Congratulations!

I recently agonized over quitting a job to move onto my dream job. After several drafts that just were not right, my resignation letter simply said "This letter is to inform you that [date] will be my last day of employment at [company name]." I gave it to my boss, shaking because I was so nervous, but it proved to be a good ice breaker. We talked and what helped ease her mind and get over the shock was offering -- repeatedly emphasizing, actually -- to do everything I could possibly do to make the transition as smooth as possible. We are still on good terms.

Dear so and so,
Please be advised that my last day of employment at the ..... will be [date]. Should there be any specific requests you have of me in the interest of continuity with my successor, I urge you to make them promptly. I will be available via email if you have any questions after my departure.
Thank you.

To Whom it May Concern:
I have been granted (better) employment at a (shiny) new place of work and would like to (gleefully) tender my resignation. Also, you can suck it.
Cheers,
Smitten

I quit a job years ago with the basic two sentence letter (effective immediately - I didn't need the reference)and as I handed it to my supervisor (who was relatively new to the place, who made it a miserable place to be, who was a giagantic zero in the humanity and personality departments) I shook her hand and said, "Jessie, I'd like to say it's been nice working with you...but I can't" and walked away. I never did anything like that again, (I moved on to the "real world") but it felt good. I wouldn't suggest anyone do that in their chosen career field, though.

Here you go...straightforward, but with a note that you anticipating enjoying your new job much more...

To whom it may concern:

Please accept this as the formal notice that my final day of employment with [insert company name] will be [insert date]*. I have accepted a job offer** that more specifically meets my personal and professional goals.

Thank you for the opportunity to work at [insert company name.]

Sincerely,

etc etc

*You might want to add "or an earlier date of your choosing," if you want to give them the opportunity to let you go now so you could start the new job sooner.
**add "with [new company name]" if you want to tell them now where you are going.

And, congratulations!

I once, because I didn't want to lie but didn't want to be vindictive and didn't feel I owed them an explanation, dropped off a letter that read:

"This is to inform you of my resignation from [lame summer job], effective [two weeks from date of letter].

Sincerely,
Brenda"

My only regret? That I gave them notice at all.

I'm not giving you any advice...just celebrating with you! [Happy dance!]

May this be the beginning of a new chapter.

I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!

Now, could you stop hogging all of the good karma and happy vibes so that I can find a job, too? Please? I just need like a little square of the happy vibes. I'm not even asking for my dream job, just A job will do at this point!

No? Ok. Well, congrats. You deserve it!

Congrats!

Couldn't happen to a nicer gal. No, really, I mean it!

I wish I could help, but I'm only familiar with French letters (ahem) of resignation, which are quite different in flavour and come with or without reservoirs. Or was that reserves?

In particular, we can't just up and leave, we are required by law to give three months notice, and that tends to limit how snarky you can get.

In a general sense, tho, it seems to me that in American letters of resignation, at least, the shorter the better.

Again, 'félicitations' from the other side of the pond, and my best wishes for the new job!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!
Congrats!
I recommend the two-sentence letter and a conversation. Only the two sentences stay on record.

Oooh, I think this is my first comment.

You should probably go with the basic letter. The outline girl gave is quite good.

But write two versions. The second one is for you (and hopefully your readers). The second one takes all of the between-the-lines subtext and makes it text. The second one has the opposite of regrets spelled out plainly. For example, after "Please accept this," you might write "(I am only saying that to be nice - you have no choice)." Your employer never sees it, of course. But you hope that s/he knows, deep down, what the subtext might be in your "real" letter of resignation.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or you could always quote the reliable Woody Allen. This is from Everyone says I love you:

It's better to be the leaver than the leavee, 'cause the leaver leaves, you know, but the leavee is left, which is terrible.

Then add something along these lines?

But for me to stay, would be worse than you getting left behind. Cause then we'd both feel terrible. Or at least I would. So... etc. etc.

And oh, by the way: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congratulations! You must be so excited. I'm envious.

Oh this is wonderful. Congratulations - must be quite a great feeling. What will your new job entail? I suspect it's not quite icing cupcakes, but still schnazzy nonetheless! I'm with Esther - happy dance!!

To whom it may concern,

I write to give notice that that it is my intention to take employement elsewhere. I imagine that you will endevour to fill the vacant position which I will leave with the competence you have so far demonstrated during my time with you.

ps noted my site needs some work, but I have only just discovered "blogging" and am as yet sat like a small child in an abundantly stocked sweet/candy shop/store trawling through posts from others... (your site is especially entertaining)

pps realise I mised your deadline but hey! good luck with the new job

So.jealous.

Congrats!

I am *ecstatic* for you!

Your resignation letter should reflect that you deserved better than your current job. In other words... no snarkiness, the best writing reflecting the best character. You never know who will see that letter and how you'll encounter them in the future.

Hopefully they'll buy out your resignation and you'll get a few extra days off!

Yippie!!

Congratulations on your new job! Good luck.

(Okay, this isn't what you had in mind but..... :)

Dear so-and-so,

I have a few very basic expectations. One these is that my direct superiors have an intellect that ranges above the common ground squirrel. I can only surmise that you are one of the few true genetic wastes of our time.

When someone calls you in reference to employment, it is illegal for you to give me a bad recommendation. The most you can say to hurt me is "I prefer not to comment." I will have friends randomly call you over the next couple of years to keep you honest, because I know you would be unable to do it on your own.

Please find by my desk an umbrella, which you can use to go f**k yourself.

Regards,
Smitten

CONGRATS! :)

To Whom It May Concern:

Of the many valuable lessons my time here at [Snarky, Inc.] has taught me, perhaps the greatest is that what I do is important to who I am. I thank you for helping me on my way to this understanding. That said, I now know that this job is surely worthwhile to someone, somewhere, but it is, quite simply, not worth MY while.

xoxo,
The Smitten

HAPPY HAPPY!! JOY JOY!! MAZEL TOV!!!

How 'bout this one?

Fuck you. I'm out.

The Smitt

That would be the coolest resignation ever.

To whom it may concern:

It's true, the grass IS greener on the other side.

Regards,
Smitten

Congrats Deb!

What will you be doing at your new job?

Congratulations on getting the job!

i know i missed the deadline... damn time zones!.. but:

to whom it may concern,

bye.

smitten.

congrats!

Dear Baby,

Welcome to Dumpsville.
Population? You.

Sincerely, etc. etc.

Dear Horrible People Who Have Made My Life a Living Hell lo these many years:

It's practically with no regret at all (mostly because I can't remember if I'm vested or not) that I must resign my postion here at Misery, Inc.
Although it's been ..um... challenging to work here in more ways than any of you can imagine, I've decided to accept a position where I will able to work without popping bottles of anit-depressants/thinking homicidal thoughts about my bosses or crying myself to sleep.

With total sincererity you cannot even being to imagine,

The Smit.

PS. I'd like to have the farewell cake and the card before 3 on my last day as I'd like to blow out of here early and do a little celebratory shopping, screaming in the street throwing my beret in the air, etc.etc. Thanks.

T.S.

Well Done, Congrats, Now I have to ask, as you couldn't answer before, what was the super secret job you did, advisor to Condi Rice, Presidential Shoe Lace Tyer, CIA (Cakes Iced Artfully) operative??

Congratulations! You've got a wonderful crowd here cheering you on, and I think we all agree that it couldn't happen to a better person. Soo... what kind of resignation letter did you choose? Personally, I liked Katie's (#3).

Dear previous job,

It's not you, it's me.

--
Cedric
(congrats Deb)

Wow, I go away for a few weeks and you've got a new job, AND practically sorted the wedding. Attagirl!

Cedric's was perfect.

Congrats a lot..even though lotsa people have already said so. You deserve much.

Yayy!! Jeans and IM for everyone!!