Sample Farewell Letter to Boss (with Template)

A farewell letter to your boss is a formal document written when either the writer or their boss is leaving a company. At some point in your career, you will need to write a farewell letter to your boss. Whether you decide to leave your position or your boss does, writing a farewell letter is the professional way to say goodbye. These letters help you maintain your professional relationship, which can be useful if you need a reference or a letter of recommendation.

In this article, we will discuss farewell letters and how to write a professional farewell letter to your boss. We provide a format for a farewell letter and some sample letters for you to read.

When you leave your position at a company, you will most likely write both a resignation letter and a farewell letter to your boss. The purpose of a resignation letter is to formally notify your boss you are resigning from your position.

The purpose of a farewell letter is to thank your boss, wish them well, and offer your contact information so that you can keep in touch. You might write this letter when your boss leaves their job, as well as when you do.

Send your letter before you or your boss leaves the company. Some people send the letter on their last day on the job, although sending your letter several days in advance offers you the opportunity to say goodbye in person.

1. Begin your farewell letter with a professional greeting

Unless you have a close relationship with your boss, use the standard professional salutation “Dear {Mr./Mrs./Ms. last name}.” If you are on a first-name basis with your boss, you can write, “Hello {first name} or Hi {first name}.”

2. Write an introductory sentence.

In any professional correspondence, the first sentence should introduce the topic of the letter. If you are leaving your position, remind your boss of your last day at work. You might write, “As you know, my last day as {position title} at {company name} is {day or date.}

If your boss is leaving the company, create an opening sentence that acknowledges they are leaving. If your boss is retiring, you might say, “I am happy to hear you are retiring soon, but we will miss your leadership.” Another line you might use is, “Although I will miss your guidance, I am happy to learn you are retiring.”

If your boss is leaving to accept another position, you might write, “I heard you are leaving, and I wanted to say farewell.” Alternately, you could write, “I am sad to see you go, but I am certain you will succeed in your next position.”

3. Thank your boss and express your appreciation.

In the second paragraph, thank your boss and express your appreciation for their assistance. Did your boss teach you a particular skill or function as your mentor? What experience during your shared time had the biggest impact on your success? Think about these questions and try to mention a specific way your boss has helped you.

Here are some examples of ways to express your appreciation.

• “I want you to know how much I appreciate {what you appreciate}.”
• “I could not have succeeded without your {what your boss has done to help or inspire you}.”
• “Thank you so much for {what you appreciate}.”
• “Your {quality} has led me to succeed at {what you have succeeded at}.”

4. Wish your boss well and ask to stay in touch.

Even if you are leaving the company, offering your best wishes to your boss and his team is an important part of saying goodbye. Use the final paragraph of your letter to wish your boss well and offer to stay in touch.

Provide your contact information. It’s always a good idea to provide several contact methods, such as your cell phone number and your email address. If your boss is not already in your LinkedIn network, you may want to offer a link.

5. Close your letter.

Close your letter with a simple restatement of your thanks and a standard closing, like “Best regards,” or “Sincerely.” Although you can say goodbye to your boss via email, printing this letter is more professional. Your boss can file the letter and refer to it later if you ask for a recommendation.

• Carefully proofread your letter.
• Relate one or two ways your boss has helped further your career.
• Stay positive. This letter offers you an opportunity to make a great final impression on your boss.
• Keep your letter clear and concise.

Farewell Letter Saying Goodbye to Boss (Word Template)

• The purpose of a farewell letter is to thank your boss, wish them well, and request to stay in contact.
• Stay positive. Use your farewell letter as a way to leave your job on a positive note.
• Thank your boss for something specific.
• Include your contact information.