Did you just get the job offer of your dreams? Congratulations!

Is your excitement tempered because now you have to let your current employer know that you’re leaving?

Are you staring at a blank doc instead of a polished letter of resignation? I can help with a resignation letter sample.

Writing a letter of resignation can be difficult. But it's important to take the time and care to do it correctly. The letter should be professional, concise, and clear.

I’ve got you covered with everything you need to get that letter written. In this blog post, I’ll share what to include (and what to skip) so that you can feel as prepared as possible to deliver the news to your employer.

I’ve also included suggestions from other dietitians on how to make this process as smooth as possible (plus tips for dealing with the emotions that might pop up).

Let’s dive in with why you’re writing that letter, to begin with.

What is the purpose of a letter of resignation?

A letter of resignation is an official communication to your employer that you are leaving your current position. Just like you signed paperwork to make accepting your role official, this letter is the documentation that your time has come to an end.

Your letter of resignation communicates the date you plan to leave, should be written in a polite and respectful tone, and include gratitude for the experiences gained in the position. Writing a formal letter of resignation also allows you to provide documentation of when and why you resigned from the company.

So, even though they can feel uncomfortable to write, you've gotta do it!

What should you include in your letter? Let’s talk about that next.

What to include in your letter

And now, it is time to write your resignation letter. What to include? It doesn’t need to be long!

“I have resigned from a few positions in my career and have always kept the letters brief.” - Linda Eck Mills, MBA, RDN, LDN, FADA

I recommend you include four things in your letter of resignation:

1. Your name and current position: Start by introducing yourself and your role within the company.
2. The reason for your resignation: Explain why you are leaving the company if you feel comfortable doing so. Be respectful and honest.
3. Date of resignation: Include the last day that you will be working in your current role. It is best to give two weeks' notice or more, depending on the company's policy.
4. Transition planning: If willing or able, you can choose to include your availability or suggestions for the transition period.

For example:

If you’re looking for some easy-to-customize templates about exactly what to write, grab a copy of my resignation letter templates; it includes three different templates, one for a clinical role, one for a long-term-care role, and one for a dietitian working in private practice.

No matter what, a letter of resignation is a bit easier to write if you’re leaving a job, team, and role that you liked…but what if you’re counting the seconds to get the heck out of there? Let’s talk about that now.

What if you’re leaving a toxic environment?

You may be leaving your current role for any number of reasons…your reasons might include that your current work environment is not so great.

It could be a mismatch of philosophy: they’re pro-diet, and you’re into Intuitive Eating.

Or you could be dealing with:

A bad boss.

Bad hours.

Scope creep.

Low pay.

No r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

…or, you just can’t stand to be called a “nutritionalist” one more time!

If that is the case: I am glad that you’re getting outta there.

I would encourage you to keep your letter of resignation professional and constructive. It is unlikely that one letter will change that environment too much, and the world of dietetics is quite small. You don’t want to give a reason for your previous employer to have negative things to say about you to a potential future employer.

Even if you’re very frustrated, burning bridges isn’t going to further your career.

How much notice should you give?

It depends!

Two weeks is a common time period, but it may or may not be the right window for you.

Johna Burdeos, RD explains: “I give my notice at least two weeks in advance. This is not required and it’s more out of courtesy and to stay in good standing with the company. After all, dietetics is a small world and you don’t want to burn bridges. However, for contract / 1099 work, I’ve had to give at least a 30-day notice as stipulated in the contract. Read the contract!”

Transitioning from one job to another is stressful. If you can afford to give yourself a few days (or even better, a full week) in between finishing your previous role and starting your new one, your mental health will benefit. Your first paycheck at your new job might not come right away, so do keep that in mind so that you’re making an informed decision.

How to deal with the guilt?

Even if you’re super-excited about your new role, you might have some uncomfortable feelings bubbling up about leaving your current role.

Johna Burdeos shares her thoughts about working through those feelings:

“Sometimes a feeling of guilt may creep in during those last few days or weeks at work. I don’t let this bother me but rather, focus on the present and the work that needs to get done. I try to be as helpful as I can to my colleagues and boss. You may not be able to complete every little thing on your to-do list before your last day, but show you care and keep a positive attitude. My mantra is this: “life goes on.” You may think it’s a blow to your company to leave, but keep in mind business is business, and companies will move on without us and find a replacement.

Also, I’ve made friends through the years with former colleagues. I recommend keeping in touch with them after you move on. Dietetics is a very niche profession and can feel isolating depending on your job. RD friends are a wonderful gift.”

Keep moving forward

Changing jobs offers us new challenges and opportunities (and hopefully a raise!). Ending your time with a job can be tough, but keep your eyes on the big picture as much as possible. We all have to start somewhere in the world of dietetics and we find out what we truly like by trying different roles. Sometimes we find out that a certain role is NOT the right fit. Give yourself permission to recognize that.

Emily Settler, RD, LD explains that giving notice at the wrong fit role helped her to find the perfect fit.

“When I worked in a weight loss clinic, I discovered that it didn’t fit my nutrition philosophy. I wanted to help people with Intuitive Eating and finding peace with food, instead of focusing on telling people what not to eat. I was given the opportunity to work at an eating disorder clinic and I took it. When I left my job at the weight loss clinic, I made sure to tell them that I really appreciated the time I spent there and all that I had learned. I made sure that I gave them more than 2 weeks’ notice to ensure they could replace me because it was a very busy clinic. My direct supervisor was supportive of the change but there were definitely people that were not so supportive. This was hard for me to cope with at first because I had worked very hard at my job and it felt like none of that mattered. I was not given a thank you or even a goodbye from leadership. I was very thankful for my direct supervisor and his support through this. If I had to do it again I wouldn’t change anything other than not letting other people’s opinions get to me or bring me down. It was the right choice for me and that’s what mattered most. Two years later and I’m still so happy I changed my career path.”

If you are not in your dream role yet - hang in there. Keep your resume and LinkedIn profile polished, keep networking, and keep your eyes open. That next new role is on the way, and you know exactly what to say when you leave this one.

Resignation letter samples

When you are ready to send out that letter and move on to another unique dietitian job, I've got downloadable template samples for you. Tell me how it goes!

That’s a wrap!

Writing a letter of resignation can feel challenging, but it is SO much easier with a template. Grab your free templates with three different examples of exactly what to say. Keep it professional, offer the amount of notice that you can, and if possible, give yourself a little bit of R and R time before starting the next job. You’ve got this!