33 best subject lines for a resignation email

When the time comes to quit a job, it would be respectful to notify your employer in person, followed by sending them a formal letter of resignation.

But nowadays, employees often resign through email out of convenience or because they work remotely.

To achieve this, you need to flag your message clearly and effectively with the right subject line so that your email doesn’t fall through the cracks.

There are countless variations of subject lines for resignation emails, but which one is the best?

How to write a resignation letter subject line

By following this approach, your employer should be able to acknowledge the subject matter of your email and its purpose in an instant.

Use a positive and respectful tone of voice. Don’t express any negative emotions by using antagonistic and confrontational verbs or phrases. Also, there’s no need to include any exclamation marks.

Here’s what to write in the subject line for a resignation email:

Subject: Notice of Resignation – Employee Name, effective [MM/DD/YYYY]

As you can see, the 3 key elements of your notification are present in the resignation email title.

1. The main subject – The purpose of your email letter is clearly defined, leaving no doubt about what the content of the message is about. Your boss is instantaneously informed about the fact that you’re resigning.
2. Who does it concern – Your name, certainly, has to be a distinct part of the resignation email subject line, too, notifying your employer about which member of their staff is quitting the company.
3. When is the employee leaving – The date of your resignation lets your boss know what the duration of your notice is in a straightforward manner.

With the last point, you leave them with no scope for guessing the exact date of your employment termination.

So, don’t write “effective 2 weeks from now” because this way your employer will have to do the calculations.

Also, should your resignation be effective immediately, be direct in your email subject line and write: ‘Immediate Resignation’.

Optionally, you can also include your department if you work for a large company with 500+ employees.

Similarly, you can write the name of the organization you’re employed at if it’s a sister company and subsidiary of a large corporation.

Last but not least, don’t forget to proofread your resignation letter and the email subject line and consider what would be the best weekday to resign from your job.

Best email subject lines for resignation – examples

Here are some of the most effective subject lines for a resignation email that will highlight the main message for your employer:

1. Resignation notice - (Name), effective (Date)
2. Notice of resignation - (Name), effective (Date)
3. Resignation - (Name), (Date)
4. Formal letter of resignation - (Name), effective (Date)
5. Resignation announcement - (Name), (Date)
6. Letter of resignation - (Name), effective (Date)
7. Immediate resignation - (Name), (Department)
8. Resignation - (Name), effective immediately
9. (Name), (Department) - Resignation, (Date)
10. Resignation letter - (Name), effective (Date)

Your email of resignation should be written in the same professional, respectful and clear tone of voice as your subject line.

Subject line for resignation email to coworkers

Saying goodbye to your colleagues can be done in a much more informal way. You’ve been part of the same team and all the ups and downs a company can go through. You’ve probably formed close relationships at the workplace and even built some valuable friendships.

And there’s nothing wrong if your farewell letter to your coworkers reflects the amicable feelings you have towards them and the precious memories you’re leaving behind.

Therefore, the email subject line for resignation to your colleagues can be in tune with the friendly tone of voice of your letter. See some examples below:

11. Farewell from (Name) - It’s been a privilege!
12. My last day at work, thank you!
13. It’s been a pleasure working with you! Farewell from (Name)
14. Goodbye from (Name)! Thank you, and see you soon!
15. It’s hard to say goodbye! My last day at the company.
16. My note of farewell. Wishing you all the best! (Name)
17. It’s been a privilege to be part of your team!
18. A farewell letter from (Name)

How you write the resignation subject line of a farewell letter to your coworkers will depend a lot on who you include in your email.

Naturally, writing to all the employees of a larger company, some of which you may have never met, calls for a friendly, yet, more formal farewell email with a matching subject line.

On the other hand, small-sized companies tend to have smaller, close-knit teams, where workers feel as being part of a family. And saying goodbye to close coworkers in your workplace can surely be more emotional and personal, where you draw their attention to your message with a funny subject line.

Funny subject line for a resignation email

Why not make the sad situation of leaving good friends at work a positive one by starting your last email to them with a light-hearted and funny resignation subject line?

19. I’m outta here!
20. It’s time to move on to a much better gig!
21. I’ll no longer dread coming to the (Company name) office! See ya!
22. Don’t miss me too much! I’ll be working only around the corner!
23. Time to say goodbye! Don’t fight over my unfinished work tasks!
24. Going to miss you, guys, and all the free coffee!
25. It’s been epic working with you! Don’t be strangers!
26. Saying farewell is a bit easier knowing I’ll be playing Call of Duty tomorrow, all day long!
27. I’ll be missing you all but not as much as the free donuts every Friday!
28. Wish me luck in my new job and getting the gorgeous HR to date me!
29. Life is too short to stick around! Good luck with the next target!

A bit of humor never hurts, right, especially when you’re parting with colleagues you’ve worked with for years? Also, here are some useful tips on how to go through your notice period without too much drama.

Polite subject line for a resignation email

Leaving on good terms with your employer is definitely worth it, as you never know if you’ll need a positive reference from them in the near future.

Even if you didn’t like your work experience at the company that much, make sure your farewell letter and the email subject line for resignation are written professionally and in a polite manner.

30. Please, accept my resignation notice, effective (Date), (Name)
31. Resignation - (Name) - Completing my time with (Company name) on (Date)
32. Resigning with gratitude - (Name), (Date)
33. Announcement of resignation from (Name), effective (Date)

Being polite and respectful in your last words to your employer will ensure that you're remembered as a valuable professional and good employee who deserves a letter of recommendation and all the luck in their future endeavors. It's all part of quitting your job in the most professional manner possible.

My advice on what the subject for a resignation email should be

When it comes to formal employment dynamics, it is best to keep a formal and polite tone no matter what. In most cases, you'd want to stick to a safe choice of words when it comes to resigning from a job through email.

After all, this is considered formal professional communication. If you are concerned about your image as a professional, then you should pay particular attention to how you communicate with coworkers and company officials.