You need to send a farewell letter to your colleagues, clients, or employer when leaving a job. After giving formal notice and submitting a resignation letter, writing a farewell letter is an excellent way to thank your colleagues and employer for their support.
Moreover, the main purpose of writing this letter is to show your gratitude to your employers and colleagues. It is a courteous way to maintain good relations with them. Also, an appropriate farewell letter can enhance your networking opportunities.
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Why should you write a farewell letter?
Due to the following reasons, you must write a farewell letter when leaving the job;
Show courtesy
A well-written farewell letter provides you with the opportunity to thank your co-workers and employers for their support and the time you have shared with them. It indicates courtesy and leaves a good impression.
Maintain networks
Former colleagues and employers can become critical to your network as you move forward. These networks can help you to introduce you to new opportunities in the future. When you send this letter to your colleagues, it indicates to them that you value them.
Communicates the change
The farewell letter removes any confusion and communicates new procedures. This document ensures a smooth transition for your former coworkers.
Writing a farewell letter to coworkers:
Consider the following steps to write a comprehensive farewell letter to your coworkers;
Decide who will receive your farewell letter
You should send a farewell letter to everyone with whom you have good interaction throughout your time within the company. However, it would be recommended to send the letter to everyone if you work in a small organization and you have interacted with all employees.
In the case of a large organization, send the letter only to the workers of your department. You can also send personal letters to some colleagues with whom you’ve developed a stronger bond than others.
Write a subject line
Write the phrase ‘Farewell letter’ in the subject line so that the recipients read it. This informs them about your departure. Some other phrases you can use in your subject line are;
- Moving on
- My contact details
- Thank you
- Thanks for everything
- Keep in touch
- My last day
Keep the tone of your letter positive
Since you are writing this letter to show gratitude to your colleagues and supervisors, keep its tone positive. Don’t give any negative opinions about the company and unprofessional remarks. When writing the letter, keep in mind that it is the last opportunity to leave a good impression before moving.
Keep the letter precise
Keep your farewell letter concise and just stick to the points that you feel are most important. Your letter should contain the appropriate details without getting too informal. Consider the following details to include in your letter;
- When you are leaving the company
- What you learned
- What you achieved throughout the time you worked for an organization
- General well wishes
- Reasons for leaving the job (retirement or relocation)
Send the farewell letter before your last day
If you want to ensure that the recipients have enough time to react and respond to the letter then send it at least a day or two before your departure.
Different types of farewell letters:
There are different types of farewell letters depending on the recipient;
Farewell letter to close colleagues
There is no need to write something very formal if you are composing the letter for your colleagues who have a close relationship with you. Instead of focusing on the specific format, you should pay attention to the appreciation part of the letter. Also, provide contact details to maintain the relationship.
Formal letter to a team or direct supervisors
The nature of this type of farewell letter depends on the interaction you had with your team or direct supervisors. You can write the letter using an informal tone if your working relations are more relaxed and informal. On the other hand, if you have a structured and official relationship then composing the letter in a formal tone would be most suitable.
Farewell letter to boss or manager
Keep a formal tone while writing a farewell letter to the boss or manager to indicate respect and professionalism. Use a formal salutation to address the recipient.
Farewell letter to CEO or founder
Before leaving a company, it would be courteous to send a farewell letter to the company’s CEO or founder to thank them for their support. Don’t forget to specify your plans in the letter as well as provide your contact details.
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FAQ’s:
What is the purpose of a farewell letter?
The main purpose of writing a farewell letter is to ensure you positively leave your company. Also, it provides you with opportunity to stay connected with your colleagues and boss after you leave.