How To Write A Successful Professional Farewell Email? 10 Examples To Copy

07/03/2024

When you leave or are about to leave a company, it is customary (or not) to leave a professional goodbye message. This can be an email, after a meeting, during a lunch break or on a group conversion with everyone in the company. 👀

We are aware that this task is not easy because, you surely have to ask yourself many questions regarding the length of the email, the turn of phrase, whether you should remain professional or not. 🤔

Well, that’s what we’re here for, so here’s an overview of what you’ll be able to find in this article :

🥇 Why write an outgoing email?
🥈 4 tips to achieve the perfect email.
🥉 10 examples of professional goodbye messages.

Are you ready? Great, then we can get started. ✨

Why write a goodbye email?

Whatever the reason that involves a professional departure, it’s best to let the people around you know that you’re leaving. This could be your direct colleagues, your customers, your business partners or even staff from other departments.

This is a professional and polite way of leaving a company while preserving positive relationships and leaving a lasting impression.

What’s more, it shows your commitment to transparent communication and maintaining a professional network. 🌐

Now let’s find out 5 reasons why it’s advisable to write an exit email! ⬇️

#1. To maintain positive professional relationships

When leaving a company, it’s essential to maintain positive relationships with your colleagues, employers and staff. That’s why a well-written farewell email allows you to thank your colleagues for :

🫱🏽‍🫲🏼 Their collaboration.
🧠 Reminding them of the projects you worked on together.
🚪 Leaving the door open to possible future collaborations.

This shows that you value your experience in the company but not only that, also the fact that you value the links you have forged. 🪢

#2. Pass on important information

Your departure may have an impact on current projects or on the tasks you are managing. That’s why an exit email gives you the opportunity to update your colleagues on the progress of your projects, provide clear instructions on how to take over 🪐 and, above all, share any crucial information to ensure a smooth transition. 🦋

💡 This allows the business to minimise disruption and ensure effective continuity.

#3. Preserve your professional image

The professional world is a small one. So consider that the people around you in a company could strongly play a role in your future career. 👀

That’s why, by writing a careful and respectful goodbye message, you show in this way that you are a professional person who cares about how you leave a company.

This delicate attention to detail and courtesy leaves a positive impression, which can be beneficial for future references or professional opportunities. 💪🏼

#4. Facilitate future networking

The contacts you make during your career are invaluable. 💎 You have the opportunity, through a professional goodbye message, to leave your professional contact details such as your personal email address or your professional social networks.

This would make it easier to maintain your future networking, which can be useful for future collaborations, job opportunities or even independent projects. 👀

#5. Respect company policies

Note that many companies have policies and procedures in place for leaving employees.

💡 Writing a professional leaving email can be a formal or informal requirement of the company.

That’s why, by following these guidelines, you demonstrate your respect 🙏🏼 for company rules, which can enhance your professional reputation, even at the time of departure.

As you will have realised, this email can play a decisive role in how you leave a company and how you are perceived by your former colleagues and supervisors. 👀

4 tips for achieving the perfect email

Well, now that you know why it’s important to send a message before you leave a company, here, just for your lovely eyes 👁️, are 4 tips to improve your perfect email. 🌠

1) Be positive and grateful

When writing your farewell email, remember to keep a positive tone and express your gratitude towards the company, your colleagues or even your employers. Take the opportunity to recall positive experiences you’ve had and to show that you appreciate the opportunities the company has offered you.

Don’t hesitate to mention memorable moments or shared successes to illustrate your appreciation. 😇

However, avoid criticism or negative comments, as this could tarnish the image you leave behind when you leave.

Your positive attitude will strengthen your professional reputation and open the door 🚪 to future collaborations.

2) Inform people about your departure and the transition

We advise you to make a smooth transition ☁️ with useful information for those who will take over from you, for example:

🔵 Mention current projects.
🟣 Important files.
🔵 Important contacts with their posts.
🟣 Project deadlines.
🔵 Any details that might make it easier to keep working.

Don’t hesitate in your message to indicate who will be the person to contact for any questions or follow-up after you leave. 👋🏽

💙 Tip of the day: a thoughtful, successful transition will strengthen relationships within the company and maintain your reputation as a reliable employee.

3) Provide your professional contact details

As previously stipulated, we advise you to include your current and up-to-date professional contact details, such as your personal email address, business telephone number or professional social networking accounts.

This will enable your former colleagues to keep in touch with you for future collaborations or simply to maintain your professional network.

However, be careful to share only the contact details you want! 📱

4) End on a polite note

We all appreciate receiving a thoughtful and delicate note, don’t we? 😇

That’s why don’t hesitate to end your email by thanking the team again and expressing your best wishes for the company and colleagues to come. ✨ Also, don’t hesitate to show your enthusiasm at the idea of staying in touch. 🥳

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How do you write a professional goodbye message? 10 examples depending on the recipient

I think this is what you’ve been waiting for the most, the famous professional goodbye message templates!

As we like to spoil you 🎁, we’ve decided to make two versions:

1️⃣ Formal message.
2️⃣ Informal and funny message.

You’ll have the choice then, to copy and paste, as you wish and modify the message you want depending on the recipients, here’s the list:

👀 Direct colleagues.
🫂 Human resources.
🫱🏽‍🫲🏼 Business partners and customers.
🎸 Internal groups.
🏘️ Staff in other departments.

If you would also like to send professional thank you messages, we have 10 templates on this article that should appeal to you. 👀

1) Direct colleagues

Formal message

Dear colleagues,

After many wonderful years working together as part of this exceptional team, the time has come for me to take new professional paths.

I would like to express my deep gratitude for the support, camaraderie and valuable lessons I have received from each of you. The memories of our projects will remain with me forever.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside such talented and dedicated people. The challenges we have faced and the successes we have achieved together have made our team even stronger.

So I leave this adventure with nostalgia, but I remain convinced that our paths will cross again. Don’t hesitate to keep in touch, as I’d be delighted to continue discussing our many and varied projects. I look forward to seeing you again,

Yours faithfully

{FirstName}}.

Informal message

Hello team champions!

Well, the time has come for me to put away my coffee cups, your kind words and my ergonomic chair. After countless meetings (and coffee breaks), it’s time for me to make way for new keyboard enthusiasts.

Congratulations on all your jokes that have brightened up my working days and, above all, for putting up with my unexplained passion for animated gifs. Our team wasn’t just a group of colleagues, but a bunch of office superheroes! If you ever need a tip on how to deal with the fussy coffee machine or want to share the latest memes from the professional world, you know where to find me.

Take care and keep this great team of superheroes going!

See you soon,

{{FirstName}}.

2) Human Resources (HR)

Formal message

Dear {{LastName}},

I wanted to personally inform you of my decision to leave my position at {{CompanyName}}. It has been a privilege to be part of this team and to contribute to our projects.

I would like to express my gratitude to you and the entire Human Resources team for your constant support and advice during my time here. You have made my experience with the company so much easier. I would like to discuss the next steps in the transition and departure process. I’m equally determined to ensure that everything goes smoothly for my successor and the team.

I’m keen to keep in touch and maintain the relationships I’ve developed here. You can reach me on email {{EmailAddress}} or on LinkedIn {{LinkedInProfile}}.

Once again, I am grateful for the opportunities I have had at {{CompanyName}}, not to mention all the thoughtful touches.

All the best,
{{FirstName}}.

Informal message

Hi {FirstName}},

I wanted to tell you the exciting news: I’m leaving the mothership aka {{FirstName}}! Yes, yes, I’m off to new adventures.

You’ve been an incredible team to me. Your HR superpowers have saved me many a day’s work and helped me navigate the company’s intricacies. If I ever forget where the break is, I know who to ask.

Thank you for the smiles and the legendary ‘compulsory training’ sessions – what good memories!

I intend to keep in touch and stay in touch. Find me on {{ProfileLinkedIn}} for cosmic updates on my new adventures. Don’t worry, I won’t be flying around with a pen in my pocket this time.

See you soon, in this galaxy or another,

{{FirstName}}.

3) Clients and business partners

Formal message

Dear {{LastName}},

After many happy years working with you, I would like to inform you that I will soon be leaving my position at {{CompanyName}}. I would like to express my deep gratitude for our partnership and the trust you have placed in me over the years. Your support has been invaluable to the success of our joint projects.

I am confident that {{ReplacementName}} will continue to meet your needs with the same professionalism and dedication. Please do not hesitate to contact him/her for any future assistance.

I am grateful for the moments of growth, challenge and success we have shared. I remain available to keep in touch and for potential future collaboration opportunities.

Thank you for your successful partnership and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

All the best,
{{FirstName}}.

Informal message

Hi {FirstName}},

Well, the time has come for me to start at {{FirstName}}. Don’t worry, it’s not because I lost a bet aha! I’ve enjoyed every moment of our collaboration, even those early morning meetings that we dragged our feet into…

Nevertheless, you’re not going to get rid of me that easily. I’m still available for chats and discussions about the professional world, the latest series to watch or even to check on my plants. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll meet up for a coffee in a nice place!

For your future needs, {{ReplacementName}} will be your new rock star. Go easy on the jokes at first.

Take care and keep the magic alive!

See you soon,

{{FirstName}}.

4) Internal groups

Formal message

Dear colleagues,

After years of working as part of this exceptional team, it’s time for me to move on. I would like to express my deep gratitude for the shared experiences, lessons learned and rewarding moments of collaboration.

I would also like to thank each and every one of you for your support and friendship throughout this professional adventure. The memories we created together will remain precious to me.

I am confident about the future of this team. I leave you in good hands and look forward to the success that lies ahead for all of you.

Don’t hesitate to keep in touch – you’ve already got my LinkedIn!

Take care and continue to make this team shine.

All the best,
{{FirstName}}.

Informal message

Hello great team,

The time has come for me to leave the epic battles of the boardroom and the mysterious adventures of the Excel spreadsheets. I’m not saying goodbye, I’m just saying “Backup and Logout”.

The years I’ve spent here have been like a journey through a virtual world full of challenges, quests and final bosses (with a few annoying bugs along the way…). Thank you all for your humour potions, motivational boosts and the puzzles you’ve solved together.

If you need a teammate in a future quest, don’t hesitate to contact me at {{EmailAddress}}.

Keep up the amazing energy and keep making waves in the professional realm.

Have a great day,

{{FirstName}}.

5) Employees in other departments

Formal message

Dear {{LastName}},

I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I will soon be leaving the company. I have enjoyed our interactions and collaborations over the years and wanted to thank you for your support and expertise. Your contribution has been invaluable, and I’m grateful to have had the chance to work with you.

Although we have parted ways within the company, I hope we will have the opportunity to keep in touch.

Please feel free to contact me at {{Email Address}} or on {{Professional Social Network}} if you would like to stay in touch, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours and professional adventures.

Best wishes,
{{FirstName}}.

Informal message

Hi {FirstName}},

Well, it looks like I’m about to leave this planet. It’s a bit of an exaggeration, just the company, but it’s almost the same thing, isn’t it?
I just wanted to let you know that our interdepartmental adventures will soon be coming to an end.

You’ve always been a ray of sunshine in my days of endless meetings and, let’s be honest, who else is going to make those meme-based jokes that nobody understands?

On a more serious note, I’ve really enjoyed working with you and I’m sure you’ll continue to dazzle the company with your creativity and expertise. Don’t forget that my inbox will always be open to your gifs and, above all, your hilarious anecdotes.

Take care and keep spreading the good humour!

{{FirstName}}.

How about a recap?

Oh, it’s already the end of this article! Microsummary of the 5 different recipients we’ve seen in this article: 👇🏼

🔲 Direct colleagues.
🔲 Human Resources (HR).
🔲 Clients and professional partners.
🔲 Internal groups.
🔲 Staff from other departments.

Remember our tips for achieving your perfect goodbye message ✨ :

🔳 Be positive and grateful.
🔳 Inform about your departure and the transition.
🔳 Provide your professional contact details.
🔳 End with a polite note.

Frequently asked questions

Did you think we were done? Not yet, we have a few more resources. 🌞

How do you end an email warmly?

We advise you to use expressions that reflect your appreciation, cordiality and desire to stay in touch. Here are a few examples:

🔵 Sincerely.
🟣 With all my gratitude.
🔵 With all my friendship.
🟣 With my best regards.
🔵 Remaining at your disposal for any questions or help.
i look forward to hearing from you again.
🔵 Looking forward to speaking to you soon.
🟣 Take care.
🔵 I send you my warmest regards.
🟣 See you soon.

How do you say goodbye formally?

You can absolutely use polite formulas that reflect your respect, professionalism and appreciation for the relationship or collaboration you have enjoyed, such as: ⬇️

🥇 I thank you for our collaboration and send you my warmest regards.
🥈 I greatly appreciate our time working together and greet you with consideration.
🥉 Thanking you for your support, I send you the expression of my respectful sentiments.
🎖️ It is with gratitude that I say goodbye and send you my most sincere greetings.

How do you say a cordial goodbye?

To say goodbye cordially in an email, you can use expressions that convey a friendly feeling while remaining professional, for example:

Please accept my cordial greetings,
I look forward to our next interaction,
Thank you and best regards,
It is with pleasure that I bid you farewell,
With all my cordiality.

And that’s all for this article! We wish you all the best for your next career move and hope you find what you’re looking for in our professional goodbye message templates! 😇