Have you ever decided that you wanted to quit your job but then changed your mind?

Maybe the new job opportunity fell through, or something happened that made you realize that quitting wasn’t really the best decision after all.

Whatever the reason, rescinding your resignation can be tricky but doable.

If you’ve decided that you want to keep your current job, experts suggest the following ways to withdraw your resignation, along with some examples:

Be transparent and open with your employer

Transparent and honest communication is critical to building trust in working relationships (and, for that matter, in any relationship with friends, family, romantic partners, etc.)

Related: Building Strong Work Relationships

When you decide to resign from your organization, take time to think through the decision and weigh the pros and cons before submitting a formal resignation. 

Often, when you get some time and distance to think about a process or procedure you find frustrating, you allow yourself the emotional space needed to be able to talk directly and calmly with your employer about your concerns.

This more productive approach to conflict allows them to learn about issues that may, in fact, be affecting many employees, thereby giving them the opportunity to address the issue head-on. 

It’s also vital for you to be genuinely curious about what may be happening at the organizational level that leads them to follow a particular practice or procedure. 

By gaining an understanding of their perspective as well, you’re both able to have a more complete picture of the issue and can make an informed decision together about what, if anything, needs to change (either the policy/procedure in the organization or potentially you resigning).

If you decide to resign, be transparent and honest about why you are leaving calmly and professionally.

For example, perhaps your spouse is being relocated, and you resign, but the relocation falls through. Or perhaps at a later date, you are relocated back into the area. 

Be transparent and open with your employer. If you have established a good working relationship, you are more likely to withdraw the resignation or, upon returning to the area, be invited back into the organization. 

If, on the other hand, you resign due to a policy or procedure that can’t be changed, it’s less likely that you or the employer will have the same level of trust in the working relationship if you then retract the resignation. 

Prepare a well-crafted letter to rescind your resignation formally 

Just as you did when you filed your resignation, you will need a formal letter to document your intention to retract your resignation. 

Related: How to Write a Resignation Email (With 10+ Examples)

Because the company is not required to accept your withdrawal of resignation, you need to build your case in your letter and convince the authorities in the company to approve your application to retract your resignation. 

Your work performance and relationship with your colleagues and superiors will play a part in having your application to rescind your resignation approved. And although there are no guarantees, preparing a well-written letter can also help you.

Maintain a courteous and professional tone when writing your letter. It is also best to keep it straightforward. 

Long story short—you decided to quit your job. Whatever made you do that, the resignation letter is already submitted. The plot twist– you changed your mind. 

Want your job back, but feeling lost and unsure what to do now? 

Well, you cannot make the resignation letter magically disappear. Still, the good news is that you can always withdraw it. And here is some advice on what steps you should take.

Be well-prepared and get familiar with legal issues

First things first: There is no time to waste. You should withdraw your resignation quickly, no doubt about it. Still, it is crucial to get familiar with your rights. 

Going through legal issues shouldn’t take much time. And it may turn out to be useful later on. Review your company handbook and employment contract to look for any information about resignation policies. 

The sooner you know about, for example, paperwork that needs to be done for HR, the better so you can prepare in advance. For politeness’ sake, let your supervisor know about the situation timely.

No one can guarantee that your employer will let you stay in the company. Yet, don’t let panic take control of the situation. 

Trust me, the more professional and focused you remain, the greater the chances you will withdraw a resignation successfully and keep the job. 

Related: What Does It Mean to Be Professional at Work?

Start by meeting your supervisor in person, by e-meeting, or a phone call (whatever is possible in your form of work). It is not only a polite move but also a reference point in written communication for you (e.g., starting an e-mail with “As discussed today…”). 

Once your supervisor knows that you have changed your mind about leaving the job, it’s time to withdraw a resignation.

Be polite and professional, yet keep a friendly tone in your letter

You are not the first person ever who wants to withdraw a resignation. Even if the whole situation makes you uncomfortable, there is no point in listing excuses and making up incredible stories. 

You don’t have to go into details. Mention change in circumstances as the reason you want to withdraw your resignation. 

Format your letter, address it to the person who received the resignation, and submit it as soon as possible. My advice is to make a copy for your records.

Last but not least, be polite and professional, yet keep a friendly tone. Leave a good impression. No matter what happens next, staying classy is always a good idea. 

Let your boss know what is going on

If you have decided that you no longer want to resign from your position, the first thing you should do is talk to your boss. This is not an easy decision to make, and it can be difficult to tell them directly, but they must know what is going on. 

You should explain why you no longer want to resign and why you think it would be best for the company if you stayed on.

From this point, you want to carefully listen to what your boss has to say and how they feel about the situation. End the conversation with a clear understanding of how to move forward with the company.

Related: 50+ Reasons Why Listening Is Important

Give your manager a heads up and know how they feel about you staying

The first step to retracting your resignation is to talk to your boss. It’s crucial to not only give your manager a heads up that you’ve changed your mind but also to learn how your direct supervisor feels about you staying. 

For example, if your boss isn’t happy about you staying, then you can make a more informed decision about whether or not you really want to withdraw your resignation. 

Working for a boss that would prefer you to leave may not be the most pleasant of working environments. 

If your boss is pleased that you’ve changed your mind, however, it’s more likely that your request to withdraw your resignation will be approved. 

Your boss can advocate on your behalf with the people who make the final decision regarding allowing you to stay in your job. A request to withdraw your resignation is just a request, and the company isn’t required to honor it. 

Letting your boss know what’s going on before you formally withdraw your resignation may improve the likelihood of the withdrawal getting approved.

The second step is to put your resignation withdrawal request in writing. This not only makes it more formal and professional but also gives everyone something to refer back to later if necessary. 

In the letter, you should identify why you have changed your mind and how staying will benefit the company. It’s essential to be polite and professional and to show that you aren’t planning to leave again. 

Even with your boss’ support, the company may view you as a risk to keep because you are someone who already tried to leave once.

Have an honest conversation with your manager and describe your situation

There are sometimes unpredictable events in our lives that are beyond our control. Let’s say you were planning to move abroad with your spouse because he received an attractive job offer there. 

Related: How to Tell Your Boss You Got Another Job Offer

Everything looked promising, but in the end, something didn’t work out, and you’re not going. However, you already handed in your resignation letter and were supposed to leave your workplace and look for a job in a foreign country. 

But what should you do when you want your job back after your life situation has changed?

My advice is to have an honest conversation with your manager and describe your situation. It’s important to explain things to your boss before you formally withdraw your resignation. 

Different things happen in our lives, and sometimes we need to readjust our plans and look for solutions we haven’t considered before. 

Communication and honesty are key. Be honest about your circumstances, but also remember to stay professional. You want to explain in detail why you have changed your mind regarding your resignation. 

Keep in mind that the company might have already taken steps to hire someone else or reassign your role to another person in your team. That’s why you should prepare for any outcome, and don’t get discouraged if things don’t go your way.

It’s essential to have an open dialogue

Although it might not have been your plan, a new job offer sometimes falls through. If you’ve put your notice in at your current job but now you need to withdraw your resignation, don’t panic.

Related: How to Give Two Weeks’ Notice (With Examples)

The first thing you should do is have a private conversation with your manager. There’s always a chance that they started working on backfilling your position, so there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to continue in your role. 

However, there may be other opportunities, so it’s essential to have an open dialogue. 

After your conversations, if you can keep your position, you will most likely need to follow up with a formal written letter for your organization to keep on file. It’s best to keep things brief and professional. 

Apologize for your prior hurriedness

After some time, we realize that we made a hasty decision and wish we hadn’t made the wrong option when it comes to leaving our jobs. When we know we’ve made a mistake, we make every effort to right the wrong and go forward. 

If you’ve already submitted your resignation in writing, you can withdraw your resignation in writing by composing a second letter of retraction. 

You must apologize for your prior hurriedness, and your tone must be respectful and professional.

Talk to your manager first to see where they stand

Before you retract anything, you should talk to your boss or manager and see where they stand on you potentially staying at the place of employment. 

If you already cut ties on a poor note, they may tell you not to bother retracting your resignation letter. 

On the other hand, they may be happy to hear you want to stay and work for them, which would make the entire process much easier with their help, so always talk to your manager first to see where they stand.

In most situations, your employer is allowed to refuse to take you back, so be prepared to start looking for a new job just in case. This is why you should keep your resume updated and try to always end jobs on a good note with past employers for referrals or references.

Related: How Many References Should You Have On a Resume

You will need to submit a written request to retract the resignation if talking with your manager goes well. Make sure the letter clearly states that you want to rescind your resignation and why.

Learn the legalities surrounding it

Anyone can run into certain circumstances where after resigning from a job, they might have to retract their resignations; it may not usually be a conventional practice, but at the same time, it’s still something many people do. 

If done right, then no harm, no foul, right?

Go into the conversation with your employer with no expectations

Whether you made your intent to resign clear or left some room for interpretation in your actions, the key to successfully withdrawing your resignation is to act quickly. 

For at-will workers, if your intent was clear and your employer has started investing time and money into finding a replacement, they can legally deny your withdrawal. 

If you plan to stay in your role, you need to salvage the working relationship by speaking with your employer ASAP, with a withdrawal letter in hand, to show you respect for their time.

Keep your resignation withdrawal letter short, sweet, and humble. Cut to the point and go into the conversation with no expectations. 

Your employer has every right to reject the letter, and if that happens, you’ll want to show maturity and understanding as you prepare for your exit. 

Always make sure to have sufficient evidence to support your reasoning

Approval of the withdrawal of resignation depends on the employer. However, if your retraction burned any bridges previously for the company or they have already found a replacement, you may not be hired back. 

Here are a few ways to withdraw your resignation that may work:

Prepare a strong reasoning. This only works for cases where the workers resign due to unforeseen circumstances. For example, if a family member gets ill or the employee has any other emergency, that is subject to change. 

Confront your employer, preferably in person, for effective communication, and explain how the circumstances have suddenly changed and that you can resume your job. Always make sure to have sufficient evidence to support your reasoning.

Mention all details for the request, and include unavoidable reasons

A lot of times, we get lured by attractive offers only to find out later that our current position will give us a better growth outlook or the new work is contrary to what we had expected. I know you’ve made a blunder, but it’s not irreversible. 

Here are a few tips to wisely withdraw your resignation letter from my experience:

Act fast

As soon as you realize the blunder get on to your heels to repair the damage. The sooner, the better.

Have an informal conversation with your manager

Try and converse with your manager casually, maybe just over the coffee break or during a casual smoke. 

He may like the idea of you staying back; alternatively, you may get some hints over the planned policies as to what could be the next course of action. Either of them would be handy.

Write a formal letter

Write a letter—if required, draft a professional, gracious formal retraction letter. Mention all details for the request, and if possible, include unavoidable reasons to cover up.

I remember when I had to draft one such letter in my previous company, I mentioned that I had to shift location due to my child’s school, but her admission got negated, and so did my resignation.

Bring out your best genes 

If you are still serving the notice period, go out of the box and work for the company in a way that your superiors themselves get compelled to ask you to stay back, giving you a far more lucrative offer realizing your importance.

You can also ask your company to help you seek jobs in their sister companies or other firms through their contacts after cohesively discussing the present scenario you are caught in.

The proper approach is to be direct and honest

If you choose to withdraw your resignation because you aren’t ready to leave a great job, then that should be the very point you emphasize when discussing the matter with your boss. Honesty is the only policy.

Withdrawing a resignation might be more awkward than the resignation itself because you’re looking indecisive at a time when an employer has to decide whether you’re valuable enough to keep.

Related: How to Stop Being Indecisive

Additionally, if the wheels are already in motion to select your replacement, that could make the situation even more awkward. In any case, the proper approach is to be direct and honest.

Nearly 30 years ago, Bobby Cremins, former head basketball coach at Georgia Tech University, announced to his employer that he was accepting a job to be the head coach of the men’s basketball team at his alma mater, the University of South Carolina. 

Three days later, he rescinded his resignation and decided to remain at Georgia Tech. It was big news then, especially in the Georgia sports community.

Cremins was a big name who had won the school’s only ACC Tournament championships and punched its first ticket to the Final Four. In spite of his success at Georgia Tech, the university had to think about whether to welcome him back into the fold.

Not only that, but Georgia Tech had already heard from a representative of another well-known coach—Roy Williams.

Cremins was welcomed back, and he was able (for the most part) to maintain the level of success he had been known for. But it was a situation that Cremins has since admitted was the worst he had endured during his professional life. 

It wasn’t easy having to tell two great universities in less than three days that you won’t be working for them any longer. On top of that, you have to ask for your old job back at one of them.

It’s a situation no one wants, but if confronted with it, you have to follow your heart and be honest with yourself. 

Even if the worst-case scenario happens, you will have a better chance of maintaining your dignity and landing on your feet if you follow your heart and don’t wind up with a job you don’t love.

It depends on how amicably you left

Your success in withdrawing your resignation can depend on a few things. Time constraints are worth considering. 

If you resigned a while ago, it’s unlikely you can withdraw. 

However, if you have written a resignation, you’ve likely done some soul searching and might have gone back on your initial choice. In this situation, if you are a valued team member who is leaving, then your boss may be glad to see you withdraw your resignation. 

On another note, if you are using your resignation as an ultimatum to get a raise or promotion and you have second thoughts, it’s unlikely you will be successful in withdrawing.

Related: Can You Lose a Job Offer by Negotiating Salary

It can all depend on how amicably you left. If you have decided you want to stick with the company, then it’s likely you could withdraw the resignation. However, if you are trying to return on yourself after accepting an offer to work somewhere else, even with a competitor, your resignation will likely stand.

Keep it brief and avoid unclear wording

In my opinion, even if there are probably millions of things you want to say in your letter, the key is to keep it brief and avoid unclear wording. 

Providing further details will not strengthen your case. Since you may have already discussed the issue with your manager, it is acceptable to keep your letter brief. 

Although you may carefully highlight your performance record in the letter so that the management will consider your resignation withdrawal, you must never apologize for submitting your resignation. 

In addition to the reason for your resignation, your letter should contain the date you submitted your letter and the function or title you wish to keep at your current employment.

Keep it professional and polite

Withdrawing a resignation letter may feel strange, but it’s relatively common, especially if it’s following a conversation with your manager. 

The main thing to keep in mind is that you want to keep it brief and start by getting straight to the point. 

You’ll also want to thank your manager for their potential willingness to accommodate the extension. Overall, keep it professional and polite, and you can’t go wrong.

Before you retract your resignation letter, you need to be sure that it is something you actually want to do and are not doing it out of panic. 

There are always job openings, and you can get another job, but is getting this one back the better option for you?

Show your boss you’re still a good fit for your job and your loyalties lie here

If you haven’t applied for any other positions elsewhere, this may work in your favor since you can say it was a mistake or a decision made on a whim. 

Recall your successes and contributions at your workplace and if possible, ask your manager to put in a good word with the higher-ups. 

My friend had an employee resign and then asked that his resignation be canceled. He showed up to what was going to be his last ever meeting in that position and pulled out a presentation on why it’s best that he be kept here. 

Safe to say, he had many more meetings there.

Perform at your best and show dedication to your work

If you have begun your two weeks, then there is a chance your retraction may not be accepted. 

Regardless of this, you need to perform at your best because not only can that earn you a change of heart, but you also need a referral from your current-former employer.

Complete any ongoing projects with diligence and honesty; you can try asking for additional responsibilities to show you are dedicated to your work, and the resignation was more of a miscalculation.

Reach out to a manager for a one-on-one conversation

Post-resignation regrets don’t need to lead to a lost job. If you feel you’ve made a mistake, reach out to a manager for a one-on-one conversation. This topic is too sensitive to tackle with an email or Slack message. 

If you have challenges barring you from continuing your work in an otherwise well-suited role, speak to your manager to see if you can find some workarounds for them.

Your meeting will help you feel their receptiveness to a resignation withdrawal. If they’re open to the idea, start crafting your letter—keep the letter short and respectful for the best results.

Give your manager the courtesy of an apology

Don’t discount the impact of a sincere apology. Managers know that emotions can sometimes run high at work, and mistakes can happen. 

If you feel quitting was a mistake, give your manager the courtesy of an apology, especially if they’ve started the hiring process to replace you.

That apology should be paired with a “thank you,” thanking your manager for their time regarding this situation and for providing you with a fantastic working experience.

Though you should ask for your job back in person, a letter is a necessary part of the process—as, with everything regarding the resignation, your formal communications should be in writing.

Be honest about your reasons and be prepared to answer any questions

When you give your boss notice that you’re quitting, it’s a pretty big deal. You’re putting them in a tough spot and giving up a lot of leverage in the process. 

So if, after giving notice, you change your mind, it’s crucial to handle the withdrawal of your resignation properly.

First, take a step back and assess your situation. Are you sure you really want to leave? If you are, then there’s not much point in trying to withdraw your resignation. 

But if you’re having second thoughts, it’s worth considering whether or not withdrawing your resignation is the right move for you.

Once you’ve decided that withdrawing your resignation is the right thing to do, it’s essential to have a frank discussion with your boss. 

Be honest about why you’re changing your mind, and be prepared to answer any questions they may have. It’s also a good idea to have a plan for how you’ll address the issues that led you to resign in the first place.

Withdrawing your resignation can be tricky, but if you handle it the right way, it can work out for everyone involved.

Keep everything up to the legal code

In some circumstances, you may be able to withdraw your resignation and carry on working in your current title. 

You must keep everything up to the legal code and ensure you keep all the records saved and documented, especially with HR. Remember, your employer is legally allowed to refuse the rescinded resignation. 

Make sure you keep the email/letter: brief, say thank you, and remain professional. 

Send a letter of revocation

In my opinion, after submitting your two-week notice, events can change your mind or the reasons you resigned. 

If you’ve already submitted your resignation letter but have changed your mind, sending a letter of revocation may allow you to maintain your job. Even if it’s not guaranteed, return to work as soon as possible. 

Here’s how to do it efficiently:

Frequently Asked Questions