How to quit a job: the steps, the scripts and the order to do them in.
Quitting well protects your references, your reputation and sometimes your final pay. The order matters: confirm your next step, tell your manager, then put it in writing.
To quit a job, first make sure your next step is confirmed (a signed offer, or a plan you can afford). Check your contract or handbook for notice requirements. Tell your manager privately, in person or on a call, before anyone else, then send a short written resignation with your last day. Offer a handover plan and stay professional until you leave.
3 copy-ready templates
Illustrative: names, companies, dates and numbers in these templates and examples are fictional. Replace every bracket with your own true details before you send anything.
What to say to your manager
When to use: In a private meeting or call. Keep it short and calm.
"I wanted to tell you first: I've accepted a role at another company, and I'm resigning. My last day will be [date], which gives [two weeks / the notice in my contract]. I'm grateful for [one genuine thing], and I want to make the handover as smooth as possible."
Written resignation (email)
When to use: Send right after the conversation.
Subject: Resignation, [Your name] Hi [Manager], Following our conversation, please accept this as formal notice of my resignation from my position as [title]. My last day will be [date]. I'll prepare a handover document for [key responsibilities] and am happy to help train my replacement. Thank you for the opportunity to work on [team or project]. Best regards, [Your name]
If they make a counter-offer
When to use: When you want time to think, or to decline politely.
"Thank you, I appreciate that. I've made my decision and I'm going to stick with it, but I'm grateful you'd want me to stay."
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every template on this page is free to use without buying anything.
The order to quit in
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Offer or plan confirmed | Signed offer, conditions met, or savings to cover a gap. |
| 2. Check notice terms | Contract, handbook, union agreement. |
| 3. Tell your manager first | Before colleagues, before LinkedIn. |
| 4. Send the written notice | Same day. |
| 5. Handover and exit | Document your work, return equipment, ask HR about final pay and benefits. |
The same message, rewritten
Illustrative example with fictional details.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | Telling coworkers first, posting on LinkedIn, then emailing your manager a one-line resignation at 11 pm. |
| Strong | Telling your manager privately, giving your last day and a handover offer, then confirming it in a short email the same day. |
Why it matters: Managers often find out about a resignation from someone else, and it colours your last weeks and your references. Telling them first is the simplest way to leave well.
Mistakes to avoid
- Resigning before your new offer is signed.
- Telling colleagues before your manager.
- Venting in an exit interview or on social media.
- Leaving without a handover.
- Forgetting to ask about final pay, unused leave, benefits and equipment returns.
Write yours faster
Questions people ask
How much notice should I give when I quit?
Should I quit in person or by email?
Should I say why I'm leaving?
What if my manager reacts badly?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. The templates and timing guides are practical advice, labelled as advice. We do not publish response rates or success rates, and every example uses fictional details.
- How a specific employer or recruiter will respond: practices vary by company, industry and person.
- Legal advice: for contracts, severance releases or disputes, talk to an employment attorney or the relevant agency.
- Outcomes: no message, template or program can promise an interview or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 2, 2026.