What to write in a leaving card: 20 messages for a colleague

Write something that matches how well you know the person. A short good wish is enough for a colleague you have barely worked with. For somebody closer, add one thing you appreciated about working together.

These messages also fit a farewell card or goodbye card for a coworker. Use the formality and language you normally use together. For an international team, avoid jokes that need a local reference or idiom to make sense.

Below are twenty example messages, written for this guide. They are suggestions, not quotations from customers or real cards. Use one that is true for you, or change the detail so it sounds like something you would say.

Short leaving-card messages

These suit a shared card when you want to keep the message simple.

1. Wishing you all the best for what comes next. It has been good working with you. 2. Thank you for being part of the team. I hope the next role treats you well. 3. All the best for your next step. I am glad we got to work together. 4. Good luck with the move. I hope you settle in quickly and enjoy the new role.

Only refer to a new job if you know that is what the person is doing. Someone leaving work may be retiring, taking a break or keeping their plans private.

For a colleague you do not know well

You do not have to pretend you were close. A brief, friendly message fits a brief working relationship.

5. We did not work together often, but I appreciated your help when we did. Best wishes for what comes next. 6. It was good meeting you through the team. Wishing you well for the future. 7. Thank you for making me feel welcome when I joined. All the best for your next step. 8. I am glad our time here overlapped. Wishing you a good start with whatever comes next.

If none of those details is true, leave it out. There is no need to invent a shared project or a helpful moment to fill the space.

For a work friend

For somebody you know well, the ordinary things can be the things worth mentioning.

9. I will miss our lunchtime walks and having you there to talk things through. Let's keep them going outside work. 10. You made the difficult days easier. Thank you for listening, and for knowing when I needed a laugh. 11. Working with you has been one of the best parts of this job. I am looking forward to hearing what you do next. 12. I will miss having you on the team, but I am very glad we became friends. See you for a coffee soon.

Change the activity to something you actually shared. Only promise to keep in touch if you mean it, and exchange contact details separately if needed.

For a manager who is leaving

You can thank a manager for how they worked with you without writing a formal tribute.

13. Thank you for trusting me with work I was not yet sure I could do. I learned a lot from that. 14. I appreciated how clearly you explained things and how willing you were to answer questions. Best wishes for your next role. 15. Thank you for making time when I needed advice. I will carry a lot of what I learned from you into my next projects. 16. I valued your honesty and the space you gave me to get on with the work. It has been good being on your team.

Choose the part that reflects your experience. A leaving card does not need to cover every aspect of someone's management style.

For a colleague retiring

Retirement plans differ. Avoid assuming the person wants to travel, spend time with grandchildren or stop working entirely.

17. Thank you for everything you shared with the team. I hope retirement gives you plenty of time for the things you want to do. 18. I have learned a great deal from working with you. Wishing you a very happy retirement.

If they have told you about a particular plan, you can mention it. Otherwise, a general wish leaves room for them to decide what comes next.

Light-hearted messages for someone you know well

Keep jokes about shared routines rather than someone's age, performance or reason for leaving.

19. I will miss you. I will also need to find somebody else who knows which meeting room the booking system actually means. 20. Good luck in the new job. Please report back if their printer works on the first attempt.

Humour is optional. A plain thank-you is a better fit if you are unsure how a joke will land or who else will read it.

How to make a message more personal

Think about a specific moment before choosing your words. When did they help you? What did you learn from them? Was there something they did regularly that made your work easier?

Name the detail you remember, then say what it meant to you. You do not need an impressive achievement. Explaining something patiently, making room for somebody in a meeting or helping on a busy day can be enough.

Keep the message in your own voice. If a phrase feels too formal or affectionate for your relationship, use a simpler one.

What to leave out

Avoid gossip, confidential work details and speculation about why the person is leaving. Do not assume they have a new job or are pleased about the departure. If the circumstances are difficult, keep the message about your own experience of working with them.

Check who can read the card. A group card may be visible to other contributors or to whoever holds its link. Save anything you only want the recipient to hear for a private conversation.

Sign your name clearly. In a large organisation, a team name can help the recipient place you if you have only worked together briefly.

If you are organising the card as well

Send one writing link, give people a deadline and include colleagues who work remotely or on different shifts. Our leaving-card checklist covers the practical steps.

For a card people can write and read in a browser, see a tbf work card.