How to Write a Goodbye Email to Your Coworkers (+ Examples)

You’ve landed yourself a new job. You are excited, a little nervous and apprehensive maybe… but you are also torn. You will soon be leaving your current role, a position that has given you so much. And as for the people, your team, well… it goes without saying that you are going to miss most of them as well.

Let’s face it. More often than not in the workplace, it is your colleagues who make the day go faster, motivate you to do better, and are on hand to help sort out any problems or issues. So how are you going to do without them? All of this can make leaving a job and saying goodbye an awkward and sometimes bittersweet situation. 

And what to say on leaving? Should you tell them in person, or just send a memo via a farewell letter or email? And if it is the latter, how do you figure out how to write the perfect goodbye email to coworkers?

Don’t worry, we have all the answers you need, plus six examples of the right way to compile a goodbye email to coworkers, and say adios, with grace and dignity. 

Why send a goodbye email to coworkers?

Let’s get one thing out of the way: it’s always best to tell colleagues these things in person. That’s especially true for coworkers with whom you have forged strong bonds and worked closely with. So, if possible, let them know face-to-face. However, it is still wise to send a goodbye email to coworkers after you have resigned as it is seen as professional and courteous. When you have quit a job, you want to leave a lasting and positive impression, while at the same time documenting how much you have enjoyed your time working alongside each one of them (if that is the case).

Naturally, though, you are probably going to struggle to come up with a succinct goodbye email to coworkers to say you are leaving the company.

Check out the four reasons for sending a goodbye email to coworkers.

• It communicates a change

A goodbye email clears up any confusion that exists within the office, and articulates new procedures. It also helps ensure a smooth transition for former teammates so they know exactly where they stand.

• It encourages you to share information about any succession plan

When you leave a job, people who regularly work with you, carrying out various tasks and projects, might not be that confident about who they can go to instead of you. Also, if you were accountable for managing anything, such as a process, a system, or a set of information, you can provide more detail about this within a goodbye email, referencing who they can contact once you’ve left.

• It helps sustains your network

As you move on through your career, the art of networking becomes increasingly important. It’s who you know, and that includes former coworkers and line managers. Contacts from previous jobs can offer up helpful references, potentially introducing you to fresh opportunities down the line.

• It is just good manners

You often forge close ties with a group of people when you have worked with them for months or years. A well-composed email saying goodbye gives you the opportunity to thank teammates for the camaraderie you’ve shared, and shows supervisors how much you appreciated their guidance during the time you worked for them. It also gives you the chance to provide your contact details with the hope that you will stay in touch.

It is almost impossible to create one generic goodbye letter that is suitable for everyone. That’s why we’ve compiled six example goodbye emails to coworkers that will ensure that you can find the best farewell email to match each and every one of the people you have worked with.

Why send a goodbye email to clients?

Many jobs involve working closely with clients. Even occasional contact is a good enough reason to send a heads up that you are leaving the job, and wishing your client or vendor a fond farewell. You also don’t want to burn any bridges for either yourself as a professional or for your former employer. You just never know who will pop up again on your career path further down the line!

Goodbye email to coworkers: subject line

It is important to get the subject line of a last working day email right. There are several different options you can take.

You could opt for a simple descriptive line such as, “Moving on to the next stage of my career.”

Alternatively, you might want to simply announce on your last day, “Regarding my last day of work, [date].”

Or you could opt for a more personalized subject, such as, “Farewells are never easy…”

Remember that your subject line will set the tone for your message, so pick something that alludes to the contents of your goodbye email to coworkers. Try to avoid writing a funny or creative subject line if your message contains a heartfelt farewell.

6 templates for goodbye emails when leaving a job

Goodbye email to coworkers: close friends and other coworkers example

Well, it’s time. As you know, my last day at ABC Corp is [date]. You’re one of the things I’ll miss the most as I move on to the next stage of my career.

I want you to know how much I’ve enjoyed working with you and getting to know you. Your friendship and camaraderie have been one of the best aspects of this job, and something that I’ve come to value tremendously over the last few years. I will take those memories with me and treasure them forever.

Though my time at ABC Corp is drawing to a close, I hope that our friendship will continue to thrive. Please keep in touch and call my cell phone or email me at any time. I’d love to get together for lunch or a ballgame–-or just to swap stories.

I will always consider you to be a trusted colleague and friend, [coworker’s name], and wish you all the very best that life has to offer.

[Your Name]

Keeping the goodbye letter informal to colleagues who are also friends is a good way to go. Stating your desire to keep in touch, and managing your expectations for a continued relationship, leaves the door open for future collaborations, and even those special social nights out at a bar.

Farewell message to subordinates example

Hello,

As we discussed, my time here at ABC Corp is nearly at an end. However, I didn’t want to say goodbye without taking a moment to tell you all how very proud I am to have worked with each and every one of you.

I want you all to remember how much we have accomplished as a team. Those achievements are the results of your effort and talent, and I have been fortunate to have been supported by your combined excellence. You all have my deepest gratitude.

While I will soon be gone, I leave knowing that my successor couldn’t ask for a more capable and committed team to rely upon. You are--each of you--the very best at what you do. And you have made me better than I ever dreamed possible.

Here is my personal contact information. Please feel free to contact me at any time, regardless of whether you need a recommendation, advice, or just a friendly ear to bend.

Thank you for everything that you do. I wish you all the success in the world.

[Your Name]

This type of message is a bit more formal than the note to colleagues who are friends as well, as more junior workers will have looked up to you. Including your contact details is a nice touch as it shows that you still want to keep in touch.

Goodbye to superiors example

Hello [Name],

As you know, I am leaving my position at ABC Corp and [date] will be my last day. I would be remiss of me to leave without letting you know just how much I have enjoyed my time with the company and serving under your leadership. Together, the company has accomplished great things over the last [number] of years, and I am proud to have been a small part of that success.

I have gained so much experience and you have taught me many lessons that will be invaluable in the months and years to come. I know that you helped shape my career in ways that I may not even fully recognize until later in life. For that, and for so much more, I sincerely thank you.

While I will no longer be in the employ of ABC Corp, I would still love to hear from you from time to time. My personal email is [email address] and my phone number is [cell number]. You have been an invaluable mentor, and we all know how rare that is these days. So, please stay in touch and don’t hesitate to email me at any time.

Thank you again for leading me to this point in my career. I am forever grateful, and will continue to wish the best for ABC Corp, you, and for every single member of the team.

To your continued success,

[Your Name]

This one sends out a professional message, demonstrating how grateful you are for their support and advice over the years. As previously mentioned, it is very wise to keep on the good side of all former colleagues, as you can cross paths again, whether you are climbing up the career ladder, or on the way down!

Goodbye email to clients or vendors

Hello,

I just want to touch base with you to let you know that my last day at ABC Corp will be [date]. I have appreciated my time working with you. It has been a real pleasure in every respect, and I am sure that my successor will enjoy working with you as much as I have.

If there is anything that you would like addressed before I leave, please let me know as soon as possible. I will do my best to make the transition as easy as it can be. If there are no immediate pressing needs, rest assured that my replacement on the account will be contacting you soon. Your new contact person is [name]. As you can see, I have also sent them a copy of this email for their records.

I wish you and your company all the best,

[Your Name]

Notice that this goodbye email template does not assume your clients or vendors have already heard that you are leaving the role. With that in mind, you may want to send this email out a week or two in advance so you can ease the transition for your client base.

Farewell email template to everyone else

Hello [Name],

I hope you’re doing well. I just wanted to let you know that I’m vacating my role as [job title] and my last day is on the [date].

It has been great getting to know you through [how you worked together]. While I’m excited for the new opportunities ahead, leaving ABC Corps and productive working relationships like this one, is certainly going to be a bittersweet moment.

I wish you all the best moving forward, and thanks so much for being a part of making my time here so brilliant. I will send you a LinkedIn request with fingers crossed that we will remain in touch.

Kind Regards,

[Your Name]

Anyone else who hasn’t been covered by the above templates will be in this category. Maybe it was a supplier who you worked with at the same annual event over many years. Or perhaps it was someone external that you came to know through your work as a member of an association or on a particular board.

Last working day email to team or company

Dear team,

Today is the day! I couldn’t leave without a fond farewell message. It has been an absolute pleasure working with this team over the past [number of] years, and I wish every one of you good luck with moving forward.

Even though I won’t be seeing you around the office, I hope we can still keep in touch! You can email me at [personal email address] and connect with me on LinkedIn.

With all my best,

[Your Name]

Summary

As you can see, writing a well composed goodbye email may take a little time and effort, but it’s an important step to take. It is preferable to leave any current job for a new position on a positive note. You can also provide alternative contact information, such as a personal email address or a LinkedIn profile URL, in order for them to keep in touch.

The good news is that our six examples should provide you with the ideas you need to compile your own goodbye email to coworkers and others. So, don’t leave without saying farewell; write that perfect goodbye email to coworkers, and exit with grace and class.

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