How to Write a Resignation Letter for Personal Reasons (10 Best Examples)

A resignation letter for personal reasons might feel somewhat similar to breaking up with your partner. 

The type of breakup where “it’s not you, it’s me.” 

Except the difference between a relationship breakup and a job resignation is that the latter takes place in a professional setting. Meaning that you’re there to deal with corporate affairs, not personal matters. 

You have your own reasons for making certain choices, as does everyone else. This might not feel like a good enough way to end things with a romantic partner but it’s more than enough to resign from a company. 

Your employers and managers are also human, so they’ll understand. The most important thing is to give them enough notice ahead of time so that they can prepare for your replacement.

Still, you don’t want to come across as disrespectful or inconsiderate. 

That’s why in this guide, we’ll walk you through how to write a formal resignation letter for personal reasons. We’ve included the best and worst examples, as well as a shortcut for using AI to craft the perfect message within seconds. 

What Makes a Resignation Letter for Personal Reasons Different? 

The difference lies in the reason for leaving the company. 

A resignation letter for personal reasons is usually about circumstances going on in one’s personal life that make quitting the right option. However, a standard resignation letter is typically about an employee leaving for professional reasons. 

In either case, it’s entirely up to you whether you want to disclose your reason for quitting your job.

Here are a few more key differences: 

• The level of detail in a resignation letter for personal reasons can be less specific than a standard resignation letter
• Normal resignation letters will show a willingness to assist in the transition process, whereas a resignation letter for personal reasons may only be able to help up to a certain extent
• The tone of a resignation letter for personal reasons tends to be more sympathetic and understanding

Common Personal Reasons for Resigning 

Here are the different types of personal reasons why you might decide to resign: 

• Family obligations 
• Medical reasons 
• Boredom
• Personal goals
• Burnout
• Work-life balance
• Maternity leave
• Relocation

Besides personal reasons, you may quit because of factors such as low pay and poor management.

Or you could even quit for absolutely no reason at all. 

You’re not chained to any company. What’s most important is that you give them a formal notice of resignation so they have enough time to prepare for the transition process. 

4 Things to Do Before Submitting a Written Resignation Notice

Absolutely do the following before submitting a formal document of your resignation: 

• Have full confidence in your decision
• Consider your notice period
• Schedule a meeting with your manager
• Be transparent 

Doing these things will help you reach the best possible outcome: resigning on good terms and maintaining a positive relationship. If you ever need a referral or want to return, your chances are higher when you’ve quit thoughtfully with respect. 

1. Have Full Confidence in Your Decision

Make sure you’re actually ready to leave. Have full confidence that you’re making the right choice. 

Ask yourself:

• Are your finances in check? 
• Have you tried talking to your manager about your concerns? 
• Is this the only option you have left? 
• Do you have another job offer available? 

Now this might sound pretty obvious, but it’s worth reflecting on why you’re leaving and whether it’s necessary. Some may end up quitting and regretting it shortly after. 

The safest route is to apply to other companies with an updated resume and quit once you have a job offer. Then again, you could be facing certain personal circumstances that don’t allow you to stick with this safer route. 

The point here is to ensure you’re certain of resigning and that there’ll be little to no concerns once you leave. 

2. Consider Your Notice Period

The standard notice period for resignation that companies expect is usually two weeks. Double-check your employment contract to confirm what’s expected. 

Let’s say you wanted to quit your job officially on the 21st of February so you no longer work for the company that day forth. This means you’ll have to announce your resignation at least two weeks prior, which would be the 7th of February. 

If your employment contract states a 1-month notice is required, then you must inform your employers at least 1 month beforehand. So if the day you want to quit officially is on the 21st of February, you would have to announce your resignation on the 21st of January. 

Whatever your reason for resigning, it’s best to abide by your employment contract. 

What If You Need to Resign Immediately? 

There’s no issue in resigning immediately as long as there’s no breach of contract. 

If that’s not the case and your work agreement states that you must give a notice beforehand, you’ll have to speak with your manager about your circumstances. A breach of contract could lead to legal action. 

3. Schedule a Meeting With Your Manager

To show courtesy, it’s best to inform your manager of your decision face-to-face. Schedule an in-person or online meeting as soon as you can to discuss your resignation. Be prepared to answer any questions they might have. 

Talking to your manager in person makes it clear that you’ve put a lot of thought into your decision. In return, it helps ensure a positive relationship with the company. 

4. Be Transparent

Being transparent doesn’t mean sharing comments that you’ve always held in, like wanting to tell your employers to go screw themselves. It means sharing feedback and thoughts about your overall experience in the company. 

Be honest but keep certain details private. Some things just aren’t necessary to mention. 

If you’ve had any negative experiences, take the professional approach by scheduling a formal meeting with your manager where you can address your concerns.

Side Note: Looking back at the great resignation, many professionals have quit previous jobs for several reasons, with some advocating for the antiwork movement. With that in mind, there’s nothing wrong with putting yourself first. Leaving because you’re not happy is completely valid. 

How to Write a Resignation Letter for Personal Reasons (AI Shortcut)

You won’t need the full step-by-step guide when you use an AI Resignation Letter Writer that can generate a professional resignation message for personal reasons. 

Here’s how it works: 

• State the name of the person you’re writing to
• Enter the company name
• Include your job position 
• Mention your last day of work
• Enter in the provided field your reason for leaving is due to “personal reasons”
• Press “AI Writer Generate” 

Follow these steps using Rezi and you’ll get a sample resignation letter like the one below: 

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Your time is valuable. 

That’s why we’re showing you the most effective way to craft the perfect resignation letter for personal reasons. This method takes you no more than 30 seconds. 

Get started with Rezi AI Resignation Letter Writer for free. 

If not, continue reading the step-by-step guide below. 

How to Write a Resignation Letter for Personal Reasons (Step-by-Step Guide)

Give a one-sentence summary of your letter in the first paragraph, explaining that you’re leaving the company for personal reasons. This is followed by a sentence that states the exact final day of your employment. In the next paragraph, express gratitude and then imply the next steps. 

Here is a basic resignation letter format you can follow:

• Contact details
• Greeting 
• Statement of resignation
• Date of final work day
• Express gratitude
• Closing line 
• Professional sign-off 

We’ll go through all the exact steps to writing a resignation letter when you’re leaving because of personal reasons.  

Side Note: Watch the video shorts below for a quick summary of how to write a resignation letter: 

How to Write a Resignation Letter #shorts #career - YouTube 

1. Complete the Heading 

The top left of every resignation letter includes your contact and personal details: 

• Full name
• Location (City, Country) 
• Phone number
• Email address
• Date of letter
• Company Name

Short Note on Resignation Letter Design

Use a professional font like the one you used for your resume, which is either serif or sans serif. You can also make the font size larger for your name to establish at first glance who the letter is coming from. 

2. Write a Formal Salutation 

Begin your letter with a formal salutation that addresses your manager by name: 

• Dear Smith
• To Smith
• Hello Smith

It’s also worth submitting a copy of your resignation letter to HR. In the second copy, you can address the HR department by either writing the hiring manager’s name or “Dear HR.”

3. Make a Statement of Resignation

Make a formal statement that you plan to leave the company. The first line in the first paragraph of your letter states your departure. 

Here are a couple of examples: 

• I have made the difficult decision to resign from [Company] due to personal reasons. 
• I regret to inform you that I am resigning from my position as [Job Title] at [Company] for personal reasons. 
• I am writing to formally notify you of my resignation from [Company]. 
• Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from [Company]. 
• I am writing to inform you of my decision to resign from my position at [Company]. 
• After careful consideration, I have made the decision to resign from my position at [Company]. 

4. State Your Last Day of Employment 

After stating your intent to resign and exit the employment contract, state the date of your final working day with the company. This, alongside your resignation statement, must be included in the first paragraph. 

Here are a few examples: 

• My last day of work at [Company] will be [Date]. 
• I am writing to inform you of my resignation, effective two weeks from today on [Date]. 
• My final day of work will be [Date]. 

5. Mention You’re Resigning Due to Personal Reasons

If you only want to give the employer a general idea behind your departure, mention in the first paragraph that you’re leaving for personal reasons. 

But if you’d like to go through the context of your resignation in a bit more detail, start a new paragraph.

You don’t have to discuss every detail of your resignation explicitly. You’re not obligated to justify your actions as if you were put on trial. It’s more than enough just to give a broad overview of why you’re leaving, which is for personal reasons. 

6. Show Your Gratitude to the Company

Once you’ve got all the essential details down, focus on expressing sincere appreciation for the organization. 

You can simply share that you’re grateful for the opportunity to work for the company. 

If there is anything in particular you would like to thank your manager or the company for, now’s the time to do so. This is also the time to extend your thanks to colleagues, coworkers, and anyone else who has made a positive impact on your professional development. 

7. Personalize Your Letter

There are two ways to personalize a resignation letter:  

• Acknowledge your manager
• Make specific job references

Besides addressing your manager by name in your letter, you acknowledge them by pointing out something significant that they’ve done for you. For example, mention that you’re grateful for all of their support and mentorship throughout your time at the company. 

Making specific job references means sharing your genuine thoughts about your overall experience at the company. This could include the fact that you worked with them for a certain number of years. 

Personalizing your resignation letter shows you’ve put a lot of thought into your message, which can help establish a positive relationship and increase the likelihood of staying in touch. 

8. Highlight the Next Steps

If you’re not willing or able to help with making the transition smoother, feel free to skip this. 

Make the next steps clear by either implicitly or explicitly letting your manager and HR know what to expect moving forward. 

Here’s what the next steps might look like:

• Offer assistance with the transition process
• Express your willingness to help the organization during your resignation notice period
• Mention your commitment to finalize any outstanding assignments or projects before your departure
• Ask if there are any questions your employers might have 
• Suggest a meeting with your team or supervisor to address any concerns 

Here are some examples based on the above points: 

• I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition and am more than willing to assist in easing the process.
• If I can be of any help during the transition, please don’t hesitate to ask.
• Please let me know if there are specific projects or tasks that require special attention. In the meantime, I will continue working on my outstanding tasks. 
• Please feel free to contact me via email or phone if you have any questions or concerns. 
• I would appreciate the opportunity to schedule a meeting with you and the team to discuss the transition period in more detail and address any outstanding matters.

9. Write a Closing Line

Conclude with a professional tone. Finish your message with a positive closure that subtly expresses optimism. 

Here are a few examples of a closing line:

• Thank you for your understanding. 
• I wish you and the company continued success.
• Thank you for all of your support. 

10. Sign Off Professionally

All formal letters must end with a professional sign-off, followed by your first and last name underneath. 

Here are some of the best closings for your letter:  

• Sincerely,
• Best regards,
• Thank you,
• Best wishes,
• Yours sincerely,
• Kind regards,

What Not to Do in a Resignation Letter for Personal Reasons

Never include anything unprofessional or details that are likely to end the relationship on a sour note. Leaving a bitter tone only puts your reputation on the line, which can affect your future job prospects. 

That said, there are common mistakes you shouldn’t make in a personal reason resignation letter: 

• Forget to express gratitude 
• Specify too much information 
• Show poor professional etiquette
• Make promises you can’t keep 

Forget to Express Gratitude

Making a final impression is important because it’s what you’re leaving the company with. 

Show gratitude for the opportunity to work at the company, regardless of how you perceive your relationship with your current employer. Otherwise, you’re more or less establishing the fact that you had a negative experience with the organization (in which case, schedule a meeting as mentioned earlier to address your concerns). 

In your letter, strike a balance between acknowledging your resignation and expressing genuine gratitude for your professional growth. 

Specify Too Much Information 

Keep your explanation for leaving brief. Anything inappropriate under the “TMI” category should never be mentioned. 

You wouldn’t tell your colleagues or manager what color underwear you have on. It’s just plain weird in a professional setting. You’re not friends or buddies who have known each other since kindergarten. 

Even then, you probably wouldn’t say such a thing. Neither should you bring up anything of a similar nature about your personal life in a resignation letter: 

• Family problems
• Gossip
• Financial concerns
• Health issues
• Legal troubles
• Social media drama
• Relationship issues

Some things are not entirely necessary and better left unsaid. You’re not required to disclose excessive personal details behind your resignation. 

Show Poor Professional Etiquette 

Maintain professionalism throughout your time of employment—not just at the start when you’re applying for a job, but all the way until the exit interview. 

Quitting doesn’t give you an excuse to show poor professional etiquette: 

• Using casual language and a resentful tone of voice
• Submitting an untimely resignation notice (unless facing emergency circumstances)
• Constantly apologizing for no reason
• Expressing too much emotions 
• Heavily criticizing a colleague or supervisor 

Make Promises You Can’t Keep 

It would be great if you could assist the company with making a smooth handover. That doesn’t mean you have to (unless specified in your employment contract). 

If you’re not able to help or would prefer not to, then don’t make or imply promises you can’t keep. Be honest, and don’t try to sugarcoat the situation because it may even make the transition process more complicated. 

This probably sounds pretty obvious, but people often make promises they can’t keep for several reasons: 

• You feel emotional and want to do whatever it takes to leave on a positive note, hence forgetting about your own personal obligations 
• You’re not thinking straight since you’re so focused on leaving the company, which makes you neglect the consequences of your words
• To avoid making it seem like you’re quitting without giving a notice
• To leave room for negotiation (which we wouldn’t suggest because if it didn’t work out already, you would likely bump into the same or a bigger problem later down the road)

10 Best Resignation Letter Examples for Personal Reasons 

You can use the free resignation letter templates below to politely quit your job without burning bridges. Some of these templates include resignation letters with immediate effect, a two-week notice, and even a 1-month notice. 

All of the 10 templates below are custom-generated using Rezi AI Resignation Letter Writer. 

Standard Resignation Letter Template for Personal Reasons

Resignation Letter Template for Personal Reasons

Two Weeks Notice for Personal Reasons

One Month Notice for Personal Reasons 

Immediate Notice for Personal Reasons

Short Notice for Personal Reasons

Short Notice for Emergency Reasons 

Personal Resignation Notice for Work-life Balance 

Personal Resignation Notice for Family Reasons

Personal Resignation Notice for Relocation 

3 Awful Resignation Letter Examples for Personal Reasons

The resignation letter samples below completely miss the mark when it comes to leaving on a positive note. 

It’s practically a sin to be able to read a letter like one of the ones below and submit it to your manager with a straight face. 

Bad Example 1 

Bad Example 2

Bad Example 3

Use AI to Write a Thoughtful Resignation Letter in 30 Seconds

Most people spend way more time than expected thinking about how to give a formal notification about their resignation. This usually happens because people aren’t sure what words to use that don’t feel too awkward or insincere. 

If that’s you and you’re still scratching your head over what to write, let us remind you that an AI Resignation Letter Writer is a reliable option.  

Our trained AI Resignation Letter Writer won’t just churn out a generic message. It understands the nuances of professional relationships so it can generate a letter of resignation that’s polite, thoughtful, and respectful. 

You can get the job done within 30 seconds, removing all the pressure from your end. 

Try Rezi AI Resignation Letter Writer for free. 

Or watch the video tutorial below:

Summary

Quitting is never an easy decision to make. Your managers will understand this, especially after telling them you’re leaving for personal reasons. It’s not mandatory to specify exactly why you’re leaving. 

The whole point of a resignation letter for personal reasons is to let your employers know about your decision. It’s also to show consideration by expressing gratitude for the positive experiences. 

You’re already showing enough respect by giving them your appreciation and a formal notice ahead of time. 

If you still feel iffy about quitting, then remember that you’re operating as a professional. Keeping your emotions out of it is totally normal. 

When you have to quit immediately without notice, you can simply apologize for the inconvenience and move on. However, check your employment contract to ensure you don’t run into any legal trouble. 

And if you need help with anything else besides writing an effective resignation letter such as the following:

• Updating your resume
• Writing the perfect cover letter
• Preparing for a job interview

Then it’s worth adding Rezi to your list of job preparation tools.