Just wondering what the folk here who've resigned [from their job] in the last x years used for a resignation letter. Short and sweet, I assume?

Yup. To direct manager and HR head.

Will you need it in german or in english?

German: http://syndikat.ch/navi8/detail314/

I don't have an example, but I would suggest writing either nothing significant in it at all, "I've enjoyed my time at the B52s..." and so on...

or

give your reasons for leaving, provided they are a pull factor, rather than a push one. In other words "I am seeking further development of my project management career and seeking new life and new civilization" without adding : "and I can't do that here". That will portray you in your exit as a positive ambitious go-getter person, on the up.

I suppose the main recommendation is simply not to write anything that you may subsequently regret: either against the company or any individuals within it.

Hope this helps
dave

PS: Do not tell them where you are going until you have your feet under your new desk.

it's for my mate of course. He's holding out for his bonus and certainly wasn't going to send a "and stick your job up your arse"-type letter

Completely correct thing to do.

But the sheer satisfaction of venting your spleen and ramming it where the sun doesn't shine, ooohhh....

I guy I used to work with composed a really vitriolic not-for-flight five-page email resignation letter that he composed to make him feel better. It named-names and blew the whistle on corners cut and bad practices. Once he had vented his spleen by sending it to a few colleagues, he suddenly became really paranoid that it might fall into enemy hands, and tried to access everyones mail account to confirm they had deleted it... that resulted in hours of fun for all the family.

dave

One would be shooting one's self in the foot to write a bridge-burning resignation letter (Kündigung). Then you end up with a career-burning Reference letter (Zeugnis).

As short and little as possible.

In mine, I added a line saying something like "I understand I have fulfilled the contractual requirements for bonus in Financial Year 2006", just to remind them that I knew about the deadline (some of my other colleagues didn't.)

Incidentally, a former colleague of mine did quit before the bonus deadline. The company told him to naff off but the Arbeitsgericht told the company to pay up.

Definitely agree. A couple of "quitters" in my former company bragged about their new jobs at our competitor. Did they get early release? Sent home on gardening leave? Nope. Not a single day. In my case, I had a calm chat with my boss, explained my plans to get my work handed over within two months, and he agreed that it wouldn't be useful for anyone if I spent the last month just sitting around, looking out of the window, so I managed to shorten the release period.

I used http://www.i-resign.com/uk/home/ which has some nice templates and some sound advice on all things resignation including an excellent resignation count down clock to while away the hours as you work your notice period. I wish your friend good luck in what ever he has chosen to do after he leaves his current employer.

[quote=DaveA] "I am seeking further development of my project management career and seeking new life and new civilization"
quote]

haha. i would like to boldly go where no man / person has been before.

krlock.

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

I take it your friend found the advice useful then?

I did the above in my last job, was 7 pages. Also I gave out a copy of my "exit" interview which ran to 12 pages to my work mates at my leaving do!!!

I was dragged into HR to explain what i'd written, which I backed up with proof. Consiquently it was swept under the carpet as i expected. Aparantly this exit form is now legend in my previous co.

I named lazy managers, corner cutting and slack/dodgy processes, which I banged on about for years and been ignored.

But I did have my feet under the desk of my next job and I had my references covered.

Fook Em...! They deserved it