Most people who leave one job for another often say that the hardest part of leaving is all the people they leave behind. It’s almost impossible not to bond and form close bonds with your colleagues and direct reports, and that can make leaving your job and saying goodbye an awkward and sometimes bittersweet situation.
But what’s the right way to approach your date with those co-workers? should you tell them in person or just send a memo via goodbye letter or email? And if it’s the latter, how do you figure out who to write the perfect goodbye email to?
We’ve got the answers you need and six examples of the right way to send your goodbye emails with grace and dignity.
why send a goodbye email to co-workers?
Let’s get one thing straight right away: It’s always best to tell people these things in person. That’s especially true for co-workers with whom you’ve forged strong bonds and worked closely with. so let him know face to face if possible. however, it’s still wise to send co-workers a farewell email after you quit. When you quit your job, you want to be professional, leave a lasting positive impression, and document how much you’ve enjoyed your time working alongside each of them.
Of course, though, you’ll probably struggle to find the perfect short goodbye message to say you’re leaving the company. And it’s almost always impossible to create a generic farewell letter that’s right for everyone. That’s why we’ve compiled several sample goodbye emails that should ensure you can find the best goodbye email for each of your co-workers.
why send a goodbye email to clients?
Many jobs involve working closely with clients. even casual contact is a good reason to send out a notice that you are leaving your job and bid your customer or supplier a fond farewell. You also don’t want to burn any bridges for yourself as a professional or for your former employer. you never know who will come back on your career path.
farewell email to co-workers: subject line
It is important that the subject of the last business day email is correct. there are several different options you can take, of course.
You could opt for a simple descriptive subject line like “moving to the next stage of my career.”
Alternatively, you may want to simply announce your last day: “regarding my last day of work, [date}”.
or you could even go for a more personal subject line, like “farewells are never easy…”
Remember that your subject line will set the tone of your message, so choose something that alludes to the content of your goodbye email. Don’t write a funny or creative subject line if your message is a sincere goodbye.
You probably want to send the group email a couple of days before your last day so you have time to get responses.
6 templates for goodbye emails when leaving a job
farewell message to co-workers: example from close friends and other co-workers
Well, it’s time. As you know, my last day at ABC Corp is [date]. you are one of the things I will miss the most as I move into the next stage of my career.
I want you to know how much I’ve enjoyed working with you and getting to know you. their friendship and camaraderie have been one of the best aspects of this job, and something I have come to value greatly over the years. I will take those memories with me and treasure them forever.
Although my time at ABC Corp is coming to an end, I hope our friendship continues to flourish. stay in touch and call my cell phone or email me anytime. I’d love to get together for lunch or a game of baseball, or just to swap stories.
I will always consider you a trusted friend and colleague, [name of co-worker], and I wish you all the best that life has to offer.
[your name]keep your farewell letter informal; indicate your desire to stay in touch and manage your expectations for an ongoing relationship.
note: make sure your colleagues do, in fact, know you’re leaving. That shouldn’t be how they find out about your departure. check with your manager if you’re not sure.
sample farewell message to subordinates
hello,
as we discussed, my time here at abc corp has almost come to an end. however, I didn’t want to say goodbye without taking a moment to tell you how proud I am to have worked with each of you.
I want each of you to always remember how much we’ve accomplished as a team. those achievements are the result of their effort and talent, and I have been fortunate to have been supported by their combined excellence. you all have my deepest gratitude.
Although I will be leaving soon, I leave knowing that my successor could not ask for a more capable and committed team to trust. you are, each one of you, the best at what you do. and each of you has made me better than I ever dreamed possible.
here is my personal contact information. Feel free to contact me at any time, regardless of whether you need a recommendation, advice, or just a friendly ear to lean on.
Thank you for everything you do. I wish you all the success in the world.
[your name]example of saying goodbye to superiors
hello,
as you know i will be leaving my position at abc corp and [date] is my last day. I would be remiss to leave without letting you know how much I have enjoyed my time with the company and serving under your leadership. together, our company has accomplished great things in the last [number of years] years. I’m proud to have been even a small part of that success.
I have gained a lot of experience and you taught me many lessons that will be invaluable in the months and years to come. I know you helped shape my career in ways I may not fully recognize until later in life. For that, and much more, I sincerely thank you.
Although I will no longer be employed by ABC Corp, I would love to hear from you from time to time. my personal email is [email] and my phone number is [number]. you have been an invaluable mentor, and we all know how rare that is these days. so please stay in touch and feel free to email me at any time.
thank you again for guiding me to this point in my career. i am eternally grateful and will continue to wish the best for abc corp, you and every member of the company team.
for your continued success,
[your name]farewell email to clients or suppliers
hello,
I just want to contact you to let you know that my last day at abc corp will be [date]. I have appreciated my time working with you. It’s been a real pleasure in every way, and I’m sure my successor will enjoy working with you as much as I do.
If there are things you’d like to address before I leave, please let me know. I will do my best to make the transition as smooth as possible. If there are no immediate pressing needs, rest assured that my replacement on the account will contact you soon. your new contact person is [name]. As you can see, I have also sent you a copy of this email for your records.
I wish you and your company the best,
[your name]Please note that this farewell email template does not assume that your clients or vendors have already learned that you will be leaving their job. With that in mind, you may want to send this email a week or two in advance so you can ease the transition for your customer base.
Temporary Leave or Temporary Leave Email Template
hello,
I just want to provide an update on the status of my work. In case you haven’t heard, my employer’s company has laid off employees during the covid-19 pandemic. while we hope this is a temporary change in status and hope for a quick return to normalcy, it is also a life-changing event for me and many others in our company.
However, I intend to remain engaged with you and other important contacts in the coming weeks and months. Hopefully, this stressful period will prove to be an opportunity for all of us to strengthen these existing relationships, learn from each other, and provide the support we all need to endure until this present darkness gives way to a new dawn of opportunity.
Please feel free to reach out and keep in touch, and I’ll do my best to do the same. In the meantime, take care of yourself, stay healthy, and continue to enjoy the success you’ve so well earned.
my best wishes,
[your name]last business day email to the team or company
dear team,
today is the day! I couldn’t leave without a loving goodbye message. It has been an absolute pleasure working with this team for the last 3 years and I wish them all the best of luck moving forward.
Although I won’t be seeing you in the office, I hope we can stay in touch! you can email me at [personal email address] and connect with me on linkedin.
with all the best of me,
[your name]summary
As you can see, writing a well-written goodbye email can take a bit of time, but it’s an important step to take. after all, you always want to leave any current job for a new position on a positive note. You can also provide alternate contact information, including personal email and linkedin profile url, so they stay in touch.
The good news is that our four examples should give you the ideas you need to put together your own goodbye email for co-workers and others. so don’t leave without saying goodbye; Write the perfect goodbye email and walk out with class and grace!
If you’re starting a new job search now, save yourself some time and review your resume for Applicant Tracking System (ATS) optimization.
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