Did you leave that job because you wanted to, or because the company wanted you to?! Let’s get our definitions clear:To resign means that you voluntarily choose to leave your job.
Laura resigned from her position as she had been offered a better job with another company.
The politician resigned over the expenses scandal.
Resignation (n) - a formal document giving notice of your intention to resign
Diane is leaving the company next month. She handed in her letter of resignation last Monday.
To be fired/ to be sacked* / to get the sack* means you were terminated for cause; dismissal from employment
Jane was fired for stealing company property.
John finally got the sack after a year of ineptitude.*
*informal/slang
To lay off / To be laid-off / To be made redundant from your job
means to be without a job because there is no more work available for you in a company; the position was eliminated, without regard to employee performance, usually when a company is experiencing financial difficulties.
The factory had to cut back production and lay off workers.200 people were laid-off at the manufacturing plant in northern Spain.
Simon is looking for a new job because he was made redundant last month.
Click here to see how to write a resignation letter
