How can I say farewell to my colleagues on my last day?

December 6, 2007 5:59 AM

Tomorrow is my last day at my job, and I'd like to go out with my team knowing how much I have loved working with them.

My company is small very team-oriented and we all work together. I have been with the company since we were just a few, and we've grown a lot in the few years I've been there, so I have close working relationships with many on the team, which I have cherished.

I'm moving on to a new opportunity, and tomorrow is my last day. It's going to be sad for me and also for many of my coworkers (some have already said as much). I'd like to do something nice for them, or have something to say, so that they know how much I have really loved working with them, and that I hope this will not be the last time I get to do so! I'm just not good at coming up with the right words on the fly because I always end up not saying something important, becuase I forget. And I'm also thinking about making a gesture, like baking cookies or something like that, but I don't know if that will really mean anything.

Do you have ideas for how I can end my career at this company with a nice, if bittersweet, farewell?

posted by inatizzy to Work & Money (10 answers total)

Best answer: Depending on how may people there are, perhaps a personalized card (NOT email) on what each person has meant to you?
posted by softlord at 6:24 AM on December 6, 2007

I baked cookies for my coworkers when I finished one of my internships. And a cake for my supervisor, plus another cake for the big boss. I included cards with the cakes. (My supervisor liked the cake so much I eventually gave his wife the recipe :) )
Other times I've bought little tokens - stuff people can put on their desk, like tiny pewter dolls/figurines or small photo frames, etc.

Handmade / personally-baked is always nice; if that isn't possible then something with a more individual, personalised touch would be nice too (if you don't have too many coworkers...). Little decorations for their work desks would be nice too, as a reminder of you and their time spent working with you.
posted by aielen at 6:40 AM on December 6, 2007

I would write a wee speech on a sheet of paper. Go down the list of all the people on your email list and think of those that you want to mention but remembering that you should be very inclusive. Keep it short and sweet. I would end it with a wee quote too,

(from Dr Seuss)
“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”

Oh, and the cookies always go down a treat.
posted by ClanvidHorse at 7:16 AM on December 6, 2007

Take everyone out for lunch, or for cocktails after work.
posted by Mister_A at 7:33 AM on December 6, 2007

I have really loved working with them, and that I hope this will not be the last time I get to do so!

I think that's fine. People already know what you are trying to get across.
posted by Ironmouth at 7:33 AM on December 6, 2007

Doughnuts for everyone! At my last job, I also wrote out thank you notes for the eight or so people who I worked with most closely, and privately left each a tiny box of truffles with my full information for getting in touch.
posted by mochapickle at 8:00 AM on December 6, 2007 [2 favorites]

I brought in a bottle of good Scotch (Glenmorangie) on my last day before transferring to another department & location last year, and the guys on my team and I sat around having a drink or 2. It was just like every other Friday afternoon, only with good whiskey instead of beer. Of course, I work with a bunch of alcoholics in a company with a pretty laid back policy on alcohol in the workplace, so your mileage may vary.
posted by deadmessenger at 8:10 AM on December 6, 2007

Best answer: A cute tradition here in the UK is that anyone who has anything to celebrate (birthday, last day, etc) brings in cakes for their coworkers. These will vary from high end cream cakes from the bakery to the UK equivalent of twinkies and ho-hos. Perhaps a bag or two of mini candy bars. A little buffet is set up on an empty desk and the person sends out an email to say 'Since it's my last day today, I've brought in cakes. They are on the desk next to Joe. Please help yourself.'

Perhaps it's a little less serious than you were thinking, but I've always found it a pleasant tradition.
posted by happyturtle at 8:50 AM on December 6, 2007

Best answer: Nothing said to an entire group will ever seem as sincere as what you say to them individually, since we have all been in a situation where we've addressed a group of folks and said nice things that supposedly applied to everyone but we really despised that one wanker over there on the left.

So take a minute to speak to each one individually and say simply that you wanted them to know how much you've really enjoyed working with them. If they know you then they won't expect flowery or extensive, and really - in situations like this it often feels less sincere the more ornate the thanks are.

Then get everyone the doughnuts. Doughnuts are always awesome.
posted by phearlez at 8:59 AM on December 6, 2007

I don't know if this is hokey or lame, but one thing that has stuck with me was when a leaving coworker brought pieces of rummage from her home to give to everyone. That is, there were things she didn't want any more (like a white elephant) that she thought each of us could use. For instance, as the IT guy I received a cool set of 70s household fixit books. Stuff like that. It may seem like garbage to some people, but it was useful and touching that she put the thought into this. And I still have the books 10 years later!
posted by rhizome at 8:59 AM on December 6, 2007