How to Say Farewell When You Are Leaving a Job

How to Say Farewell When You Are Leaving a JobHow to Say Farewell When You Are Leaving a JobYou have lost your job, or youve found a new one, and youre moving on. As you depart, its important to take the time to say farewell to your co-workers. Not only is it courteous to let them know you are leaving (particularly if you work on projects together), but writing farewell notes also allows you to provide them with your contact information so that you can keep in touch. You never know when you might need to ask colleagues to provide you with a reference. By maintaining contact on cordial, mutually supportive terms, you strengthen your professional network and keep the door open for continuing work and social opportunities. The Best Way to Say Farewell Whats the best way to say farewell to your co-workers? Dont send a mass schmelzglas. Instead, send personalized individual emails or messages via LinkedIn, rather than group messages, so your farewell message is personal. You can use o ne of these sample farewell letters as a model to let colleagues, clients, and your connections know that you are moving on. Dont simply copy and paste one of these samples, however. Youll want to personalize it so that it specifically reflects the business and the personal relationship you have with the recipient. Tips for Saying Farewell to Co-Workers Connect on LinkedIn - Be sure your LinkedIn account includes your email address, not your work address. Then, if youre not already connected with your colleagues on LinkedIn, connect now.Friend on Facebook - When you are friends with your co-workers, make sure youre connected on Facebook, too. Now that youre not working together, the boundaries between work and your personal life are gone, and you will be able to enjoy the camaraderie through social media that many employers restrict their employees from participating in. Say goodbye via LinkedIn or email - send an email message or a LinkedIn message to the co-workers you know we ll, but not necessarily to the entire company.Keep your message brief and to the point. Dont go into details (positive or negative) about why youre leaving. Just let your co-workers know youre leaving, and if youre so inclined, offer to help during the transition.Do mention projects you have worked on together or events you have enjoyed together. This farewell letter is personal rather than formal. Remember to say thank you. Farewell letters are as much about expressing your gratitude to your colleagues as they are about saying good-bye. At some point during your work together, the colleague you are writing to probably collaborated with you on a project or task, offered advice, or provided professional training. Identify a specific example (or two) when you were grateful for their assistance. Thank them for this so that they know you have valued them as your colleague and friend.Include your contact information - including your LinkedIn URL, your email address, and your phone number in your message, so your co-workers can stay in touch. If you would be willing to write professional recommendations for them in the future, then express your willingness to do this should the occasion arise. Take a look at our sample farewell letters to get advice on how to say goodbye. When Youve Been Fired or Laid Off? Even though it may feel awkward if you have been fired or laid off, its still a good idea to let your co-workers know that you are leaving or gone. When employees are laid off or fired, this affects the overall company culture. When you fail to show up for work, your closest colleagues will wonder what is going on. Very few people enjoy sudden changes in their work environment. Your colleagues may fear that their jobs may soon be on the line, and they will also have to personally deal with the transitional stress and headaches that arise when a team member is eliminated or replaced. If you still have internal email access before your final exit, you can use th is to send a briefer email letter to your peers than you might use on LinkedIn or through your email account. Let them know youll be moving on. Ask for job search assistance, if its appropriate, and provide your personal contact information so that they can remain connected to you if they wish.