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Whether you love or hate your job, breaking up with it can be hard. No matter your reason for leaving — a toxic environment, lack of growth opportunities, a better offer, or something else — there are likely a few positives you’ll be leaving behind as well. If you’re one of the many people planning to jump jobs this year, how can you gracefully say goodbye? A farewell email is not the only way to acknowledge and thank your team before you go. (You may also do this in person.) But it is a best practice that most people do around their last day of work. As such, this note is often the final impression your former colleagues will have of you. If done well, it can help you maintain important relationships, leave on a high note, and keep the door open should you ever choose to return. Writing a thoughtful goodbye email is a craft. Expressing gratitude for your time at the company and your feelings towards your colleagues may seem straightforward, but surprisingly, it’s not. You need to hit the right tone — balancing sentimentality with humility and good regard. Here are a few key elements you should try and address in a farewell email. Share what you valued or appreciated most about working at the organization.First, remember to keep it to a few short paragraphs. The goal of this email is to say goodbye to your larger department, team, or organization at once. Given the wide scope of recipients, it’s best to be mindful of their time and be short. (If you want to send a personal note to an especially valuable coworker, you should do so separately —this isn’t the purpose of your broader goodbye email.) In your message, start by showing a combination of appreciation and humility — two positive leadership qualities — to instill goodwill and make a positive impression on the hearts and minds of the recipients. Begin by addressing your team, announcing that it is your last day, and stating what you valued most about your time working at the company, and more specifically, within your department: “Hey everyone, As some of you may know, today is my last day at [organization]. I just wanted to send a quick goodbye note to express my immense gratitude for my time here. Being a part of a top-notch product development team known for creating innovative solutions in health care has provided me with some amazing learning opportunities. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done to help improve the quality of life for millions of people…” This both positions you as being part of a winning team and makes your colleagues feel good about the work you have collaborated on. Resist any temptation to vent or be critical of your experience, even if there were negative aspects of your job. Save that feedback for a private conversation with your manager or an HR professional during your exit interview. In your goodbye note, take the high road and focus on the positive. Remember: the colleagues you’re leaving behind are still going to work there. Remind others of your specific contribution and acknowledge people where appropriate.This note is an opportunity to recap some highlights of your achievements during your tenure — both for those who know you well and contributed to your development and for those who don’t. After your opening paragraphs, mention a specific project or goal that was meaningful to you: “Specifically, working on the launch of our top-selling blood-glucose monitor was one of the highlights of my time at [corporation], and of my career so far.” If appropriate, acknowledge others who’ve made your experience at the organization great. Maybe you had an exceptional boss who gave you opportunities to stand out. Maybe you worked with a couple of peers on a game-changing project. Maybe there is a mentor who taught you lessons you’ll take with you in your new role. Give them a short shout-out if you’re comfortable. (I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive boss; I feel lucky to have had such intelligent and kind team members; I learned so much through my mentors). Of course, this is optional, as some people much prefer private recognition to public recognition. Describe what you’ll be doing next and what you are looking forward to.Next, summarize the description of your new role and the responsibilities you are most excited to take on. “I’ve decided to accept a new role at YXZ Corp in Singapore as an assistant manager on their product development team. I’m looking forward to continuing my career growth in an international context and being part of a multi-cultural team.” If you’re not leaving your current position for another job, but for school, describe your next steps: “I’ll be leaving ABC Corp to attend London School of Economics, where I’ll be pursuing an MSc in social innovation and entrepreneurship over the next year. I’m excited to learn how social entrepreneurs are tackling some of the world’s toughest problems, and apply what I’ve learned here to my studies.” You can also use the opportunity to share what you plan to do after graduation, even if it’s only a hypothesis. “Following this program, I hope to leverage my experience in health care to work in the global health program area of a major foundation.” Others may read this and respond to your note with helpful resources and contacts, such as a relevant conference you should check out or an offer to introduce you to someone in your desired field. Sometimes, your plans may be fluid or uncertain. For example, you may be leaving to take time off and explore what’s next, or perhaps you are leaving unexpectedly as part of a restructuring or economic downsizing. If this is the case, it’s ok if you don’t know what the future holds. Nevertheless, you should frame your immediate post-departure plans in a positive light. “I plan on taking some time off to decompress, travel, and reflect on my next career move.” Let others know your timing and how to keep in touch.To end, inform others when your last day will be. I recommend sending this note one to two weeks before you will go to give people (and you) an opportunity to say goodbye in person. If you feel open to your colleagues reaching out after your departure, include you contact information — your personal email address, LinkedIn account, or mobile phone number so they can reach you, even if/when you’ve moved on from your next opportunity. “My last day will be next Friday, June 14. Going forward, you can reach me at my or 415-555-xxxx, as well as through LinkedIn (and add a link to your profile). I hope that you will contact me if you will be in Singapore or if I can ever be of help to you. I look forward to staying in touch.” The goodbye email is more than a courteous farewell, but a career tool that can help you maintain professional relationships to facilitate career success, both now and in the future. This small but important piece of communication will help you build a positive personal brand and remind others of your contributions to their work. More practically, it lets people know what you’re doing next and invites them to be a part of your network.
By Indeed Editorial Team Updated 9 February 2021 | Published 25 August 2020 Updated 9 February 2021 Published 25 August 2020 Email is one of the most common forms of communication in the business world, and most employers expect you to compose each section of an email with consideration. One vital part of an email is the sign-off or ending line, which is followed by your signature. With a clear, concise, professional and well-written email, you can set yourself apart from candidates when applying for jobs and demonstrate your professionalism in your current position. In this article, we discuss how to end an email professionally and provide practical examples that you can use. Why are email closings important?Your email closing is the last thing the recipient reads before exiting your email. Therefore, it is essential to create a positive and lasting impression with your email endings. The email sign-off format could be the deciding factor in how long you wait for a reply. When you meet new people in person, such as at a business meeting or event, you end conversations with some form of polite closing that leaves the person feeling happy about meeting you. The end of an email is similar to the end of an in-person conversation. It can impact on how the person perceives both you and the content included in your email. Professional and polite email closings with straightforward calls to action can help recipients receive your email positively and respond with the same tone. Tips on how to end a professional emailComposing appropriate email endings gives you the opportunity to create a professional image for yourself. It also ensures your recipient views your email positively. To ensure you end your email in the most professional way possible, consider these tips when composing email closings:
Keep in mind that your recipient might forward your email to others within the organisation whom you do not know. A well-considered email closing will create a positive impression on them. It also allows everyone to understand what the expectation of the email is. Ensure you always show your consistency and reliability with a professional email closing. What to include in your email sign-offsThere are some important elements to consider when ending an email. Make sure your email ends in a way that is clear and concise and delivers the message. You should include the following in most professional email sign-offs:
A call to actionThe best email sign-off shows appreciation for the reader taking the time to read your email. Not only this, but it will also include a clear call to action that prompts the recipient to respond or complete a certain task. It may even be as simple as showing that you are awaiting a response. Here is an example of how to end a business email with a call to action: "Thank you for taking the time to review and consider my application. Please contact me if you need any further details or information regarding my candidacy for this position. I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this great opportunity. Kind Regards, Tom Bishop" In this example, the sender prompts the recipient to contact them to continue the conversation and move forward in the application process. Your full nameEven if you have a unique name, be sure to include your first and surname to close a professional email. You can also include your middle initial if this is something you typically do. This will help prevent any possible confusion at the recipient's end as to who sent the email. Plus, the recipient is more likely to remember you if your full name is one of the last things they read. If you're sending the recipient additional documents, like your resume, make sure your name is exactly the same to avoid confusion. Your professional titleIt is not always necessary to include your current job title, but it could be helpful to include it for the context of your role. Here is an example of how to end an email with your professional title: "Sandra Martin Executive Producer" Contact informationYour recipient already has your email address. Despite this, they may need to contact you more urgently in another way. With this in mind, you could consider including additional contact information, such as your work phone number and personal extension. Casual closings for professional emailsA casual closing phrase may be fitting if you are already familiar with the person you are writing a business email to. If you have been with an organisation for a time, you should understand the type of tone that your colleagues use. It is appropriate to mirror a more casual email closing, if commonplace. If not, make sure you are using phrases that reflect your professional nature. Ending salutations for business emailsHere are a few suggestions on ways to sign off an email:
The following examples show how to finish an email in a casual tone. Only use these with discretion in a professional environment. Ensure the recipient is also using a relaxed tone before using these:
5 ways to end an emailHere are some examples showing how you could end emails throughout the hiring process. Each one describes a different point in the process. Again, be clear in your call to action. Make the email closing specific to the current situation. This shows you are paying attention when writing your email for this recipient:
When first applying for the jobThank you for your time in considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind Regards, After you complete a phone screeningAs requested, I have attached examples of my work for your perusal. Please let me know if there is anything else I can provide you with in regards to my application. Sincerely, When responding to a request to meetI look forward to meeting with you this coming Thursday. With thanks, Sam Wright After completing an interviewThank you again for the interview. I look forward to the next step in the recruitment process. Best Wishes, Betty Harding When you accept the job offerI look forward to talking through the next stage and details of the position. With gratitude, Frank Kinley |