How to write a two weeks notice (with 5 examples)
A two weeks notice is a short, factual email. It needs four things: that you are resigning, your last working day, an offer to help with the handover, and a thank you. Everything else is optional — and most of what people add makes the letter worse, not better.
Anatomy
What a two weeks notice must contain
A clear statement that you are resigning
Not "I have been thinking about my future". Say the word resignation in the first sentence. Ambiguity here is how people end up in a conversation they did not want to have.
Your exact last working day
Write the date, not "in two weeks". Count it from the day you send the letter, and check whether your contract counts calendar days or working days — the two can differ by four days.
An offer to help with the handover
One sentence. Documenting your work, training a replacement, finishing a specific project. This is the line that protects your reference.
A thank you, however brief
Even if you are leaving because you are unhappy. This letter goes in your file and may be read by people who had nothing to do with why you are going.
Restraint
What to leave out
A resignation letter is a record, not a conversation. These belong in the exit interview, or nowhere:
| Leave out | Why |
|---|---|
| Why you are really leaving | You are not obliged to say, and anything critical outlives the moment you wrote it. |
| Where you are going | Optional. Some employers shorten notice once they know it is a competitor. |
| Complaints about a manager or team | It converts a routine letter into an HR document. |
| An apology for leaving | Resigning is not something to be sorry for. It reads as uncertainty. |
| Conditions or negotiations | If you would stay for a counter-offer, have that conversation before you resign, not inside the letter. |
Templates
Five 2 weeks notice examples
Copy the one closest to your situation and change the bracketed parts. Each is deliberately short — a notice letter that runs past six lines is usually saying something it should not. Whether you write it as a two week notice, a two weeks notice or a resignation letter, the content is the same.
1 — The standard notice
Your brief
Resigning from a role I am on good terms with, two weeks from today
Short · Formal · English (US)
Resignation — [Your Name]
Dear [Manager], I am writing to give formal notice of my resignation from my role as [job title]. My last working day will be [date]. I am glad to help make the transition straightforward — I can document my current projects and help bring my replacement up to speed in whatever way is most useful. Thank you for the opportunity and for your support over the past [duration]. Kind regards, [Your name]
2 — When you are leaving on difficult terms
Your brief
Resigning from a job I did not enjoy, but I want a neutral reference
Short · Formal · English (US)
Notice of Resignation — [Your Name]
Dear [Manager], Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my role as [job title], effective [date]. I will complete my handover notes before I leave and am happy to answer questions after my last day if that helps. Thank you for the opportunity. Regards, [Your name]
3 — Leaving for another role
Your brief
Resigning because I accepted another job, want to stay in touch
Short · Friendly · English (US)
Resignation — [Your Name]
Hi [Manager], I wanted to let you know that I have accepted a role elsewhere, so this is my formal two weeks notice. My last working day will be [date]. This was a genuinely difficult decision. I have learned a great deal here, particularly on [project or skill], and I would like to stay in touch. I will make sure [project] is in a good place and my notes are handed over properly before I go. Thank you for everything, [Your name]
4 — Short notice, less than two weeks
Your brief
I have to leave sooner than two weeks for personal reasons, apologetic
Short · Apologetic · English (US)
Resignation — [Your Name]
Dear [Manager], I am resigning from my role as [job title]. Because of [brief reason — personal circumstances, a family matter, a health issue], my last working day will need to be [date], which is shorter than the usual two weeks. I am sorry for the short notice. I will prioritise handover documentation for the rest of my time so nothing is left unclear. Thank you for your understanding. Kind regards, [Your name]
5 — Part-time, hourly or retail
Your brief
Two weeks notice for a part time retail job, keep it simple
Short · Friendly · English (US)
Two Weeks Notice — [Your Name]
Hi [Manager], I am giving my two weeks notice today. My last shift will be [date]. I am happy to pick up extra shifts before then if it helps with cover, and I will make sure everything is handed over properly. Thanks for having me on the team. [Your name]
Timing
When to send it, and to whom
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who gets it first? | Your direct manager, and ideally in a conversation before the email lands. The letter confirms; it should not break the news. |
| Email or paper? | Email is standard and gives you a timestamp. Send a paper copy too only if your contract asks for one. |
| What time of day? | Morning, early in the week. It gives your manager the day to react and start planning rather than a weekend to stew. |
| Do I copy HR? | Copy them, or forward it after you have told your manager. Never let HR find out before your manager does. |
| Is two weeks a legal requirement? | In the US, usually no — most employment is at will and two weeks is convention, not law. Elsewhere, and in most contracts, a notice period is contractual. Check before you commit to a date. |
Faster
Generate yours in one line
If none of the templates fits, describe your situation in a sentence and let the email writer draft it. It handles the tone — formal, friendly or apologetic — and returns a finished letter with a subject line, which you can then edit.
AI Email Writer
Describe your resignation in one line and get a complete notice letter. Free, no signup.
Grammar Check
Paste your draft before you send it. This is a letter that goes in your file.
Common questions
- How do I write a 2 week notice?
- State that you are resigning, give your exact last working day, offer to help with the handover, and thank them. Four sentences is enough — a resignation letter that runs long usually says something it should not.
- Is two weeks notice legally required?
- In the US it is usually convention rather than law, because most employment is at will. In most other countries, and in most written contracts, a notice period is contractual. Check your contract before you commit to a date.
- Should I say why I am leaving?
- No. You are not obliged to, and anything critical outlives the moment you wrote it. Keep the reason for the exit interview, or keep it to yourself.
- Can I give less than two weeks notice?
- Yes, if circumstances require it. Say so plainly, give the date you can work until, apologise once, and offer to prioritise handover notes for the time you have left.
- Do I email it or hand it in on paper?
- Email is standard and gives you a timestamp. Tell your manager in person or on a call first — the letter should confirm the news, not break it.