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Leaving a job can be bittersweet. Whatever our reasons for leaving, there will be colleagues we’ll miss, colleagues who’ll miss us, and crucially, future professional contacts we’ll want to remain on good terms with. Leaving a job with poise and professionalism is hands down the best way to do it. Today we’re looking at a key aspect of that graceful departure: how to say goodbye.
And if so, who do you need to tell? It should come as no surprise to learn that the first person you need to inform that you’re leaving is your boss. As your immediate superior they should hear this first hand, and certainly not through the office rumour-mill or social media. But what about colleagues?
Finding the words to say when leaving your job can be hard. Some colleagues will know you well; others probably couldn’t identify you in a line up. But when you’re leaving, it’s helpful to make sure all your company contacts are informed to avoid hearsay taking over.
Sure, you don’t have to, but letting your colleagues know you’re leaving is a courtesy and giving them a chance to say goodbye is a kindness, so we’d definitely recommend it. It’s up to you how much detail you go into and you certainly don’t have to justify your actions. A simple explanation about being offered a new job, or a change of career is fine.
Just remember to remain positive and professional with colleagues as you did with your boss: focus on the future rather than the past, and avoid any kind of dirt dishing – it’s not an attractive quality, and your colleagues still work there after all!
When it comes to your boss, the best approach is to book a face-to-face meeting. Remember that while you’re leaving, you should still keep things positive and professional as these people may be providing your references!
Bring a resignation letter with you that explains your reasons for leaving, and let your boss know that you have appreciated their leadership and enjoyed working for them. Explain how you can be contacted for a short period after you have left, and when your last day will be.
Your boss may not read the letter right away and might want to discuss your reasons for leaving. You’re under no obligation to do this, but it is courteous to at least provide some explanation.
You might want to share more of your reasons with close colleagues, and having these discussions away from the office, over lunch perhaps, can be a good idea. For other co-workers, sending a farewell email to cover your bases and let people know how they can keep in touch with you if they’d like to should suffice. You might decide not to send the email to the whole company (especially if there are hundreds of employees who have no clue who you are).
You’re trying to leave on good terms, reputation enhanced and bridges un-burned so whatever you do, don’t criticise your current employer, or brag about you next position! Stay positive and be concise.
If you’re leaving your job because of redundancy or you’ve been sacked, it’s still appropriate to send a brief email. You could consider asking for help with job searches if appropriate, but avoid negativity at all costs. Be as positive as you can and you’ll leave a lasting positive impression. You’ll be glad you did.
Assuming you’ve completed the official task of informing your boss, leaving you with just your notice period left to serve, when do you tell everyone else?
You may need to let some colleagues know sooner rather than later in order to sort out handovers and to be clear about what you can and can’t take on workwise. Giving everybody else at least some notice to come and find you to say goodbye or to reply to your email is sensible.
Generally, we’d recommend getting the message out as soon as your boss is happy for you to do so, putting everyone in the picture about what’s happening, and leaving no time for rumours to gestate.
Whether you’re informing your clients, colleagues or direct reports, or even following up personal conversations with a manager or close co-workers, writing your leaving email can feel like a daunting task. Here are our top tips for each of these audiences to help you end on an effective, appropriate and professional note!
You may already have handed in your official notice letter, but a farewell email as your final day approaches is a respectful and kind gesture. Remember to keep things professional, and talk about how the learning and experience their guidance has afforded you is appreciated and will stay with you throughout your career. Include your contact details and a note about keeping in touch and wish them and their company all the best for the future.
A pleasant, concise email is fine here. Let people know your leaving date and that while you’re looking forward to new challenges, you’ll miss working with them at your current place. Mention shared projects and good times that you’ve enjoyed together and include formal contact details such as LinkedIn so people can keep in touch if they wish.
Your closest colleagues may be friends (or not far off) so you can afford to be a little more informal in this email. Once again, let people know your leaving date and how much you’ll miss working with them. Throw in a shared funny moment or inside joke and be sure to include your contact details so you can all keep in touch. Personal contact details are appropriate here if you’d like.
If you’re in a management position, its important to say goodbye to your team face to face, but a final farewell email is a nice touch. Describe how much you’ve enjoyed leading the team, appreciated their creativity and dedication and taken pleasure in seeing team members grow. Let them know how much of an honour and pleasure it’s been to work with them and once again include contact details so they can keep in touch.
Clients are a slightly different kettle of fish as you’re speaking on behalf of the company with this email, rather than yourself. Including your new contact details would be inappropriate as these are your company’s contacts rather than yours. Instead, let clients know when you’re leaving and who will take over with their workload. Introduce the new person when sending your email and try to make the handover process go as smoothly as possible.
Is this a thing? Well it turns out it is, kind of. Bringing in cakes or sweets on your last day is not so unusual and a great way to make a little celebration of something that can be an emotional time. But you might feel there are one or two people you’d like to leave with a gift.
Now there’s no obligation whatsoever to give a gift to anyone when you leave a place of work. But if you feel it’s appropriate and something you’d like to do to show your boss or colleagues how much you have valued working with them, then there are a few things to bare in mind.
First of all, be discreet. Deliver your gift privately – it should be a personal rather than public act. No one likes an audience for this kind of thing.
Secondly, keep the gift simple and not too expensive. Close colleagues apart, a token of thanks is what you’re looking for, not an engagement present. Something that relates to the bond between you is ideal (an apron if you share a love of baking, for example). Alternatively, is there a document you worked on together that you could frame with a personal note of thanks?
Gift cards are fine, but avoid cash! It looks hasty and thoughtless, and it’s almost impossible to get the amount right. A greeting card with a thoughtful message may be all you need.
Yes! It’s a lovely celebratory way to bring your time with your present company to a close. Meeting for drinks after work is a popular option, or if it’s more appropriate, why not go for a meal with colleagues or your team?
But only do it if the occasion calls for it. There’s no obligation to organise anything if you don’t want to.
If you do opt for a get together, you could be wise to avoid doing this on your last day, as you might find that there are lots of loose ends and procedures to follow that take more time than you anticipated! Plus, you may have your hands filled with belongings as you empty your desk and drawers for the last time.
However you decide to do it, the key is to remain professional at all times. This is your job, and leaving should be handled with the same care and sense of duty as any other business endeavour. And you’re almost certainly still being paid so honour the contract of employment, stay focussed, work up to the last hour and remain positive and co-operative with colleagues. You never know who you’ll meet again in the future, so ensuring your good reputation is intact will only work in your favour.
If you, or a colleague, are leaving a job, we have a range of leaving gifts and personalised gift packaging on hand to make sure you are missed.
