Departure message for a colleague: tips and templates

Saying goodbye to a colleague: why send it with a card?

In our private lives, we’re used to sending each other greeting cards, postcards, thank-yous and condolences. But we often forget that work and professional life can also be an appropriate setting for sending a card, and that e-mails are sometimes insufficient to express an emotion. Whether it’s to express gratitude to a colleague or superior, or to congratulate a successful collaboration, writing a card is something to be appreciated. It shows commitment to your work and your team.

Make your goodbye message professional

All you need to do is adopt a professional tone. This means not being too friendly, cold or distant. Be sincere in what you say. There’s no point in going into long speeches, so keep your text short if you didn’t have much of a connection with the departing colleague! You’ll need to use your words skilfully to write a sympathetic, but still professional, message. In this context, you’ll probably be asked to write a thank-you note for a collaboration at work: don’t hesitate to consult our page on this subject for inspiration.

Write a thank you note before leaving for a company

Before leaving a place where you’ve worked for several months or years, it’s also a good idea to take the time to say goodbye to your colleagues. The purpose of this farewell message is to thank all those with whom you have spent your working days, your superior as well as your colleagues. You certainly held an important place in the company you’re leaving, and this position was a milestone in your life, so it’s important to say thank you to your colleagues with a punchy, sincere and authentic farewell message, in which you can use a few lines of humor if the mood in the office was upbeat.

Example of a thank-you note before leaving the company

“Dear colleagues,

The time has come for me to take a new path in my professional career. Before I leave, I would like to express my sincere thanks for the many years I have spent working with you here at the company. My experience here has been enriching in so many ways, and would not have been possible without the support, collaboration and friendship of each and every one of you.

Your warm welcome when I joined the team was the start of an incredible adventure, and your advice and encouragement along the way have helped me to grow professionally and personally. I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given to work on exciting and challenging projects. Every challenge we have faced together has strengthened our team spirit and contributed to our collective success. I wish you all the best for the future, and I’m convinced that this company will continue to thrive thanks to your exceptional talent, dedication and team spirit.”

In short, writing a card to our professional circle is an opportunity in a world where digital is taking on an increasingly important role. It’s a way of showing our gratitude, respect and support for our colleagues and work partners. It helps to strengthen bonds within the team, promote a healthy working environment and cultivate strong, lasting professional relationships. If you don’t want to hand your card to your manager or colleagues, you can also send it by post: it’ll create a surprise effect that’s probably much appreciated.