Do’s And Don’ts Of Sending A Last Working Day Email

So, you have to write a last working day email and you are worried you don’t know how to leave the mail recipients with a lasting positive impression of yours.

First things first, ending a relationship is not an easy thing even if it is at work, especially with those wonderful memories that you made here and the friendships built. You must indeed be excited and thrilled with the thought of moving on to the next chapter of your career, but it is equally important to close the current one on good terms particularly as this is the age of networking and connections which will help you in the future too.

Once you have initiated your notice period, remember the last day will suddenly spring on you and if you don’t know what will you write it will be difficult to craft one at the last moment. So, you better start thinking about creating nice goodbye mail content for your coworkers, managers, clients, and other stakeholders. Sounds simple at first, but a farewell letter writing exercise can be daunting not just because you have to ensure a few things but also not give into unnecessary overthinking.

In case you are struggling with the perfect sentences, we are here to help you with some invaluable tips to handhold you through the entire process of writing the last working day email.

After the submission of your notice, the company will announce it so that HR can take over soon with your exit formalities. More or less, all the people you have interacted with during your stint at the current organisation have come to hear the news. So, you will be including most of them in your mail. It is considered good etiquette to conclude your time with all of them in the nicest way honouring the strong bonds you had invested in.

Moreover, your farewell mail can also present you the opportunity to share your contact information, alternate ones we mean, including your email address, the phone number to keep in touch and of course as we are in 2024, your LinkedIn profile URL too. Chances are, many of the recipients from this network will want to stay in touch with you for future career opportunities down the road—just the kind of support you will expect from them in the future.

Tips to craft a good farewell email

Writing a last working day email might feel like a straightforward business decision, but soon you will find out that it’s important to get the right words and leave on a positive note. Do keep in mind the following things:

First, you must check with your reporting manager

Before you hit the send button to your mail recipients, you must confirm whether your team and company have made official announcements about your departure. Because if this has not been done and you shoot the email, it will come as a surprise to them and your team will unnecessarily have to do a lot of explaining.

Try to send the email on the previous day to your final day

This is because since almost everyone knows that you are leaving the company, you are no longer required to wait till you hit that send button and instead you can hit it the day before. It will give others some time to catch up with you and speak to you. Additionally, sending the mail way early can cause distractions from finishing your exit and handover-related responsibilities. But here’s a word of caution. If you work with a lot of clients and vendors, it is better to inform them beforehand from the day you resign (of course after speaking with your manager), so that they have plenty of time to make readjustments at their end and get a clearer picture of how long you will be with them as you get ready for embracing your transition.

Subject line – The most important bit

Writing the perfect goodbye mail is as important as writing its perfect subject line, and you must get it right. Keep it straightforward, obvious, and yet easy.

Here are a few professional examples:

  • Moving on
  • Saying goodbye is not easy
  • My last day, keep in touch

Ensure an overall positive sentiment and tone, reflecting gratitude for the experience you have gathered from your colleagues and getting all the growth-driven opportunities you have received from everyone. However, if there are coworkers who you have grown particularly close to, you may go ahead and choose to share a nice memory, a funny moment, or even a compliment.

Must..must provide – Your updated contact information

This one is important for your professional growth honestly. One of the primary reasons behind writing these last working day emails to people who matter is to be able to share your contact information. As you will no longer be working with them and having access to your current work email, you must provide this information so that in future they may be able to connect with you, perhaps looking for some help or a better career opportunity they deem fit for you. Do share your personal email address and the URL to your LinkedIn profile.

A short and sweet message is the best version

We are not saying finish it in one or two paragraphs but what we are suggesting is avoiding unimportant details or demonstrating excitement about leaving. Add a personal touch and your unique voice as well as avoid being negative about anyone or the company itself. Hence, stick to a brief and concise format and show gratitude as you move on.

It is important to create a lasting positive impression about yourself no matter what difficulties you might have faced. We all have days that are a little hard on us but in the end, we all grow through every experience. The last working day email allows showing your gratitude for the opportunity given and a well-written email will go a long way in ensuring that the transition is taken positively.

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