How to Write a Resignation Email Subject Line (With Examples!)

If you’re planning to resign from your role, you need to let your employer know—and this often involves crafting a clear resignation email subject line.

“When you have decided to resign from a position at work, it is essential that you send a resignation email,” says Sophie Bryan, founder and Chief Workplace Culture Consultant at Ordinarily Different.

Sending a resignation email is important for a few reasons. First, it “serves as a formal and professional way to communicate and indicate your leaving,” says Bryan.

Not only does your resignation email act as an office notice that you’re planning to leave your position, but, when sent in advance, it also gives your company time to figure out how to best transition you out of the role.

“Sending a resignation email allows for a smooth transition,” says Bryan. “It also allows the company time to start searching for a qualified replacement.”

Finally, your resignation email creates a (digital) paper trail; it shows that you notified your company of your intent to leave and didn’t abandon your position—which is important in case of any future disputes.

No matter the reasons you’re saying goodbye to your current job, clearly, sending a resignation email is a must—and to ensure that email doesn’t fall through the cracks, choosing the right subject line is key.

But what exactly is the ideal resignation email subject line—and how do you craft the right one? Let’s find out together!

Why is your resignation email subject line important?

Now that you understand why sending a resignation email is a must, let’s jump into why the resignation email subject line specifically is so important.

“The subject line of your resignation email letter is important for three main reasons,” says Ashley Cox, CEO and founder of hiring consultancy SproutHR:

• The right subject line quickly conveys the contents of your message;

• It ensures that the recipient opens your email in a timely manner; 

• It makes the resignation email searchable in the future (so the company can easily refer back to it if needed instead of having to ask you for details).

Essentially, the subject line immediately lets the recipient know that you’re resigning, which will ensure that the email doesn’t get lost in your manager or HR rep’s inbox. 

What to put in a resignation email subject line

Clearly, your subject line is vital for ensuring your resignation email is promptly opened and understood. With that in mind, using the right one is crucial. So, what does that look like? Ideally, your resignation email subject line should include:

Your name 

Companies structure their emails differently. If your email address includes your first and last name, the recipient should immediately recognize who the email is from. But if your email is structured differently—for example, [email protected] or first [email protected]—it’s important to include both your first and last name in the email subject line.

“If you're sending the letter from an email address that doesn't include your name, then it's also smart to add your name to the subject so the recipient immediately knows who the email is from,” says Cox.

The word “resignation”

It’s important to use clear, straightforward language to assure the recipient immediately recognizes the email as a resignation. “The subject line should include the word ‘resignation’ so that it stands out as important,” says Cox.

The date you plan to leave

In addition to alerting your company of your resignation, your subject line should also outline when that resignation is going to happen. “The subject line of a resignation letter should ideally include…the date on which you plan to leave,” says Bryan. “The recipient will quickly understand the nature of your communication, allowing them to prioritize and act accordingly.”

Concise language

Email subject lines offer limited characters (generally, a max of 60)—so it’s also best to keep it short. “Keep it brief and to the point,” says Bryan.

Dos and don'ts for resignation email subject lines

Do:

• Include your name (first and last)

• Use the word “resignation”/clearly state that you’re resigning from your position

• Include your last day of work

• Keep it short and concise

• Use professional language

• Proofread before sending

Don’t:

• Make the subject line too long (if it’s too long, the recipient won’t see the full subject line in their inbox)

• Use vague or indirect language

• Exclude key details

• Use too casual language

• Use inflammatory language

• Send before editing/checking the subject line (and email!) for mistakes

Resignation email subject line: Examples

Not sure how to combine the above elements to create an effective email subject line? Here are a few ideas you might consider:

• Resignation - Last Working Day: [insert date]

• Resigning from [insert company and/or position], effective [insert date]

• [Insert name] resignation email, effective [insert date]

• Resignation on [insert date]; offboarding meeting request

• I’m resigning. My last day of work will be [insert date]