There comes a time in everyone’s professional life when they decide to leave their current position to either accept a new job at another company for more pay and/or a promotion, or to take some time away from work to deal with personal situations. An effective resignation letter will help you maintain contact with your former employer and not burn any bridges. You never know when you might need to reach out to him or her in the future. You will surely need to reach out to him or her in the future for a reference or to ask for a recommendation letter.
When should you use email to send a resignation letter?
While it is preferable to give your resignation notice in person, there are times when that is not feasible, especially with so many employees working remotely now. More and more companies are offering remote positions which makes it very difficult to resign in person. Resigning by email is a process which is relatively new in the business world, and this will undoubtedly keep gaining popularity in the coming years.
What is the best way to create an effective email subject line?
Transitions in any company can be difficult for everyone involved, so when you need to send your resignation via email it is essential to write an effective subject line to get the recipients’ attention immediately. When creating a subject email line regarding your resignation it is important that it is direct and gets straight to the point of the matter. More than likely your manager or supervisor receives so many emails per day that it is hard for him or her to keep up with them. By writing a clear and to the point email subject line you can be sure that your email will stand out and will not be overlooked. This is a sure-fire way to get your manager or supervisor’s attention and be sure that your manager opens this important email.
An email subject line is meant to grab someone’s attention so what you decide to write needs to be well thought out and carefully orchestrated. The email subject line is the first thing that the email recipients will see so it needs to be one that captures their attention. Sending an email with a well-defined subject line can also help to ensure that your email doesn’t end up in junk mail or spam folders. Lastly, email subject lines are something that managers, supervisors, and Human Resources professionals scan quickly when going through emails. For this reason, it is important to keep email subject lines simple and eye-catching. In today’s fast-paced society people are always looking for ways to be quick as well as efficient. In addition, adding your name to the subject line has a much higher open rate by the recipient and this will be discussed in more detail below.
As the below samples illustrate, when personalizing email subject lines, it will have a much higher guarantee that the email recipients will open it immediately. That is the reason that the examples you will see have information included in the email subject line such as your name, position, or department.
Tips for Writing Resignation Letter Subject Lines
- State a clear objective (Example: Letter of Resignation – Your Name)
- Add your name (Example: Formal Resignation – Your Name)
- Think about adding information such as your department and/or position
- Proofread the subject line before finalizing sending the email
Do’s and Don’ts for Writing an Effective Email Subject Line
- DO write a clear and concise email subject line
- DO include your name
- DO be professional and use a respectful tone
- DO be courteous
- DO send the email two weeks before your last day, if possible
- DO make sure the subject line has a formal tone
- DO keep it brief
- DO copy Human Resources on your email
- DON’T add emojis or any special characters
- DON’T add punctuation marks
- DON’T send your email with an error in the subject line
- DON’T overcomplicate it
- DON’T use all capital letters
10 Resignation Letter Email Subject Line Examples
Below are the top 10 examples of email subject lines to use when you email a resignation email to your manager or supervisor. It is important to keep in mind that if your email subject line is more than 40 characters you will want to try condensing it, so it is more straightforward. The simpler, the better.
- Resignation – Your Name
This is the most popular email subject line because it’s professional, simple, and formal.
- Resignation Letter – Your Name
This is also a popular choice due to it being short and to the point; it all depends on your personal preference.
- Letter of Resignation – Your Name
This is just another way to use the word “letter,” as shown in the above example.
- Notice of Resignation – Your Name
This is another simple and formal subject line that is sure to grab the attention of the email recipients.
- Resignation Effective Immediately – Your Name
This email subject line should only be used when you are resigning without proper notice. While this is not suggested, there may be a family emergency, your own health issue, etc. that may warrant an immediate resignation.
- Private and Confidential – Your Name
This is a good subject line to use if your manager has an assistant who handles their email. If your resignation something that you want to keep under wraps at first, then this is a great option.
- Resignation as of (Date) – Your Name
If you are resigning on short notice, it is always a good idea to put the date in the subject line. In addition, even if you do give a substantial notice, including a date will ensure that your manager is aware of your plans.
- Formal Resignation – Your Name
This is a no-nonsense resignation email subject line that is effective if you are in an executive position.
- Resignation – Your Name – Your Position
If you work for a large company, it is helpful to add your position. This can be especially helpful for Human Resources when it comes to your company offboarding.
- Resignation – Your Name – Your Department
As mentioned above, if you work for a large company, it is helpful to add your department as well. This just makes it easier for everyone involved.
There are other times when you decide to resign from the company. For example, when it comes to announcing your retirement, a good email subject line to use is Retirement Announcement – Your Name or Retirement Notice – Your Name. Also, when you leave your company, you will more than likely want to bid farewell to your colleagues. Examples of email subject lines for this include Thank you for everything, Saying goodbye is never easy, or Keep in Touch.
In conclusion, the email subject line you use in your resignation email needs to be effective in order for the recipient to take notice. Above all, be sure that it has a clear and concise statement that you are resigning. Remember that if you include your name in the subject line, it will more than likely get your manager or supervisor’s attention immediately. Be thoughtful in the way you craft the subject line to ensure you leave a positive impression on your manager or supervisor and the company.