How to Write a Letter of Resignation Using the Best Personal Reasons: Family issues, Mental health challenges, Financial needs
Whether you seek a career change or absolutely despise your job, writing a letter of resignation is never easy. This how-to guide will provide you with the six best personal reasons you need to effectively and respectfully resign from your current employer. Ranging from broad to specific, this guide will help you find the perfect and right line to say with the necessary step-by-step instructions to format and write your professional letter of resignation.
Write a Letter of Resignation – First Steps
To begin this process, you must reflect on what went well and what went wrong throughout your job. I recommend that you write these down on a piece of paper. This will help you in the process further down the road. What are the reasons you want to leave? What would you change in your day-to-day job if you had the opportunity? Write these answers down. After you have compiled a list, review and truly make sure that you want to resign. If you are certain, look below for the six best personal reasons to use in your resignation letter. Take notice of which are the most relatable to you. You will be using this reason later in your own letter.
Best Personal Reasons for Resignation:
Family Issues
We all know that family can be complex, complicated, and can bring in unforeseeable issues. This reason is a great line to use, as we are all able to relate personally. Family is important, and we would all do anything to support and help if given the opportunity. Whether it is a family member who is ill or a sudden and serious conflict, personal reasons for resignation can go hand-in-hand with family. Homelife is just as important as work-life, and this is a great reason to use that almost all employers can relate and empathize with. Here is the perfect one-line example:
“I am resigning because of a current family problem at home that is taking all of my time.”
Mental Health Challenges
More than ever, mental health is becoming less and less of a stigma, and people are finally seeking more self-help tools and professionals to better themselves. Telling your employer that you have to resign due to mental health-related problems is an honest and acceptable answer. Maybe the job’s stress is too much to handle, or you are in a downward spiral of depression that you feel will eventually affect your capability to work. Whatever the specific reason is, this is a great reason. If you can relate to this and have a bit of evidence to back up your claim, I recommend using this reason. A possible example includes:
“I am resigning due to a recent need in personal and mental health treatment.”
Seeking a New Career Change
There is no doubt that burnout happens. With every job comes to a point where you question yourself if this is something you enjoy or if this is even something you want to continue to pursue for the rest of your career. Oftentimes it comes to a situation where people want to pack up their things and find a fresh start. This is a great reason to use if you find yourself wanting a new change. A possible line for this reason includes:
“I am resigning because of a need for a fresh start that aligns with my current life goals.”
Financial Needs
Sometimes your employer is just not paying you enough. It is as simple as that. Although this reason may feel a little shallow, it holds as completely acceptable in the professional world. Financial needs are often at the forefront of why we work, and if you feel that you are being underpaid, this is a reason that holds strength and accountability. Respectfully, you can use this reason and say that you are seeking out higher-paying positions, and, at this point, it is necessary to keep you and your loved ones afloat in these challenging economic times. One example is the following:
“I am resigning because of a financial emergency within the family.”
Misalignment with Company Values
Time always tells. Society and companies are bound to begin to shift or change in values and priorities. If you find yourself discontent because your company’s once-prized morals have suddenly shifted, this is a great reason you can put down in your letter of resignation. You do not necessarily need to go into the exact specifics, and it is important to remain polite. Here is a possible example that you can use:
“I am resigning from my position for personal reasons and a chance to redefine my morals and values.”
Or, Keep it Brief and Simple
If you are reading through and none of these reach out or speak to you, I recommend you keep it brief and simple. You are not required to give a specific reason for your resignation. Oftentimes people may want to resign because they are unhappy with management or maybe have received a better job offer. Whatever it may be, you want to keep positive and respectful amends with your employer. If this is your case, you want to keep it short and sweet. Here is a great example:
“I regret to inform you that I am writing today to place in my resignation from this position due to personal and private matters.”
Next Steps – The Heading:
Once you have identified one of the six personal reasons above, you now need to begin formatting your resignation letter. This is a specific and tricky task, so pay close attention.
A formal letter of resignation requires the following introduction format:
Date
Name of Supervisor
Company Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Name of Supervisor,
And then comes the crucial part…
Crucial Body Paragraphs:
Your first body paragraph will need to be you officially resigning in writing. Be sure to include your name, the word “resign,” and the date this will take into effect. An example of this can be seen in the following:
“I am writing to inform you that I am resigning from my position as (insert job title here) from the (enter company here), effective December 31st, 20XX. Today, my resignation gives you (enter how much time in advance you are giving the employer) to prepare and make necessary arrangements for my departure. I am more than happy to help assist in this process for a smooth transition.”
The second paragraph is where you offer your gratitude and a sense of appreciation. This part of the letter is crucial if you want to remain on good terms with your employer. Feel free to add in your own words, but here is a short example:
“Thank you for this great opportunity and all of your positive support. I am more than grateful to have worked for such a highly respected and established company. I will always cherish the skills and growth I have gained here, both professionally and personally, and I thank you for being such a kind and welcoming mentor. I will indeed miss the warmth and energetic environment this company always provided.”
The third paragraph, you guessed it, is where you will insert in your personal reasons. I have broken this paragraph down into a blanket statement where you can then insert the personal reason from above that you identified with best. You must provide some gratitude or thanks again.
“My reason for leaving is (insert in which reason from above you best identify with). I wish my circumstances were different, but I am keeping my head high and moving forward. Between my time now and when I am leaving the company, I will work as usual and help out. Thank you for everything.”
The final paragraph you want to use as a closing line is kind and offers your help if you believe it will benefit the employer. An example of this includes the following:
“I wish you all the best in your next endeavors at this company, and I am so grateful to have worked for such friendly and encouraging people. Please let me know if I can be of any form of assistance as I begin to transition out. I am open to help train and mentor my replacement.”
Closing:
To wrap up this letter of resignation, you want to make sure you end it with an appropriate closing and then end with both your typed and handwritten signature. You want it to look something like this:
Sincerely,
(Employee Signature)
Employee Name Typed
Wrapping Up Loose Ends:
A letter of resignation is an uneasy time for many. It is a time when we are vulnerable and have the best intentions not to hurt or hinder those we respect most. Hopefully, this guide and these six best personal reasons can help transition you in a time of professional difficulty. Remember, you are not required to give specifics, and in this letter, you will be most successful with a grateful and appreciative mindset despite feeling otherwise. I wish you the smoothest transition possible and the best of luck on your next chapter and a new journey!
also read; How Tо Write A Resignation Letter Fоr A Jоb yоu Juѕt Ѕtаrtеd
