How to start a letter

You've found a killer new job and it's time to bid farewell to your current gig.

First, sit down with your boss and let him or her know that you're leaving. (Here's how to do that.)

Then, it's time to put your departure in writing. Whether it was an awesome company or one that you're totally dying to leave, you'll need to write a resignation letter.

But how do you write a resignation letter? It doesn't need to be a summary of your entire employment history, job coach Lea McLeod told Business Insider's Áine Cain in 2017. "It needs to be simple, straightforward, and to the point," McLeod said.

It's really just a "formality" after you've had the initial conversation with your boss, Tim Vipond, CEO of the Corporate Finance Institute, told Business Insider.

"It would be quite awkward if you just emailed them or gave them a letter without talking to them first," Vipond said.

So, keep the letter brief. You can provide feedback on the company in a one-on-one with your boss or coworkers.

You'll need to include the following for a stress-free offboarding process:

The following are optional, but good to include if you want to maintain the relationship with your old employer: