Writing a Goodbye Letter to a Boss

A goodbye letter to a boss is a courtesy written farewell that an employee sends an employer when they are leaving their position or their boss is leaving the company. This letter differs from a resignation letter, and it should ideally be sent after the person has formally resigned and completed any pending professional obligations. The letter should formally say goodbye to the boss, express thanks, and include any concluding remarks. There are several benefits of sending this letter, including:

• It shows your conscientiousness. Taking the time to keep your boss informed of your departure or to wish your supervisor well as they leave the company shows that you value your professional relationship.
• It can improve a valuable professional relationship. A well-written, honest goodbye letter can communicate your gratitude for the skills you have gained and show your boss that you work well together. Consequently, your supervisor may be interested in continuing to follow your career, and your letter can leave your relationship on a cordial note.
• It can boost your career in the long term. When you are seeking a new opportunity later in your career, the professional reputation and relationship that you developed by sending your farewell letter could help you. For example, you could ask your boss for a letter of recommendation.

Learn more: Tips for Writing a Sincere Goodbye Email to Coworkers

When writing your letter of farewell, you can use the following tips:

• Keep the letter concise. Make sure your letter covers all your points without any unnecessary or repetitive details. For example, you can use the first sentence to inform your boss that you will be leaving on a specific day and the second to express your thanks for the expertise you have gained.
• Let your boss know what you have gained in their employ. Specify and summarize at least two professional experiences or skills your boss enabled you to gain. If possible, link these experiences or skills to your awards or achievements.
• Express your gratitude effectively. Demonstrate your appreciation for what you have learned on the job through a well-written letter. Proofread the letter to check grammar, syntax, and facts the day after you complete it. Then, make any necessary improvements before finalizing and sending it.

Learn more: Your Guide to Giving a Great Farewell Speech at Work

You can write an effective letter by avoiding the following:

• Unprofessional timing: Avoid sending the letter before you have formally resigned and completed all your job duties.
• Inadequate notice: If you’re leaving your position, avoid sending the letter on the day you are leaving as it’s best to give your boss a few days to respond to your letter in person or via email.
• Overly informal writing: Even if you’ve shared a few laughs with your boss, avoid informal writing because your goodbye is likely to be one of the things your supervisor will remember about you, so you should aim for a professional last impression.
• Criticism: Avoid any negative criticism of your boss in this letter, as that can leave a bad impression. If you have any constructive criticism about the company, save that for your exit interview.

You can use the following examples of goodbye letters to a boss to write an effective letter:

Example 1

Dear Ms. Walker,

As you know, I’ll be leaving on Friday for a position at Synch Associates. I want to thank you for what I’ve learned at Eureka Inc.

Specifically, I’ve gained a lot from your democratic management style as it has helped me to improve my leadership and problem-solving skills. I have definitely grown professionally through your leadership, so thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so.

I hope we can stay in touch, and please feel free to contact me at sam.fry@email.com.

Best wishes,

Sam Fry

Example 2

Email subject: Goodbye letter, Monica Stone

Dear Susan,

Wednesday will be my last day at Amber Inc. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to lead the team in my last year here.

I’m so grateful for what I’ve learned. Due to your in-depth training and constructive feedback, I’ve become a better project manager and exponentially improved my task management. Although I’m looking forward to my new job, I’m sad to leave the awesome organizational culture that you maintain at Amber.

I hope to hear from you at monica.stone@email.com in the future.

Best of luck to you!

Sincerely,

Monica Stone

You can build the goodbye letter to your boss with the following template:

[Salutation]

[Your reason for the letter]

[A brief description of your growth with at least two examples of experiences or skills your boss helped you to gain]

[A thank you for the expertise you have gained]

[Your contact information]

[A formal closing]