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If you’re resigning from your current company, whatever the reason, it’s a good idea to give your employer two weeks' notice. This gives them some time to prepare, look for a replacement, or ask you to train someone internally.
Below, we’ve shared three different templates for two weeks' notice letters that you can customize and use. If you know your manager really well, you might want to personalize your letter a bit more. Otherwise, if you have a more formal relationship, sending a standard notice letter works fine.
Is 2 weeks' notice unprofessional?
Not at all. On the contrary, giving two weeks’ notice is considered standard practice by most US employers (and by employers in many other countries, too). Since US laws don’t require employees to give two weeks’ notice, giving notice is actually courteous on your part.
It’s also good etiquette—so don’t skip it. If you don’t give notice, you could end up severing ties with your former employer, completely which can backfire later, especially if you need recommendations from them.
How do I write my 2 weeks' notice?
Depending on your situation, your letter of resignation may vary. If you’ve worked at the company for a while, you might want to write up a longer, more personalized letter. But if your time with the company has been brief, or you don’t really know your manager or point of contact that well, then using a sample template for two weeks' notice should suffice.
As the bare minimum, your two weeks’ notice resignation letter should include the following:
- Your position at the company
- The date at which your notice period starts—that is, when you hand your letter of notice in
- An appreciation of your time with your employer. For example, “I appreciate the opportunities and mentorship I’ve received at {company}”
- The next steps—assure your employer that you’ll continue working hard and, if needed, that you’re happy to train your replacement
3 options: two weeks' notice resignation letter template
Customize a two weeks’ notice letter template to part on good terms with your employer. It’s best to deliver your two weeks’ notice letter as a hard copy and to sign it in person, rather than electronically, but if you can’t manage this, you can send a resignation email instead.
If you want to go with a traditional two weeks notice template, here's one of the all-time classics:
For a bit more of a modern approach, this two weeks notice template is extra popular with younger employees:
Do you have a personal relationship with your manager? If so, you might want to write a more heartfelt, personalized letter, like:
How to handle responses to your 2 weeks notice
After you hand your two weeks' notice in, your employer or manager may respond in different ways. Ideally, they’ll accept your two weeks' notice with grace, thank you for your time at the company, and wish you all the best.
But they could respond a little more aggressively, so it’s important to be prepared. Here’s what you need to know.
Can your employer reject your 2 weeks’ notice?
No, they can’t. There are no state or federal laws in the US that require employees to provide notice—you can, in principle, leave at any time. But, as we mentioned earlier, it’s best to leave two weeks' notice out of professional courtesy.
Can an employer ask you to leave immediately?
Yes, they can. When you put your two weeks' notice in, your employer can ask you to leave immediately without working those two weeks. Or, they can ask you to work for less time, such as a few days or one more week.
Remember that if an employer does ask you to leave on your notice date, it’s considered involuntary separation from the company, and you might be entitled to unemployment benefits.
How should you respond if you receive a counteroffer?
Sometimes, when employers don’t want to lose valuable employees, they present a counteroffer. Usually, a counteroffer will include a raise and possibly a promotion. But should you accept it?
If you’re presented with a counteroffer, you’ll want to consider:
- Why you wanted to leave in the first place. If compensation was the reason, and you really like working at the company otherwise, it’s worth considering the counteroffer. But if you were leaving for a reason like a negative work culture, then even more money might not be enough to influence your decision.
- Your other job offer. If you’re leaving to accept another offer, how much does the new job mean to you? Is the counteroffer enough to sway you from your original decision?
Ultimately, whether you should accept or reject a counteroffer has a lot to do with your specific situation. So it’s best to consider all the factors and make your decision accordingly.
Ready to part ways?
Unless you had a really bad experience, leaving your old company can be tough, especially if you’ve worked there for a while and have built up a rapport with your teammates. But if it’s time to go, it’s time to go—just make sure you leave on good terms by sending in a two weeks’ notice letter. Good luck with your next endeavor!
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