Resignation Email Example: 7 Emails to Copy and Send

By Mustafa Tarabya, founder of CVBooster · Published 2026-10-07 · Updated 2026-10-14

7 min read

A resignation email example that works has five lines: a subject line that says "Resignation" with your name, a first sentence that says you are resigning, your last working day as a date, one line of thanks, and an offer to hand over. The constraint is notice: your contract or employee handbook sets it, and two weeks is the usual courtesy. The U.S. Department of Labor covers the money side: "Employers are not required by federal law to give former employees their final paycheck immediately." Below are seven complete emails for the US and Canada. Written by Mustafa Tarabya, who hired for his own company, read every application himself and now writes CVBooster's guides.

The cursor has been blinking in the subject line for twenty minutes. That is normal. The hard part was deciding to leave; the email is five lines.

The resignation email format

Every example below follows the same order. Alberta's career site, alis, explains why it should be in writing at all: "By writing down the information you can avoid any misunderstandings."

• Subject line: Resignation, then your full name and job title.
• First sentence: I am resigning from my position as [title], effective [date].
• Reason: optional, one line, positive or neutral.
• Thanks: one specific line.
• Handover: the tasks you will finish and who you will train.
• Sign off: full name and phone number.

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Resignation email subject line examples

The subject line is what HR searches for later, so keep it plain. Use one of these:

• Resignation: [Full Name], [Job Title]
• Resignation Notice: [Full Name]
• Two Weeks Notice: [Full Name], [Job Title]
• Letter of Resignation, [Full Name], effective [date]

Avoid anything vague. "Quick question" or "Can we chat" in the subject line makes your manager open it expecting something else.

Two weeks notice email examples

Two weeks is the common courtesy in the US. It gives your manager time to post the job and you time to hand over.

Resignation email when you are leaving for a new job

You do not have to name the new employer. If you are joining a competitor, it is usually wiser not to until your last day.

Short resignation email

When the relationship is strained, or you simply prefer few words, keep it to the facts. Short is still professional.

Resignation email to a manager and HR

In larger companies, send the email to your manager and copy HR, or send HR a short note once your manager knows. HR needs the date for your final paycheck and benefits.

Resignation email when you cannot give full notice

Sometimes you have to leave quickly, for health, family or safety reasons. Say so briefly, apologize once, and offer what help you can.

How to write resignation letter email in Canada

The email is the same in Canada. What changes is the notice, which is set by province.

• Alberta requires written notice from employees. The Government of Alberta says notice can be "given in person, sent electronically or otherwise provided to the employer". The period is one week after more than 90 days of work and two weeks after two years or more.
• British Columbia does not require notice from employees. The BC government says: "Employers usually like some notice before an employee quits, but this is not required."
• Elsewhere, check your province's employment standards office and your contract. Two weeks is the common courtesy across Canada.

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After you press send

Save a copy of the sent email in a personal folder. Ask HR for your last pay date, unused vacation pay and when your benefits end. In the US, the Department of Labor says "Some states, however, may require immediate payment", so check your own state labor department.

If you might need unemployment benefits, check before you send. The Department of Labor's termination page says benefits are for workers "unemployed through no fault of their own (as determined under state law)". In Canada, the BC government notes that quitting "may affect their eligibility for federal government benefits".

Need a printed letter as well? Our resignation letter examples give six versions to copy, and the 2 week notice letter guide covers timing. If you are leaving at once, see resignation letter effective immediately. For the next application, read how to write a job application email.

Frequently asked questions

Is it professional to resign by email?

Yes, as long as you tell your manager in person or by phone first when you can. The email then confirms the decision with a date and time. Keep it short, positive and specific about your last day, and copy HR if your workplace has an HR team.

What should the subject line of a resignation email be?

Use "Resignation" followed by your full name and job title, for example "Resignation: Kayla Brooks, Sales Associate". It tells your manager what the email is before they open it, makes it easy for HR to find later and avoids the confusion of a vague subject.

How much notice should a resignation email give?

Two weeks is the common courtesy in the US and Canada, and senior staff often give more. In the US, check your contract or employee handbook for the period it asks for. In Canada some provinces, such as Alberta, require written notice of a set length.

Can you send a two weeks notice by email?

Yes. An email is a written notice with a date and time on it, which makes it easy to prove when you gave notice. Talk to your manager first if you can, then send the email the same day, and check your contract for any required format.

Should I resign by email before or after talking to my manager?

After, if you can. A short conversation first shows respect and lets your manager hear it from you rather than reading it. Then send the email the same day so the resignation date is on record. If a conversation is not possible, a clear and polite email alone is acceptable.

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