How to Write a Two-Week Notice Letter

If you’re planning to leave your current job, it’s considered common courtesy to give your employer two weeks’ notice ahead of time. The idea here is that you want to allow your employer time to prepare for your departure. They’ll need to decide if they want to hire someone new to backfill your position; come up with a plan to cover your work duties in the meantime and conduct any necessary training.

It might seem like a double standard — you probably wouldn’t get advance notice if your company decided to lay you off or fire you. If you’re feeling cynical, just remember: It’s always a good idea not to burn bridges. You never know if you might need a recommendation from your employer in the future, or if your paths will cross again.

Here are our tips and considerations for finding your next job with a job board like ZipRecruiterending your employment on good terms, plus a template you can use for your two-week notice letter.

Why Is It Important to Give Two Weeks Notice?

If your next job is already lined up, your new employer may not care how or if you’ve tendered your resignation letter to your current employer. But what happens when your time at your new job comes to an end?

Maintaining a good relationship with current and past employers is important because you’ll likely need them as references at some point. Someone somewhere along the line may inquire about any job you’ve worked.

Generally, employers are only asked to verify your employment. But if you left them in a bind, your current employer might be inclined to let inquiring employers know how you left things. And that could be a red flag.

Simply put: Making a habit of tendering a two-week notice letter speaks to your character. It’s proof that you won’t suddenly leave others in a bind if things get rocky for you. And if you do have to leave, you’ll give them plenty of time to come up with a plan.

When Should You Give a Two-Week Notice Letter?

whenever…