Farewell Email To Manager
Your manager shaped your time at the company more than anyone else, so they deserve more than a group goodbye. This template helps you write a personal, gracious farewell that keeps the relationship strong.
Fill in your details
Your letter
When and how to use this letter
A separate farewell to your manager is a strategic move, not just a courtesy. Your manager is the person most likely to be called for references, and a thoughtful goodbye keeps you top of mind in the best way. Send it near your last day, after your formal resignation has long been accepted - this email is about the relationship, not the process.
A non-obvious tip: mention one specific thing they did for you - a project they trusted you with, a skill they taught, a time they backed you. Managers receive generic thank-yous routinely; a concrete memory proves you paid attention and makes the email genuinely memorable. That specificity is what gets you a strong reference instead of a polite one.
This is also the right moment to ask whether they would serve as a reference. Asking in the farewell, while goodwill is at its peak, works far better than a cold message months later. If they agree, confirm their preferred contact details.
Keep the tone warm but professional, and keep it short - managers are busy, and a concise, sincere email respects their time. Do not raise complaints, unresolved issues, or salary history here. Even a farewell to a difficult manager should be graceful; the professional world is small, and how you close relationships travels faster than how you open them.
Frequently asked questions
Should I send my manager a separate farewell?
Is it okay to mention what I learned from them?
Should I include any feedback about my experience?
Related templates
Address Proof Letter From Employer
Annual Bonus Request Letter for Employees
Apology Letter for Missing Deadline
💬 Comments
Used this template, or have a question about it? Share your experience below — it helps everyone who writes a similar letter.