don't count on a yes.
QuickInsight is informational only. It is not legal, financial, or other regulated advice. If you are in crisis, get human help first. For questions about a specific contract or notice clause, talk to an employment lawyer.