There are Farewell Letter Samples and Writing Tips. This post will help you solve the problem. Read the following.
When you leave a job – whether it’s because you’re retiring, returning to school, have accepted a new job, or are just moving on in general – it’s a good idea to send a farewell letter to your co-workers.
Your farewell note is the perfect place for you to thank co-workers for the opportunity you’ve had to work together. It’s also a place to share contact information.
The people you work with throughout your career form the bedrock of your professional network, so it’s important to make it easy for them to keep in touch.
1. Who Should Receive a Farewell Letter?
While you may tell many colleagues that you’re departing the company in a face-to-face conversation, sending a letter (either by email or traditional snail mail) ensures that everyone knows the news.
You should use your judgment to decide who should receive a farewell letter. If you have a small office, you might send it to everyone in the company. However, for larger companies, consider just sending the letter to your immediate group or team, or particular people whom you have worked closely with during your stint at that company.
2. When and How to Send a Farewell Letter or Email
It’s a good idea to send your farewell letter as close as possible to your last day of work. Preferably, your coworkers will receive the letter on your last day (or second-to-last day), when you are finished with your duties. That way, you have time to say goodbye to people in person.
You can send a goodbye letter or email. An email is an easy way to efficiently tell everyone about your leaving. However, if you send an actual letter, make sure people will receive it before you leave, so they have time to say goodbye in person if they want to.
If you choose to write your farewell letter on paper, you might consider placing each letter in your coworkers’ work mailboxes (rather than mailing each letter), to save time (and money on stamps).
3. What to Include in a Farewell Letter
Whatever the reason for your departure, here is the most important information to include in your note:
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- Gratitude and a thank you – Even if you weren’t happy at your job or with every single person you worked with, it’s polite to express your thanks and appreciation to co-workers. Work associates who feel that you have valued them are far more likely to keep in touch with you – thus becoming long-term connections that can be valuable both for personal and professional reasons.
- Where you’re going next – You don’t have to share information about where you’re going next, but if you feel comfortable sharing some details, you certainly can. People are naturally curious about why co-workers have left their organization and providing a brief description of your future plans can both help to defuse workplace gossip and also offer closure to your team members. If you choose to provide details, though, be sure to keep the tone positive and upbeat, without drawing negative comparisons between your future and current workplaces.
- Contact information – This will make it easy for co-workers to keep in touch. You can CC your personal email address in your note to make it easy for people to respond. You can also include links to your social media presence (think: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc.).
4. Farewell Letter Template
You can use a template as a starting point for your own letter. However, you should always personalize and customize your letter, so it reflects your work experience and your relationship with your coworkers. For example, if you don’t want to include a phone number in your own farewell letter, you don’t need to do so.
Subject: Your Name – Moving On
Dear FirstName,
Use the first paragraph of your farewell letter to let your coworkers know that you are leaving the company. It’s fine to tell them where you are going and what you will be doing. However, don’t mention anything negative about your present employer or why you are moving on. You should also mention the specific day you will be leaving, so your coworkers have time to say goodbye if they wish to.
In the second paragraph, thank your coworkers for all the support they have provided you. Mention that you have enjoyed working with them and you’ll miss them, even though it’s time for you to move on. Depending on the number of coworkers you have, you might want to individualize this paragraph for each person, specifying something in particular that you appreciate about each coworker.
The third paragraph should let your contacts know where they can reach you. Include your personal email address, phone number, and LinkedIn URL.
In the last paragraph, reiterate your thanks.
Yours truly,
Your FirstName
5. Farewell Letter Example
This sample employee farewell letter can be used to let your co-workers and colleagues know that you are resigning. The letter also includes information on how you can be contacted in the future.
Farewell Email to Colleagues Example
Subject: Jerry Rodriguez – Moving On
Dear John,
I’d like to let you know that I am leaving my position at BDE Corporation on July 1st.
I have enjoyed my tenure at BDE, and I appreciate having had the opportunity to work with you. Thank you for the support and encouragement you have provided me during my time at BDE.
Even though I will miss my colleagues, clients, and the company, I am looking forward to starting a new phase of my career.
Please keep in touch. I can be reached at my personal email address (jerry123@gmail.com) or my cell phone, 555-123-1234. You can also reach me on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/jerryrodriguez).
Thanks again. It’s been a pleasure working with you.
Best regards, Jerry Rodriguez
6. More Farewell Letter Samples
For additional advice, review these detailed instructions for writing a goodbye email message to co-workers and review more examples of farewell email messages. If you want to let your current colleagues know about your future plans, you can craft a new job announcement letter or even a retirement letter.
7. Leave a Good Impression
Your farewell letter is the last big impression you’ll leave with the company and your co-workers so make sure it’s a good one. This is not the place to mention how unhappy you were, how wronged you feel by management, or how much better you anticipate that your new job will be. Make jokes cautiously – what’s funny to one person may not be funny to everyone.
David News 