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Traditionally, it was considered respectful to notify your employer in person when quitting a job. You would follow up your conversation with a formal resignation letter. However, out of convenience and due to the rise in remote work, resignations via email are becoming the norm.
Finding the right balance of respectable professionalism while ensuring your message is not overlooked is a new challenge for modern workers. There are countless variations of subject lines for resignation emails, but which one is the best? Read on for our best resignation email subject lines for a smoother exit from your current workplace.
The best subject line for a resignation email should be up to 50 characters, short and precise, and written professionally and respectfully. It should include the word ‘resignation,’ your name, and the date of your last workday at the company. By following this approach, your employer should be able to instantly acknowledge the subject matter of your email and its purpose.
Use a positive and respectful tone of voice. Don’t express any negative emotions by using antagonistic and confrontational verbs or phrases. Also, there’s no need to include any exclamation marks.
Here’s what to write in the subject line of a resignation email:
Subject: Notice of Resignation – Employee Name, effective [MM/DD/YYYY]
Always include the following 3 critical elements in your resignation email subject line.
- The main subject – The purpose of your email letter is clearly defined, leaving no doubt about the content of the message. Your boss is instantaneously informed about the fact that you’re resigning.
- Who does it concern – Your name is a distinct part of the resignation email subject line, too, notifying your employer about which staff member is quitting the company.
- When the employee is leaving – The date of your resignation lets your boss know how urgent the change in staffing is.
By specifying an exact date, you eliminate any guesswork about when you will officially exit the company. So, don’t write “effective 2 weeks from now” because this way, your employer will have to do the calculations.
However, if you’re sending a resignation effective immediately, be direct in your email subject line and make sure that language is included. In such instances, use additional features available through your email provider, like flagging or marking the message as a high priority, to draw extra attention.
If you work in a large organization of 500+ employees and HR will be included in your initial email, you may want to specify which department you’re from and who your direct supervisor is. Similarly, you can write the name of the organization you’re employed at if it’s a sister company and subsidiary of a large corporation.
Lastly, don’t forget to proofread your resignation letter and the email subject line. To decrease the chance of miscommunication, consider the best weekday to resign from your job.
Best Email Subject Lines for Resignation – Examples
Here are some of the most effective subject lines for a resignation email that will highlight the main message for your employer:
- Resignation notice – (Name), effective (Date)
- Notice of resignation – (Name), effective (Date)
- Resignation – (Name), (Date)
- Formal letter of resignation – (Name), effective (Date)
- Resignation announcement – (Name), (Date)
- Letter of resignation – (Name), effective (Date)
- Immediate resignation – (Name), (Department)
- Resignation – (Name), effective immediately
- (Name), (Department) – Resignation, (Date)
- Resignation letter – (Name), effective (Date)
Your resignation email should be written in the same professional, respectful, and clear tone as your subject line.
Subject Line for Resignation Email to Coworkers
Saying goodbye to your colleagues can be done in a much more informal way. You’ve been part of the same team and all the ups and downs a company can go through. You may have formed close relationships at the workplace and even built some valuable friendships.
There’s nothing wrong with a farewell letter to your coworkers that reflects your amicable feelings and the precious memories you’re leaving behind.
The email subject line for resignation to your colleagues can be in tune with your letter’s friendly tone of voice. See some examples below:
- Farewell from (Name) – It’s been a privilege!
- My last day at work, thank you!
- It’s been a pleasure working with you! Farewell from (Name)
- Goodbye from (Name)! Thank you, and see you soon!
- It’s hard to say goodbye! My last day at the company.
- My note of farewell. Wishing you all the best! (Name)
- It’s been a privilege to be part of your team!
- A farewell letter from (Name)
How you write the resignation subject line of a farewell letter to your coworkers will depend greatly on who you include in your email.
Naturally, writing to all the employees of a larger company, some of whom you may have never met, calls for a friendly yet more formal farewell email with a matching subject line.
On the other hand, small-sized companies tend to have more close-knit teams where workers feel as if they are part of a family. Saying goodbye to close coworkers in your workplace can be more emotional and personal. Depending on your company culture and the terms of your exit, you may be able to infuse your message with a little more humor.
Funny Subject Line for a Resignation Email
Why not make the sad situation of leaving good friends at work a positive one by starting your last email with a light-hearted and funny resignation subject line? Note that even in the most positive work environments, conveying humor over email can be challenging, so only use this writing style when you are absolutely sure it will not leave an unpleasant final impression of your time at the company.
- I’m outta here!
- It’s time to move on to a much better gig!
- I’ll no longer dread coming to the (Company name) office! See ya!
- Don’t miss me too much! I’ll be working only around the corner!
- Time to say goodbye! Don’t fight over my unfinished work tasks!
- Going to miss you, guys, and all the free coffee!
- It’s been epic working with you! Don’t be strangers!
- Saying farewell is a bit easier, knowing I’ll be playing Call of Duty all day long tomorrow!
- I’ll be missing you all, but not as much as the free donuts every Friday!
- Wish me luck in my new job and getting the gorgeous HR to date me!
- Life is too short to stick around! Good luck with the next target!
A bit of humor never hurts, especially when parting with colleagues you’ve worked with for years. But if you would rather play things safe, here are some valuable tips on diplomatically announcing your career change.
Polite Subject Line for a Resignation Email
Leaving on good terms with your employer is worth it, as you never know when you may cross paths again. Even if you didn’t like your work experience at the company, ensure your farewell letter and the email subject line for resignation are written professionally and politely.
- Please accept my resignation notice, effective (Date), (Name)
- Resignation – (Name) – Completing my time with (Company name) on (Date)
- Resigning with gratitude – (Name), (Date)
- Announcement of resignation from (Name), effective (Date)
Being polite and respectful in your last words to your employer will ensure that you’re remembered as a valuable professional and good employee who deserves a letter of recommendation and all the luck in their future endeavors. It’s all part of upholding a professional reputation in all circumstances.
