What to Write In A Leaving Card and 41 Different Examples (2023)

A common part of office life is being handed the leaving card with multiple best wishes to the colleague who is leaving for a new adventure. You want to congratulate them on their new job, but it can often be hard to think of something clever, funny, or creative to write when on the spot. What exactly do you write in a card when someone is leaving a job? We’ve put together a definitive list of messages to add in your sorry your leaving cards. The list includes examples of what to write in a new job card that are either funny, formal, professional, playful, and thoughtful.

Funny Things To Write In A Leaving Card

If you’re relatively close to the person who is leaving, and you often share a joke with them, you may wish to add a funny ‘sorry you’re leaving’ message to stand out from the rest and make them smile. Not sure what to write though? Well, take a look at the list below.

1. Sorry you’re leaving. Can I steal your chair?
2. I never liked you anyway.
3. Just you wait. You’ll come running back.
4. Don’t leave me here with these people.
5. Sorry you’re leaving, John? Sorry, I forgot your name.
6. I’ll miss our awkward kitchen chats.
7. Congratulations on your escape from here.
8. You always ignored my emails anyway.
9. How you made it this long, I’ll never know.
10. Grab as much stationery as you can and run!
11. Leaving? Didn’t even know you worked here.
12. I’ll miss doing your work for you.
13. Goodbye and thanks for never bringing in cake.
14. Goodbye and good luck. I’ve got my name on your desk.
15. I’ve already stolen your mug as a keepsake.
16. Hopefully your new coworkers won’t think you’re weird.
17. This is not goodbye. I know where you live.
18. I don’t care what the rest say. I liked you anyway.
19. Good bye. It’sAbout time they upgraded around here.
20. Let’s hope your replacement does a better job!
21. Farewell colleague - it’s been a blast!
22. You’re leaving? I never knew you got here!

Thoughtful and Personal Colleague Leaving Messages

It’s not uncommon for colleagues to turn in to friends in the time that you work together. Coming up with a thoughtful leaving message can be hard to think of on the spot. We’ve rounded up our favourite thoughtful things to write for a colleague leaving message.

1. Good luck for your new job! You’ll knock their socks off!
2. Congratulations on your new role. Onwards and upwards!
3. Congratulations on your new job!
4. Best of luck on your new opportunity.
5. Sorry to hear you’re leaving!
6. We’re sad to see you go, but wish you the best of luck!
7. I hope your new colleagues realise how lucky they are.
8. You’ll be missed, but wishing you all the luck in the world for your new job.
9. It’s been an honour to work with you over the years.
10. A colleague who turned into a friend. I will certainly miss you.
11. You could never be replaced! Best of luck on your new adventure.
12. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and talent!
13. Success and happiness are never far away when you’re involved. Best of luck.
14. I hope you enjoy your new job!
15. So very sad to say goodbye, but wishing you all the luck in the world.
16. Your presence will be missed, and we wish you the best in your new role.
17. Best of luck. Please stay in touch.
18. People like you are hard to find. They are very lucky to have you!
19. A new chapter and new adventure in your life. Good luck!
20. Congratulations from all of us here. A true team player that we will miss dearly.
21. Thank you for all that you have done.
22. Here’s to your bright future - best of luck!
23. Finding the words when you’re leaving is hard. You will be missed.

Potential Reasons for Why They Will Be Missed

A good way of looking at what to write on a card when someone is leaving a job is to think of the qualities they brought to the working environment. Perhaps they were a shoulder to cry on. Perhaps they were the best at fixing any computer errors. Whatever the reason why they will be missed, this is a great way to personalise a message, and stand out from the standard leaving words.

1. You were the no.1 tea maker - you will be missed!
2. No one can fix a printer like you. Good luck in your new job.
3. You are the stationery Queen. Thanks for always lending me a pen.
4. Our office party will never be the same. Thanks for the dance moves.
5. A ray of sunshine in our day. You’ll be sorely missed.
6. Sorry you’re leaving - no one is better at spreadsheets than you.
7. You’ve always been such a great support. Good luck.
8. An inspiration to the whole team.
9. My partner in crime. Meetings will never be the same again.
10. We will miss you. We will miss your cakes.
11. The hardest working person I know. Best of luck on your new adventure.
12. What you don’t know about Excel isn’t worth knowing.

What To Write In A Retirement Card

Struggling to think of the words to write on a retirement card? This colleague has come to the end of their working career, and now they are starting a new adventure. Choose one of our retirement messages below. To personalise any of the messages, think about a hobby or activity your colleague enjoys and add this to the retirement best wishes.

1. What a fantastic career you have had. Best wishes on your new adventure.
2. Wishing you many years of good health and rest!
3. Time to put your feet up. You’ve earned it.
4. An inspiration to the company. You will be missed.
5. Thank you for your years of experience and support.
6. Time to enjoy what you love doing!
7. Your adventure has just begun! Good luck.
8. You can do what you want, when you want!
9. Retirement is the world’s longest coffee break!
10. Happy retirement! You’ve earned it.
11. Have a restful but fun and active retirement!
12. The fun finally begins. Congrats!
13. You’ll never need to ask for another day off again.
14. Congratulations on a long and successful career.
15. Wishing you all the happiness and joy retirement can bring!
16. Thank you for being a mentor, friend, and one of the hardest workers I know. Enjoy retirement!
17. Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean you can’t stop by the office every once and a while for a chat. Don’t be a stranger!
18. Enjoy the government money—you’ve contributed enough!
19. We hope your retirement is filled with nothing but joy and happiness.
20. That’s it? You’re leaving us just like that? Well… good for you.
21. Enjoy being the master of absolutely nothing.

What to Write to Someone Leaving Work To Go Travelling

So your colleague is leaving to go travelling, but you’re stuck with what to write. Choose from one of the globetrotters leaving messages below. Again, personalise these with where the colleague is going to (e.g. Enjoy your travels and adventures in Australia!).

1. The world is your oyster!
2. Bon voyage. Have a great experience.
3. The things you’ll see!
4. We’re so jealous of the tan you’ll get.
5. Good luck on your enriching adventure.
6. Safe travels!
7. Enjoy the journey.
8. The road ahead may be long and winding, but you’ll make it there safe and sound.
9. Stay safe and let us know about your adventures.
10. I can’t wait to hear all about it and see the photos. Good luck on your travels.

What to Write to Someone Leaving Work To Become A Parent

Your colleague is leaving work for maternity or paternity leave, and are about to embark on a big step in their life. Congratulate them on their expected arrival and wish them well on their time away from work.

1. Good luck on your biggest adventure yet!
2. We can’t wait to meet them. Best of luck.
3. Don’t be a stranger. You’ll be missed.
4. Enjoy this precious time of your life!
5. Can’t wait to meet your bundle of joy!
6. Enjoy your maternity / paternity leave!
7. Can’t wait to hear all about it!

Sorry You’re Leaving Quotes

Sometimes saying goodbye with a quote is all you need, and it will certainly stand out on a leaving card amongst the many generic leaving words. Choose from our list of goodbye quotes below.

1. “Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again.” – William Shakespeare
2. “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” – Paulo Coelho
3. “Goodbyes, they often come in waves.” – Jarod Kintz
4. “See You Later Alligator.” – Bill Haley and the Comets
5. “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Semisonic
6. “You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing.” – E.B. White
7. “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.” – Garrison Keillor
8. “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
9. “So, old friends, now it’s time to start growing up, taking charge, seeing things as they are, facing facts, not escaping them, still with dreams, just reshaping them, growing up.” – Stephen Sondheim