Resigning from a sales job: notice, unpaid commission and counter offers
Leaving a role? Module 5 of the Sales Job Search Kit covers a counter offer from your current employer. Module 2 keeps every application and next step in one pipeline. £14 + VAT.
Resigning well protects your pay and your name. Check the facts before you speak to your manager.
Check before you resign
- Your notice period, in your contract.
- Whether commission on deals you closed is paid after you leave.
- When clawbacks apply, and for how long.
- Any restrictions on working for a competitor or contacting customers.
- Your holiday balance and how it is paid.
If the new employer's offer has a start date, match your notice to it.
A short resignation message
Hi [manager],
I am resigning from my role as [title]. My last day will be [date], in line with my notice period.
Thank you for the support over the past [time]. I will hand over my accounts and open deals before I leave. Please let me know what you need.
[Your name]
Say it in person or on a call first if you can. Send the message straight afterwards.
See inside · £14 + VAT
Handle the handover
- List open deals, next steps and key contacts.
- Agree who owns each account.
- Be clear about which commission is yours.
If your employer makes a counter offer
Think about why you were looking in the first place. A higher number rarely fixes the reason. If you stay, ask for the terms in writing. Taking the new role instead? The counter offer email guide covers negotiating its terms. Check the new offer with the offer letter checklist.
Keep the door open
Thank people by name. You may work with them again, or ask them for a reference.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Check your contract, and ask a qualified adviser if unsure.
Read next: how to negotiate sales OTE.
Questions
Do I get paid commission after I resign?
It depends on your contract and the commission plan. Check how commission on closed deals is treated after you leave, and when clawbacks apply.
How do I resign from a sales job?
Check your notice period and unpaid commission. Tell your manager in person or on a call. Then send a short message with your last day and a handover offer.
Should I tell my manager before I send the message?
Yes. Say it in person or on a call first, then send a short message.
Also: why did you leave your last sales job, non-competes and garden leave, how to ask for a pay rise in sales.
Related guides
Counter offer email for a sales job
The email to send: a template, two asks and four checks.
How to negotiate sales OTE
Pay mix, quota realism, accelerators and a two-offer worked example.
Sales offer letter checklist
Twelve things to check before you sign.
Run your search like a pipeline
A Notion kit for sellers changing roles. It has a target list and a pipeline board with follow-ups due. It also has recruiter scripts, negotiation scripts and an offer calculator for year-one pay. £14, one payment, plus VAT for UK and EU buyers.
Principled Pitch is independent. Pay, quotas and hiring processes vary by company and country. Check the details of any role with the recruiter.