Giving two weeks notice is mostly a matter of order and timing: the right conversation, then the written record, then a handover people can use. This guide focuses on the notice period itself. For the wider picture, including contracts and references, see how to resign professionally.
Before you give notice
- Get your next step in writing. If you are moving to another job, wait for a signed offer with a start date, and for any background or reference checks to finish.
- Check your contract and handbook. Look for a required notice period, notice rules for bonuses and vacation payout, and anything about non-competes. Some jobs require more than two weeks.
- Keep it to yourself. Do not tell colleagues first. Your manager should not hear it second-hand.
Step 1: choose the day
Two weeks is 14 calendar days, normally 10 working days. Count from the day after you give notice. If you hand in notice on Monday, October 5, your last day is Monday, October 19. Use the two weeks notice calculator if holidays or weekends make it unclear. Early in the week gives your manager time to plan; avoid the hour before a major deadline or a holiday if you can.
Step 2: tell your manager first, in person if possible
Ask for a short private meeting or video call. Say it directly in the first sentence, then explain in one or two lines. Something like:
“I wanted you to hear this from me first. I’ve accepted another opportunity, and I’m giving you two weeks’ notice. My last day will be November 13. I want to make the handover as smooth as I can.”
More wording for different situations is in what to say when you quit.
Step 3: put it in writing the same day
Follow up with a letter or email that states your last day and a thank-you. Use the letter generator or the email template. If your company routes resignations through HR, send it there too, or copy them.
Step 4: plan the handover
Offer a short plan in the first few days. List open projects and their status, regular tasks and when they are due, who the key contacts are and where files live. Offer to train a teammate or to write up the details. A clean handover is what colleagues remember.
A simple timeline for the two weeks
- Day 1: speak to your manager, send the written notice, agree how and when the team will be told.
- Days 2 to 3: share a first draft of the handover list; ask HR about final pay, vacation and benefits.
- Week 1: finish what you can finish; document what you cannot; hold handover sessions.
- Week 2: walk a colleague through anything complex; collect contact details of people you want to stay in touch with; return equipment as agreed.
- Last day: confirm everything is handed over, say goodbye, and use the last day checklist to avoid missing anything.
Things people get wrong
- Using vacation days as notice. Do not turn the last two weeks into time off unless your manager agrees; otherwise you may leave the team in a hole and risk your reference.
- Assuming you will work all two weeks. Some employers accept notice and ask you to leave immediately. Prepare for that financially, and ask whether you will be paid for the notice period. Read what happens after you give notice.
- Giving more than two weeks without being asked. You may offer, but you are not required to and it can delay your start at the next job.
Not legal advice. This page is general information. Notice rules, final-pay deadlines and benefits differ by country, state and employer, and your contract can change the answer. Check your own paperwork, or ask a qualified employment professional if a lot is at stake.