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Resignation letter essentials

A resignation letter is a date machine and a courtesy document — not a memoir. In German workplaces, form requirements and a restrained tone usually serve you better than a catalogue of grievances.

What nearly always belongs

• A clear statement that you resign from the named role.
• The intended end date, aligned with your notice calculation.
• Your name, date, and signature when Schriftform applies.
• A short courtesy line about orderly handover — without volunteering unpaid overtime.

What can wait for the conversation

Detailed criticism, negotiation of counter-offers, and personal history usually belong in speech or in a separate process. Putting them in the letter freezes tone in a file that travels further than you expect.

Language choice

If HR operates in German, a German letter avoids translation delays. Our coaching is in English; many clients draft bilingual versions and let us pressure-test the factual parts. For a structured review, start with Letter Review.