Everyone has received a farewell message that felt like it was copied from a greeting card template. “It was great working with you. Best of luck in your future endeavors.” Polite? Sure. Memorable? Not remotely. The person who sent it could have addressed it to anyone, and it would have read exactly the same check more here : 200+ Best Goodbye Messages for Girlfriend That Say It All
The problem isn’t the phrase itself. “It was great working with you” is a perfectly fine sentiment. The problem is that most people stop there. They send the generic version, check the box, and move on. Meanwhile, the people who take sixty extra seconds to make their farewell specific, genuine, and forward-looking are the ones who get remembered, recommended, and reconnected with years later.
This guide gives you over 120 messages for saying “it was great working with you” in ways that actually land. You’ll find farewell messages to coworkers, bosses, direct reports, clients, and partners, organized by relationship, occasion, and platform. You’ll get alternatives to the standard phrase, replies for when someone says it to you, templates you can customize in under a minute, and honest guidance for the awkward scenarios nobody else covers, like what to say when you didn’t actually enjoy working with someone.
More importantly, you’ll learn why these moments matter more than most people realize and how a thoughtful farewell message can quietly build career capital that pays off for years.
What “It Was Great Working With You” Really Means
Before you write your message, understand what the phrase communicates and how different contexts change its meaning entirely.
The Difference Between Polite Closure and Genuine Praise
“It was great working with you” operates on a spectrum. At one end, it’s a social courtesy, the professional equivalent of “nice to meet you.” It signals that the relationship is ending on good terms without necessarily carrying deep emotional weight. At the other end, when paired with specific detail and genuine warmth, it becomes a meaningful professional compliment that the recipient will remember.
The difference between the two isn’t the phrase. It’s what surrounds it. “It was great working with you” followed by nothing is polite closure. “It was great working with you — your ability to stay calm during the Q3 crisis genuinely held the team together, and I learned a lot from watching how you handled it” is real praise that tells someone exactly what they meant to you professionally.
Why This Phrase Matters More Than People Think
Workplace farewells are among the most underestimated moments in professional life. The message you send on your way out, or when someone else is leaving, is often the last professional impression you make on that person. And last impressions, like first impressions, are disproportionately sticky.
People remember how you leave more than how you arrive. A thoughtful departure message signals emotional intelligence, professionalism, and genuine care for relationships. A generic one signals that you couldn’t be bothered. Neither is career-ending, but only one builds the kind of goodwill that leads to future references, introductions, and opportunities.
How to Read Tone (Email vs. Slack vs. In Person)
The same words carry different weight depending on the medium. “It was great working with you” in a formal email reads as polished and intentional. The same phrase in a Slack message reads as casual and friendly. Said in person, it carries the most emotional weight because tone of voice and facial expression fill in what text strips out.
When reading someone else’s farewell message to you, factor in the platform. A brief Slack message doesn’t mean they don’t care. It might just mean they expressed their real feelings in person and the Slack was a quick follow-up. A long, detailed email from someone who rarely writes long messages, on the other hand, signals genuine effort and feeling.
The Psychology of Workplace Goodbyes
Farewell messages aren’t just social niceties. They serve real psychological and professional functions.
Why Last Impressions Shape Professional Reputations
Psychologists who study memory and social perception have identified what’s known as the recency effect: the tendency for people to remember the last interactions in a relationship more vividly than earlier ones. In a professional context, this means your farewell message disproportionately shapes how a colleague remembers working with you.
A coworker who was mediocre for two years but wrote a genuinely beautiful farewell message will be remembered more warmly than a strong performer who disappeared without a word. This isn’t fair, but it’s how memory works. Your exit message is the final data point in someone’s mental file on you, and final data points carry outsized weight.
The Networking Power of a Thoughtful Farewell
Every person you work with is a potential node in your future professional network. The colleague who leaves your team today might be the hiring manager at your dream company in three years. The client you wrapped up with last quarter might need your exact expertise at their next role.
A thoughtful farewell message keeps those connections warm. It transforms a transactional professional relationship into a personal one, making it far more likely that the person will think of you when an opportunity arises. The return on investment of a two-minute personalized message is genuinely extraordinary when measured across a career.
What Research Says About Gratitude in Professional Settings
Research on workplace gratitude consistently shows that expressing specific appreciation improves both the giver’s and receiver’s sense of professional satisfaction. People who receive personalized thank-you messages report feeling more valued and more positively about the relationship, even after it ends.
The research also shows that most people underestimate how positively their gratitude will be received. If you’re hesitating to write something genuine because you’re worried it’ll seem too emotional or over the top, the evidence suggests the opposite: people almost always appreciate more warmth than they receive in professional settings.
When to Say “It Was Great Working With You”
Timing matters. The right message at the wrong moment loses its impact.
After a Project or Contract Ends
The most natural moment for this message is when a shared project wraps up. The work is done, the deliverables are complete, and the collaboration has a clear endpoint. A message at this moment feels timely and relevant rather than random.
On Your Last Day or During a Team Change
Your last day at a company or a team restructure creates a natural farewell window. Most people expect some form of goodbye during these transitions, which means your message won’t feel unexpected. The key is sending it before you’re fully gone, not three weeks later when the moment has passed.
After a Client Engagement Wraps Up
Client relationships have defined endpoints, and a wrap-up message signals professionalism and care. It also plants the seed for future business. Clients who feel appreciated are significantly more likely to return or refer.
After a Short Collaboration or Interview Process
Even brief professional interactions deserve acknowledgment. If you interviewed with a panel, collaborated on a single deliverable, or worked with someone for a few weeks, a short message signals that you valued the interaction regardless of its length.
When Someone Else Is Leaving
You don’t have to be the one leaving to send an “it was great working with you” message. When a colleague announces their departure, reaching out proactively shows genuine care. Most departing employees hear from only a handful of people beyond their immediate team, so your message will likely stand out.
How to Write a Message That Doesn’t Sound Generic
The difference between a forgettable farewell and a memorable one comes down to specificity, sincerity, and forward motion.
The Specific-Genuine-Forward Framework
Every strong farewell message has three components. Specific: reference something concrete you shared, a project, a moment, a quality you admired. Genuine: express what that experience meant to you in your own voice. Forward: keep the door open for future connection or express a specific hope for their next chapter.
“It was great working with you on the rebrand. Your eye for detail genuinely elevated the final product, and I learned a lot from watching how you managed stakeholder feedback. I hope our paths cross again, and I’d love to stay connected.”
Three sentences. Specific, genuine, forward. That’s the entire framework.
Mention Something Only You Would Know
The most powerful farewell messages reference a shared experience that only the two of you would recognize. “I still think about the time we stayed late debugging the API and you figured out the issue by reading the error log backwards” is something nobody else could have written. It proves the message is genuinely from you, not from a template.
Match Your Tone to the Relationship
A message to your best work friend should sound different from a message to a senior VP you worked with once. Match the level of warmth, informality, and emotional openness to the actual relationship you had. Overly formal messages to close colleagues feel cold. Overly casual messages to senior leaders feel inappropriate. Let the relationship dictate the register.
Keep the Door Open (Without Being Vague)
“Let’s stay in touch” is vague and rarely leads to actual contact. “I’d love to connect on LinkedIn and grab coffee if you’re ever in the city” is specific and actionable. “If you ever need a sounding board on product strategy, my inbox is always open” offers concrete value. The more specific your forward-looking statement, the more likely it leads to real continued connection.
Short and Professional Messages (Copy-Paste Ready)
For moments when you need something quick, polished, and ready to send.
One to Two Line Messages
- “It was genuinely great working with you. Your professionalism made every collaboration smoother.”
- “I’ve really enjoyed our time working together. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter.”
- “Working with you was a highlight of this role. Thanks for making it such a positive experience.”
- “It was a real pleasure collaborating with you. I hope we get the chance to work together again.”
- “Thank you for being such a reliable and thoughtful colleague. It was great working alongside you.”
- “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with you. Your contributions made a real difference.”
- “It’s been a genuine pleasure. Wishing you every success going forward.”
- “I appreciate everything you brought to this team. It was great working with you.”
Warm but Professional Messages
- “I wanted to take a moment to say how much I enjoyed working with you. Your positive energy and sharp thinking made even the toughest projects feel manageable. Thank you for being such a great colleague.”
- “Working with you has been one of the best parts of being on this team. I’ll genuinely miss our brainstorming sessions and your ability to cut through complexity with a single question.”
- “It was a pleasure working with you, and I don’t say that lightly. You made this team better by being part of it, and wherever you go next is lucky to have you.”
- “I’ve learned more from working alongside you than I expected, and I’m grateful for your patience, your expertise, and your willingness to always help. Thank you, truly.”
Formal and Polished Messages
- “It has been a privilege to work with you. Your professionalism, expertise, and collaborative spirit have been invaluable to our team. I wish you continued success in your future endeavors.”
- “I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to collaborate with you. Your contributions have been significant, and I have no doubt you will continue to excel.”
- “Working alongside you has been both a pleasure and a learning experience. I am grateful for your dedication and wish you every success as you move forward.”
- “Please accept my heartfelt thanks for the outstanding collaboration. Your work ethic and integrity set a standard I deeply respect.”
“Let’s Stay Connected” Closers
- “I’d love to stay connected. Feel free to reach out anytime, and let’s definitely keep in touch on LinkedIn.”
- “This doesn’t have to be goodbye. Let’s make sure we stay in each other’s orbit. Here’s my personal email: [email].”
- “I have a feeling our paths will cross again. In the meantime, don’t be a stranger.”
- “If you ever need anything, a reference, a sounding board, or just someone to grab coffee with, I’m always here.”
Messages for Coworkers and Team Members
The colleague-to-colleague farewell is the most common version of this message.
Peer-to-Peer Farewell Messages
- “You made this job better by being in it. I’m going to miss our daily conversations, your terrible jokes, and your genuinely excellent work. It was great working with you.”
- “I’ve had a lot of coworkers over the years, but few that I’d genuinely call a friend. You’re one of them. Thank you for making the day-to-day something I actually looked forward to.”
- “The team won’t be the same without you. I know you’ll crush it wherever you go, but I selfishly wish you were staying. It was a genuine pleasure working alongside you.”
- “We spent more time together than most people spend with their families, and somehow it never felt like too much. That says everything about what kind of colleague and person you are.”
- “You raised the bar for everyone around you, and you did it without ever making anyone feel like they weren’t enough. That’s rare. Thank you for being that person.”
Cross-Team Collaboration Messages
- “Even though we weren’t on the same team, some of my best work here happened because of our collaboration. I appreciate your partnership and your willingness to always find a way to make things work.”
- “Cross-functional work is only as good as the people you do it with, and working with you was always a highlight. Thanks for making collaboration feel easy.”
- “I didn’t get to work with you every day, but every project we shared was better because you were part of it. It was a pleasure.”
Remote and Async Colleague Messages
- “We never shared an office, but that didn’t stop you from being one of my favorite people to work with. Your thoughtfulness in every message and your reliability in every deadline made remote collaboration feel seamless.”
- “Working across time zones with you was effortless because of how organized, communicative, and genuinely kind you are. I’m grateful we got to work together even from a distance.”
- “I may never have met you in person, but I’ve felt your impact on this team every single day. It was truly great working with you.”
Group Messages to the Whole Team
- “To the entire team: working with each of you has been an honor. I’ve learned from your expertise, been inspired by your dedication, and genuinely enjoyed showing up every day because of the people in this group. Thank you.”
- “This team is special, and I don’t say that because I’m supposed to. I say it because I’ve been on teams that weren’t, and the difference is everything. Thank you for making this experience one I’ll carry with me.”
- “I’m leaving with more skills, more connections, and more gratitude than I arrived with. That’s a direct result of working alongside each of you. Thank you for everything.”
Messages for Your Boss or Manager
Messages to leadership require a balance of warmth, professionalism, and appropriate gratitude.
Gratitude for Growth and Mentorship
- “Thank you for being the kind of leader who invested in my growth. I’m a better professional because of your guidance, and I’ll carry the lessons you taught me through every role I hold.”
- “You gave me opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise and trusted me to rise to them. That confidence shaped my career in ways I’m still understanding. Thank you.”
- “I’ve had managers before, but you were a genuine mentor. The difference is significant, and I’m deeply grateful for the time you spent developing me.”
When You Want a Future Reference
- “Working under your leadership has been one of the defining experiences of my career so far. If it’s ever appropriate, I would be honored if I could list you as a reference in the future. Regardless, thank you for everything.”
- “I want you to know how much I’ve valued our working relationship. Your leadership style brought out the best in me, and I hope to continue deserving the confidence you’ve shown in my work.”
When You’re Leaving on Great Terms
- “Leaving this team is harder than I expected because of how much I’ve valued working under your leadership. I’m excited about what’s next, but I want to be clear: the foundation for whatever comes next was built here, with you. Thank you.”
- “I don’t take for granted what it means to have a boss who genuinely cares about their people. You’re that boss, and this team is better because of it. It was an honor to work for you.”
When the Departure Is Complicated
- “I want to thank you for the opportunities and the experiences I’ve had here. This chapter may be ending, but I’m grateful for what it taught me, and I wish the team continued success.”
- “Regardless of the circumstances, I want you to know that I valued our professional relationship and the chance to contribute to this team. I wish you and the team all the best going forward.”
These messages work for layoffs, disagreements, or difficult exits because they focus on gratitude and professionalism without pretending the situation is something it isn’t.
Messages for Direct Reports or Junior Colleagues
Farewell messages from a leader carry extra weight. Your words shape how a junior colleague remembers this chapter of their career.
Encouraging and Supportive Farewells
- “It has been one of my greatest professional privileges to watch you grow. You came in talented and you’re leaving exceptional. I can’t wait to see what you do next.”
- “You are far more capable than you give yourself credit for. I’ve seen it firsthand, and I want you to carry that confidence into everything that comes next.”
- “Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re too early in your career to make an impact. You already have. I’ve seen it. This team has felt it.”
Recognizing Their Contributions
- “Your work on the platform migration was some of the best work I’ve seen in my career. That’s not an exaggeration. You should be incredibly proud of what you accomplished here.”
- “Every deliverable you touched was better because of your attention to detail and your refusal to ship anything less than your best. That standard will serve you everywhere you go.”
Offering Ongoing Career Support
- “This isn’t the end of our professional relationship as far as I’m concerned. If you ever need guidance, a reference, or just someone to talk through a career decision with, I’m always available.”
- “My door is always open for you, even after we’re no longer on the same team. Don’t hesitate to reach out. I mean that.”
Messages for Clients, Partners, and Vendors
Professional farewells to external contacts require a blend of warmth and business awareness.
Client Project Wrap-Up Messages
- “It’s been a genuine pleasure working with you on this project. Your clear vision and collaborative approach made the process seamless, and I’m proud of what we built together.”
- “Thank you for trusting us with this work. Your partnership made every step of this project more meaningful, and I hope we’ve delivered something that truly serves your goals.”
- “As we wrap up this engagement, I want to express how much I’ve valued our collaboration. Your team’s responsiveness and openness made this one of the most enjoyable projects I’ve worked on.”
Partnership Closure Notes
- “Our partnership has been one of the highlights of my professional year. I appreciate the trust, the transparency, and the shared commitment to delivering excellent work.”
- “Working with your team has been a masterclass in collaboration. I hope this is just the first chapter of what we can accomplish together.”
Requesting a Testimonial or Referral (Tactfully)
- “I hope the work we delivered met your expectations. If so, we’d be honored if you’d be willing to share a brief testimonial about the experience. Either way, it was a genuine pleasure working with you.”
- “If you happen to know anyone facing similar challenges, I’d be grateful for an introduction. And regardless, thank you for being such a wonderful partner throughout this process.”
Inviting Future Collaboration
- “I hope this project is the beginning of a longer working relationship. If the need arises for similar work in the future, I’d love to be the first call you make.”
- “The door is always open on our end. Whenever you need support again, just reach out. It was truly great working with you, and I mean that beyond the professional courtesy.”
Messages by Occasion
Different departures call for different messages.
End of Project or Contract
- “The project is done, but the appreciation isn’t. Thank you for your partnership, your professionalism, and your willingness to go above and beyond. It was great working with you.”
- “Wrapping up this project feels bittersweet. The work was demanding, but working with you made it genuinely enjoyable. Thank you for everything.”
Last Day at the Company
- “Today is my last day, and I didn’t want to leave without telling you how much I’ve valued working with you. This job gave me a lot, but the people, especially you, gave me the most.”
- “As I head out, I want you to know that you made this place better. Not just the work, but the environment, the energy, and the daily experience of showing up. Thank you.”
Internal Transfer or Team Restructure
- “Even though I’m moving to a different team, I want you to know that my time with this group has been some of the best work I’ve done. I’ll be right down the hall if you need anything.”
- “Changing teams doesn’t change how much I’ve valued working with you. I hope we find ways to collaborate even from different corners of the org.”
After a Layoff or Org Change (Sensitive Language)
- “I want to be straightforward: this situation isn’t what any of us would have chosen. But I also want to be honest about the fact that working with you was a genuinely positive experience, and I’m grateful for it.”
- “Whatever the circumstances around this change, the time I spent working alongside you was valuable and meaningful. I wish you every success, and I hope we stay in touch.”
Retirement Farewell
- “Your career has been nothing short of remarkable, and anyone who had the privilege of working with you knows it. Thank you for the wisdom, the patience, and the standard you set for all of us.”
- “Retirement is well-earned, and I know you’ll fill it with the same energy and purpose you brought to every day at work. It was an honor to be your colleague.”
Better Alternatives to “It Was Great Working With You”
When you want to say the same thing differently, these alternatives carry the meaning with fresh phrasing.
Formal Alternatives for Senior Communication
- “It has been a privilege to collaborate with you.”
- “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you.”
- “Your partnership has been invaluable, and I appreciate it sincerely.”
- “I hold our professional relationship in the highest regard.”
- “Working with you has been both an honor and a learning experience.”
Warm Alternatives for Close Colleagues
- “I genuinely loved working with you.”
- “You made this job so much better just by being here.”
- “I’m going to miss working with you more than I probably should.”
- “You’re one of those rare colleagues who becomes a real friend.”
- “Working with you was the best part of being on this team.”
Short Alternatives for Slack, Teams, and Text
- “Loved working with you 🙌”
- “You’re the best. Seriously.”
- “Going to miss this team (especially you).”
- “Can’t believe you’re leaving. It won’t be the same.”
- “My favorite person to work with. Bar none.”
Impact-Focused Alternatives (Results and Growth)
- “You made me a better professional.”
- “Our work together produced some of the best results of my career.”
- “The skills I developed working with you will stay with me permanently.”
- “Your influence on this team’s output was significant and will be felt long after you leave.”
How to Reply to “It Was Great Working With You”
Knowing how to respond to this message is just as important as knowing how to send it.
Professional Replies That Sound Polished
- “Thank you so much. The feeling is entirely mutual. It was a pleasure working with you, and I wish you every success.”
- “I really appreciate you saying that. Working with you was a highlight, and I’m grateful for the experience.”
- “That means a lot, truly. I’ve valued our collaboration and hope our paths cross again.”
Warm Replies for Close Colleagues
- “Stop, you’re going to make me emotional. It was genuinely the best working with you too. I’m going to miss this.”
- “Right back at you, and I mean it. You made this whole experience so much better.”
- “I’m not great at goodbyes, but I want you to know that this one hits harder than most. Thank you for everything.”
Replies That Keep the Door Open
- “Thank you. I don’t want this to be goodbye, so let’s make sure it isn’t. Here’s my personal email: [email]. Let’s stay in touch for real.”
- “I appreciate that more than you know. I’m going to connect with you on LinkedIn, and I fully intend to actually use it to stay connected.”
- “The feeling is mutual. And if you ever need anything — a reference, advice, or just someone to vent to — I’m a text away.”
Replies When You Don’t Want Future Contact
- “Thank you, I appreciate the kind words. Wishing you all the best.”
- “That’s very generous of you to say. I wish you continued success.”
These replies are warm enough to be polite but closed enough to not invite further connection. The absence of contact information or forward-looking statements signals the boundary clearly without rudeness.
Replies When the Sentiment Isn’t Mutual
- “Thank you. I wish you well in everything ahead.”
- “I appreciate you reaching out. Best of luck with everything.”
When you didn’t enjoy working with someone but they send you a warm farewell, you’re not obligated to match their energy. A brief, professional acknowledgment fulfills the social contract without requiring you to be dishonest.
Messages by Platform
Where you send the message shapes how you write it.
Email Farewell Messages (With Subject Lines)
Subject lines that work: “Thank You — It Was Great Working With You,” “A Note of Gratitude Before I Go,” “Farewell and Thank You.”
- Subject: Thank You for Everything. “Hi [Name], as I wrap up my time here, I wanted to send a personal note. Working with you has been one of the most rewarding parts of my experience at [Company]. I’ll always appreciate [specific contribution]. I hope we stay connected, and I wish you nothing but the best. Warmly, [Your Name]. [Personal email] [LinkedIn URL]”
LinkedIn Messages and Connection Notes
- “Hi [Name], now that I’m transitioning from [Company], I wanted to make sure we’re connected here. Working with you was a genuine highlight, and I’d love to stay in each other’s professional network. Wishing you continued success!”
- “It was a pleasure working alongside you at [Company]. I’m connecting here so we don’t lose touch. If I can ever be helpful, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
Slack and Teams Quick Messages
- “Hey — just wanted to say it’s been awesome working with you. You made this team better, and I’m going to miss the daily collaboration. Stay in touch! 🙌”
- “Before I log off for the last time, I had to say: you’re one of the best people I’ve worked with. Genuinely. Don’t be a stranger.”
In-Person and Phone Call Scripts
For in-person farewells, specificity matters even more because you can’t hide behind text. Lead with a specific memory: “I want to tell you something before I go. That project we pulled together in three weeks last fall? I’ve never been prouder of a piece of work, and that was largely because of you.”
For phone calls, keep it conversational: “I just wanted to call and say that working with you was really meaningful to me. I didn’t want to just send an email, because that felt too impersonal for what this actually meant.”
Handwritten Note Wording
- “I wanted to put this in writing, on real paper, because it deserved more than a Slack message. Working with you has been one of the genuine highlights of my career here. Thank you for your kindness, your expertise, and your partnership. I’ll carry the experience with me.”
Handwritten notes are rare in professional settings, which makes them extremely high-impact. Reserve them for the people and relationships that mattered most.
What to Say When You Didn’t Enjoy Working With Them
Not every professional relationship is positive. Here’s how to handle the farewell when the sentiment isn’t genuine without being dishonest.
Professionally Neutral Messages
- “Thank you for the opportunity to collaborate. I wish you all the best going forward.”
- “I appreciate the experience and the chance to work on this project. Best of luck with everything ahead.”
- “Wishing you continued success in your career. Thank you for the time we worked together.”
These messages are professional, courteous, and deliberately surface-level. They fulfill the social expectation of a farewell without claiming the work was something it wasn’t.
The “Wish Them Well Without Lying” Approach
The key is focusing on the future rather than the past. Instead of saying the working relationship was great (when it wasn’t), wish them well. “I hope your next chapter is everything you’re looking for” is genuine without being about your shared experience. It directs the warmth toward their future rather than your shared past.
What to Avoid Saying
Don’t use the farewell as a final opportunity to air grievances. Don’t be passive-aggressive (“Well, it was certainly an experience working with you”). Don’t over-praise to compensate for the lack of genuine feeling, because insincerity is obvious. Keep it brief, professional, and future-focused.
Common Mistakes That Make Farewell Messages Fall Flat
Knowing what not to do is as important as knowing what to say.
Being Too Generic
“It was great working with you. Best of luck!” is the most common farewell message, and it’s also the least memorable. If you could send the exact same message to every person in the company, it doesn’t mean anything to any of them. Add one specific detail and the message transforms entirely.
Over-Praising Until It Sounds Insincere
“You are the most incredible person I’ve ever worked with and I will never forget you for the rest of my career” sounds dramatic when your actual working relationship was pleasant but not profound. Match the intensity of your message to the reality of the relationship. Honest warmth always outperforms performative enthusiasm.
Forgetting to Include Contact Information
The most common structural mistake in farewell messages is saying “let’s stay in touch” without providing any way to do so. If you want to maintain the connection, include your personal email, LinkedIn profile, or phone number. Without it, “let’s stay in touch” is a nice thought that leads nowhere.
Wrong Tone for Sensitive Departures
If someone was laid off, a farewell message that reads like a celebration is tone-deaf. If someone is leaving under difficult circumstances, excessive cheerfulness feels dismissive of their situation. Read the room. Match your tone to the reality of the departure, not to a template.
Ready-to-Customize Templates
For moments when you need a framework to fill in rather than starting from scratch.
Short Template (2-3 Lines)
“It was genuinely great working with you on [project/team]. I especially valued [specific quality or contribution]. Wishing you all the best, and let’s stay connected: [contact info].”
Full Email Template
“Subject: Thank You — It Was Great Working With You
Hi [Name],
As I [wrap up this project / prepare for my last day / transition to a new team], I wanted to take a moment to express how much I’ve valued working with you.
[Specific detail: Your [skill/quality] during [project/moment] made a real impact, and I learned [what you learned] from watching how you [what they did].
I’m genuinely grateful for the experience, and I hope this isn’t the last time we collaborate. Please don’t hesitate to reach out anytime: [personal email].
Wishing you continued success and all the best.
Warm regards, [Your Name]”
LinkedIn Template
“Hi [Name], I’m reaching out as I transition from [Company]. Working with you was a genuine highlight, particularly [specific detail]. I’d love to stay connected here and keep each other in our professional orbits. If I can ever be helpful, the door is always open.”
Reference Request Template
“Hi [Name], as I move into the next chapter of my career, I wanted to express how much I valued working with you. Your [leadership/mentorship/collaboration] was formative for me. If you’d be open to serving as a professional reference in the future, I would be deeply grateful. Either way, thank you for everything.”
Group Farewell Template
“To the team: today is [my last day / the end of our project], and I didn’t want it to pass without telling you how much this experience has meant to me. Working alongside each of you has been [specific: one of the most collaborative, creative, rewarding] experiences of my career. I’m taking [what you learned] with me, and I hope we all stay in touch. [Personal email / LinkedIn]. Thank you for everything.”
Expert Perspective on Professional Communication
How you say goodbye professionally reflects and shapes your career trajectory.
What Career Coaches Say About Workplace Farewells
Career coaches consistently identify thoughtful exit communication as one of the most underutilized professional tools. The way you leave a role, a project, or a team creates a lasting impression that influences future references, recommendations, and reconnections.
Coaches advise treating every departure as a networking opportunity. Not in a transactional way, but in the sense that genuine, specific farewell messages plant seeds in your professional network that can bear fruit years later. The colleague you thanked sincerely today may be the person who forwards your resume to a hiring manager in the future.
How Thoughtful Exits Build Long-Term Career Capital
Career capital, the accumulated professional relationships, reputation, and goodwill that support your career over time, is built through consistent, genuine interactions. Farewell messages are high-leverage moments for building this capital because they occur during emotionally significant transitions when people are paying more attention than usual.
A professional who consistently leaves roles, projects, and collaborations with thoughtful, personalized farewell messages builds a reputation for emotional intelligence and relational care. These qualities are invisible on a resume but highly visible in the professional conversations that determine who gets recommended, hired, and promoted.
Conclusion
“It was great working with you” is one of the most commonly said phrases in professional life, and one of the most commonly wasted. The generic version costs nothing and delivers nothing. The specific, genuine, forward-looking version costs sixty seconds of thought and delivers lasting professional goodwill.
Every message in this guide follows the same principle: specificity over generality, sincerity over performance, and forward motion over flat closure. Whether you’re writing to a coworker, a boss, a client, or someone you didn’t particularly enjoy working with, the framework is the same. Name something real. Express genuine feeling. Keep the door open.
The people who master professional farewells don’t just leave good impressions. They build networks, earn references, and create the kind of career capital that compounds over time. A two-minute message written with care today might be the reason someone thinks of you for an opportunity three years from now.
So take the extra minute. Write the specific version. Send the message that only you could have written. That’s what “it was great working with you” actually means when you mean it.
FAQs
What is a good way to say it was great working with you?
The best way is to pair the sentiment with something specific. Instead of the generic phrase alone, add a detail: “It was great working with you — your ability to simplify complex problems made every project better.” Specificity transforms a polite phrase into a meaningful compliment.
How do you say it was a pleasure working with you professionally?
For formal contexts, try: “It has been a privilege to collaborate with you. Your professionalism and expertise contributed significantly to our shared success.” For less formal contexts: “Working with you was a genuine pleasure. You made the work better and the days more enjoyable.”
How do you respond to it was great working with you?
Match the energy of the message. If it’s formal, reply professionally: “Thank you, the feeling is mutual. I wish you continued success.” If it’s warm, match the warmth: “That means so much. I’m going to miss working with you, and I hope we stay connected.”
Is it professional to say it was great working with you?
Yes. The phrase is widely accepted in professional communication across industries. To elevate it beyond generic, add specific detail about the person’s contributions or impact.
What to write in a farewell message to a coworker?
Reference a specific shared experience, acknowledge their positive qualities, express genuine gratitude, and keep the door open for future connection. Include your personal contact information if you want to maintain the relationship.
How do you thank a colleague when leaving?
Be specific about what you’re thanking them for. “Thank you for always being willing to jump in when the team needed help” is more impactful than “thank you for everything.” Specificity proves the gratitude is real.
What to say on your last day at work?
Send individual messages to the people who mattered most, and a group message to the broader team. Lead with gratitude, mention specific contributions or memories, and provide your contact information for anyone who wants to stay in touch.
How to write a goodbye email to a team?
Use the group farewell template: express gratitude to the team as a whole, reference a specific shared achievement or quality, share what you learned, and provide your contact details. Keep it warm but professional, and under 200 words for group messages.
What’s a professional way to say goodbye to a client?
Focus on the work you accomplished together: “It has been a pleasure partnering with you on this project. I’m proud of what we delivered together and hope to have the opportunity to collaborate again in the future.”
How do you say goodbye to a boss you liked?
Be genuine about their impact on your career: “Thank you for being the kind of leader who invests in their people. I’m a better professional because of your guidance, and I’ll carry these lessons forward.” If appropriate, ask if you can stay in touch or use them as a reference.