Reclaim Your Career: How to Craft a Compelling Resignation Withdrawal Letter

Whether it be to climb the rungs of professional specialization or to simply get out of an incompatible working environment, the resignation process from a company usually requires a physical or electronic form of notice.

That being said, unforeseen circumstances or a change of heart may mean that retaining your current job is the best move for your professional career. If you find yourself in this position, writing a resignation withdrawal letter is almost always necessary. Resignation withdrawal letters, if carefully and thoughtfully written, can maximize your chances of retaining your job. 

There are myriad reasons that one may have for choosing to resign from their place of employment (for a comprehensive list of warning signs that resigning may be the right choice for you, check out this article). The choice to leave your job is never easy, and feelings of embarrassment and fear of judgment from peers may make writing a resignation withdrawal letter even more difficult.

That said, the reasons for wanting to withdraw a submitted resignation letter are as numerous and valid as the reasons for wanting to leave in the first place. Common reasons include being rejected from a previously secured job and for personal reasons or emergencies.

It should be mentioned that writing a resignation withdrawal letter does not guarantee that you will retain your job. The act of resigning from a job can set into motion things within the company that cannot be reversed. Here are some reasons why a resignation withdrawal letter may be unsuccessful. 

1. Company’s policy 

While at first glance, rehiring you may seem like the most straightforward option for a company. After all, you already are familiar with the company workflow and culture, and you have the benefit of having strong professional relations with others in the office. However, company policies surrounding the steps taken after a filed resignation may prevent you from returning to the position. 

For instance, many companies have a policy that outlines the process for seeking a successor to a position that has filed their resignation. In this case, your job may no longer be available because of this pre-arranged succession policy. 

In a similar vein, the redistribution of your tasks to your former colleagues may have already taken place as per company policy. This work distribution is typically done to preserve the work continuity of the company and to give the administration the time to find a suitable replacement. A resignation withdrawal letter may not be able to turn back the clock on these events once they have been set into motion. 

2. Your manager’s discretion

It should be made clear that your resignation may have left a lasting negative impression of you on other people, including your managers. Once you have tendered your resignation, you forfeit the security of the job that you previously had. This means that your former employer is under no contractual obligation to rehire you, should you change your mind about leaving the company.

If this is the case, or if your manager simply does not want to rehire you because they have filled your former position already, your resignation withdrawal letter may unfortunately end up falling on deaf ears. 

3. Company restructuring

Depending on the length of time between your resignation and your choice to submit your resignation withdrawal letter, the company may have undergone a period of internal reshuffling to accommodate the vacancy of your former position. If this is the case, the company may not have the space or the resources to allocate towards rehiring you and your resignation withdrawal letter will likely be unsuccessful in helping you reclaim your position. 

With all of this said, withdrawing your resignation letter is the best chance you have at saving your employment at your current company, so if you are committed to securing your job again, the next section will outline exactly how you can write one!

With a bit of effort and a pinch of know-how, you can transform your resignation withdrawal letter into one that will maximize your chances of retaining your employment status at work. In this section, we will break down everything you need to know about writing a killer resignation withdrawal letter!

Start by addressing your manager in the letter

A letter that begins with a custom and personable greeting goes a long way towards forming a connection between you and the intended recipient. Begin your resignation withdrawal letter by using your manager/employer’s full title and name. Use the appropriate salutation and avoid any casual slang. Remember, you are trying to make the best of a bad situation; keep your tone and word choice as formal as possible. 

You could begin your resignation withdrawal letter like this:

• Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. [Last Name]
• Good morning/afternoon/evening Mr./Mrs./Ms. [Last Name]

Be clear and sincerely ask to keep your job

Don’t beat around the bush. Your resignation withdrawal letter should be as specific and as honest as possible. Begin the body by stating the reason for the letter. Provide the date that you submitted your resignation and state, in clear terms, that you wish to rescind your resignation notice. You can preface the rest of the letter by giving the reason that you are asking to rescind your resignation notice and follow that up with a sincere request to keep your job.

Keep in mind that your employer is in the position of negotiation and that you should always maintain a respectful and polite tone to maximize the chance that he will be amenable to your cause. 

Avoid sounding rude or arrogant at any point throughout your letter. You are not in the strongest position to bargain or negotiate the terms of your reemployment at this juncture. Your resignation withdrawal letter should adopt an agreeable tone that makes it clear to your employer that you are willing to go through the appropriate processes to return to your position. 

Apologize and be polite

Resigning from your position at a company may have been the best choice for you at the time, but it is usually a nightmare for HR and management, who would have had to begin the process of seeking out and hiring a suitable replacement for you. Bear in mind that your resignation notice may have set things into motion that have cost the company time and money. As such, take the time to sincerely apologize to your employer for the trouble and expenses that have been incurred due to your resignation. 

Give an honest reason(s) why you want to cancel it

Life is unpredictable, and changing circumstances around your resignation may mean that resigning is no longer a viable option for you. It is recommended that you maintain and provide an honest reason as to why you would like to cancel your previously submitted letter of resignation. Be transparent about the circumstance that you have found yourself in as your employer needs this information to decide if they should accept your request to return to work.

Even though you may think that giving a complete and honest reason for your resignation withdrawal may hurt your case, your employer may feel sympathetic to your circumstance and agree to take you back on. We are all human, and any good employer understands that life can sometimes really throw a wrench in the works!

End by asking for an in-person meeting with your manager

A great way to demonstrate a proactive mindset and an unerring willingness to work, ask for an in-person meeting with your employer to discuss the terms of your rehire towards the end of your resignation withdrawal letter. This shows your employer your motivation to pursue further action towards your rehire and your willingness to have a productive discussion on how your reemployment will directly benefit their company. 

Now that we have covered how to write a stunning resignation withdrawal letter, here are the steps put into practice. You can use these 2 examples of resignation withdrawal letters to give you some inspiration on how to write your own! 

Example 1

Example 2

Now that you have a general idea of how to write a resignation withdrawal letter, you can now consider the many ways to improve the success rate of having the resignation request canceled. In this section, we will discuss some key pointers you can consider including in your resignation withdrawal request letter. 

1. Talk about your future in the company with your manager

Place yourself in a position of value by mentioning exactly how your future at the company would benefit the short and long-term success of its operation. Outline your plans and ideas for the direction that the company can go in and show how you fit into this bigger picture. 

2. Showcase your contribution so far to hint your commitment

In an effort to put your best foot forward, your resignation withdrawal letter could include a description of your previous accomplishments at the company. By doing this, you show your employer your track record at their company and the benefit they stand to receive by rehiring a hard and dedicated worker such as yourself!

3. Do things fast to show how serious you are

Time is of the essence when submitting a resignation withdrawal letter! Contact the company right away after knowing that you want your current job back. The earlier you do this, the higher the chance that the company has not found a replacement for you!

4. Be open to negotiation and compromise

Bear in mind that the return to your job is not guaranteed and that your reinstatement will be at the discretion of your employer. While the most desirable outcome is, of course, to return as if nothing had changed, the reality is quite different. Be open to all negotiations that may arise through the rehiring process, and come to terms with the fact that you may have to compromise on several things such as starting salary and benefits. 

Conclusion

The process of writing a resignation withdrawal letter is tedious and challenging, but the benefits cannot be ignored! A resignation withdrawal letter is the best way to increase the odds of returning to your previous position. Spend time reflecting on how to transmit your value and accomplishments through your resignation withdrawal letter so that your employee sees the benefit of rehiring you over seeking new talent. 

If you are a professional seeking career development advice, CakeResume offers a comprehensive range of articles that dive deep into the inner workings of office life. Our expansive and knowledgeable writers share useful insight into industry standards and can help you take your professional development to the next level!

— Originally written by Alexander Coye —