When you decide to leave your current company and take on a new professional challenge, thoughtfully composing a heartfelt LinkedIn farewell message allows you to gracefully exit while maintaining your network and leaving the door open for future opportunities. Drafting a sample goodbye note on LinkedIn can feel daunting, but following a few simple guidelines helps ensure your message comes across positively.
Clarify Your Reason for Leaving
Without oversharing or being negative, briefly explain why you’ve chosen to move on. Are you pursuing a long-held passion? Relocating to be closer to family? Seeking new growth opportunities? Even if the parting is difficult, keep the tone upbeat and focused on the future. This prevents burning bridges and makes your message universally palatable.
Thank Colleagues and Leadership
Express sincere gratitude to the colleagues, managers, and company leaders who impacted your career. Share specific insights into how working with them enriched you professionally and personally. This models grace and maturity while highlighting positive relationships that can continue beyond your tenure.
Highlight Your Contributions
Succinctly summarize your proudest achievements and contributions over the years. Quantify your impact through metrics like sales growth, productivity increases, new programs launched, awards won, etc. This constructs a robust narrative of your time there and the legacy you’re leaving behind.
Offer to Help with the Transition
Communicate your willingness to assist with training your replacement, handing off projects, or consulting during the transition period. This underscores your commitment to the role and concern for your team’s success after your departure. It’s a classy gesture that reminds everyone what a consummate professional you are.
Share Your Contact Details
Invite past coworkers to connect on your personal social media profiles and professional networking sites. Exchange updated email addresses, phone numbers, and links to new platforms where you can stay in touch. Make it easy for people to follow your next adventure and keep your correspondence going.
Wish Your Company Well
Express hope and confidence that the organization will continue to thrive in the future. Compliment the talent that remains and encouragingly challenge them to reach new heights. This positivity ensures you exit on a high note and maintains amenable relations all around.
Example Farewell Message Templates
When drafting your own LinkedIn goodbye post, the following templates offer helpful models:
Short and Simple
“After [X] amazing years, I’ve decided to move on from my role as [Position] at [Company]. I’m incredibly grateful for my time here and the wonderful people I’ve worked with. Wishing everyone continued success! Please connect with me on [Link to new LinkedIn profile] as I embark on my next chapter at [New company].”
Medum Length
“As my [X] year journey at [Company] comes to an end, I want to thank my incredible teammates and leaders who challenged me to grow every day. I’m honored to have led [top accomplishments], driven [notable impact], and launched [major initiatives] during my tenure. Though it’s difficult to say goodbye, I feel ready to pursue new learning opportunities. Please stay in touch via [contact details] as I transition over to [New company] in my new role as [Position]. I have no doubt [Company] will go on achieving great things – you have a remarkably talented team. Wishing you all the very best for continued success!”
Detailed Story
“When I joined [Company] [X] years ago as a [Position], I never imagined the enriching experiences and relationships I’d gain over my time here. From navigating early career challenges together to celebrating milestones and company growth, my teammates have become lifelong friends. Under the mentorship of leaders like [Name], I developed critical skills in [relevant areas] and drove key initiatives like [top projects]. I’m honored to have led a stellar team that delivered [quantifiable results]. Though it was a difficult decision, I’ve accepted a new opportunity at [New company] to pursue my passion for [area of interest]. Please connect with me on [contact info] as I embark on this exciting next chapter. I can’t fully express my gratitude for the immeasurable personal and professional growth I’ve experienced here. Thank you for memories I’ll cherish forever. I know [Company’s] impact will only continue to grow with such a talented group. Wishing you tremendous success ahead!”
Proofread and Format for LinkedIn
After drafting your farewell message, carefully proofread for typos, grammar issues, and formatting mistakes. Keep the final version concise enough for the LinkedIn post character limits. Consider adding a cover photo that encapsulates your time there or highlights your new opportunity. Schedule the post at least 2 weeks before your last day so connections have time to see and engage with it.
Additional Tips
Here are some other recommendations for making your LinkedIn goodbye post shine:
- Strike an upbeat, forward-looking tone – avoid sounding negative, angry, or resentful
- Express your message genuinely in your own voice
- Keep potential future recruiters and partners in mind with your framing
- Weave in light humor, inside jokes, or nostalgic memories if appropriate
- Tag and thank key connections you want to highlight
- Turn off commenting if emotions are running high to prevent inappropriate exchanges
- Follow up individually with VIPs who engage with your post
Alternate Farewell Venues
In addition to LinkedIn, consider sharing your goodbye message via:
- Company email listserv or intranet site
- Team calls or video chats
- An in-person happy hour or farewell lunch
- Handwritten cards to close connections
- Printed photo books or memory books for colleagues
Maintaining Relationships After Leaving
To continue cultivating your network after moving on, make sure to:
- Add new colleagues as connections on LinkedIn
- Follow company pages and remain up to date on news
- Congratulate former coworkers on new jobs, promotions, etc.
- Like and comment on posts by former managers and colleagues
- Share relevant articles or resources that may interest them
- Extend greetings on holidays and observances
- Message periodically to catch up and stay in touch
Avoiding Potential Pitfalls
When navigating your LinkedIn connections after leaving, take care to avoid:
- Posting any confidential or proprietary information
- Publicly airing grievances about the company or its leadership
- Making overly political or controversial statements
- Friend requests from current employees (until fully offboarded)
- Endorsing or recommending former co-workers too soon
Conclusion
With thoughtfulness and care, your LinkedIn farewell message can celebrate your accomplishments, express gratitude, maintain relationships, and gracefully move you into your next chapter. The time invested in crafting a warm, professional, forward-looking goodbye sets the stage for networking flourishing long after your tenure ends.