When Should I Send a Goodbye Card?

In the last several years, society grappled with an ever-changing landscape. Due to the influences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of hybrid work, struggles with employee retention, and other various social shifts, many people’s lives were reconstructed, and many more are still changing today.

During this shift, you might find yourself saying goodbye often as people more readily change employment, move around due to remote work opportunities, or simply seek out new hobbies. As you experience these departures, you might struggle with saying goodbye. Goodbyes are complicated, and it is normal to want to avoid them. However, no matter the reason for the departure, saying goodbye is a positive way to successfully adapt to changes caused by a departing colleague or a loved one moving away. 

One of the best ways to say goodbye is through a personalized and heartfelt farewell message sent on a goodbye card. 

A goodbye card is another name for your traditional farewell card. Whether handmade or created virtually, a goodbye card is a place to write sentiments of gratitude, appreciation, and farewell wishes to someone moving on to their next opportunity. These cards can be used in a variety of situations.

When to Send a Goodbye Card 

A goodbye card is a simple way to express feelings about someone leaving in a variety of situations. Is someone you interact with leaving for some reason? Is an activity you are involved in ending? If you will be saying goodbye to someone for an extended amount of time, you can send a goodbye card. 

Some specific situations of when to send a goodbye card are:

Retirement

The choice to retire is a huge decision. Employees spend years looking forward to the day when they can leave their working days behind them. So when the opportunity presents itself, most feel the excitement of finally reaching such a major milestone. As they prepare to say goodbye to their company and work life, a goodbye card can be a great way to honor the years of work they put into improving their field. 

By collecting goodbye messages from their colleagues and family in a goodbye card, you will provide them with an impactful memento of their time working. This retirement card will help them remember all of the meaningful things brought into their life due to their hard work over the years. 

New Job

Getting a new job is an exciting opportunity and naturally lends itself to sending a goodbye card. As someone transitions away from a company, they will need to say goodbye to the colleagues they have worked with in their years with the organization. A goodbye card can compile the various goodbye notes into one spot. 

Additionally, there are many benefits to providing an opportunity for coworkers to say goodbye. Some of these benefits are:

• Provides closure
• Improves company culture
• Boosts the confidence of the recipient 
• Leaves professional doors open
• Cultivates gratitude and appreciation

Promotions

Promotions are a big deal. Only some people have the opportunity to advance in their careers, so it is something worth celebrating. Much like retirement or a new job, this occasion brings a host of goodbyes that will need to be said. 

Depending on the advancement, your colleague will likely have to say farewell to their former team. A goodbye card can be the perfect way for the team to celebrate their success while also saying farewell. 

End of School Year

The end of a school year brings a fair amount of endings. Typically, we mark these occasions with a yearbook. But really, what is a yearbook if not for a more detailed goodbye card? As the students advance and teachers change grade levels, subject taught, or even school, a leaving card allows everyone to say goodbye no matter the situation.  

Unique to the end of a school year are the various situations where a goodbye card would be an appropriate thing to send. Here are some of these uses in education:

• Student to Student- A goodbye card is an excellent way for students to reminisce on their school year. They will be able to write farewell messages filled with funny stories, times they helped each other study for an important test, times they supported each other, and other words of appreciation towards one another. 
• Student to Teacher- Undoubtedly, a good teacher can be life-changing for a student. A well-thought-out goodbye letter in a farewell card is one of the most meaningful ways to show teacher appreciation. A goodbye card can help the teacher know their positive impact on students’ experiences in an often thankless job.
• Teacher to Student- Sometimes, in the classroom, students can get lost in the shuffle. A farewell card is the perfect opportunity for a teacher to tell their students how impressed they are by them. It can set students up for success as they advance in academics.

Graduation

We adequately cover the celebration aspect of graduation in the parties, graduation cards, or graduation gifts; however, how often do we acknowledge the goodbyes that inevitably come alongside graduation? Because making an effort to recognize our endings impacts our transitions positively, a goodbye card can provide the avenue to express goodbye to those who helped you reach graduation but who you may not see again.

Extended Travel

What a wonderful opportunity it is to be able to travel, especially for an extended period. If you know someone headed off on a study abroad, traveling for self-discovery, or traveling through retirement, consider sending a goodbye card. 

As someone travels for an extended amount of time, life will move on and things will change. Their departure is an opportunity to remind them of how much they mean to you and show excitement for the journey they are about to embark on.

End of a Season

Whether to a coach, a teammate, or another group, the close of a season is a chance to honor the team’s success. Whether that success can be measured or not, each member’s influence on one another is worth acknowledging in a goodbye card. 

End of Internship or Extended Training

There are a variety of careers that require internships or extended training. Often, these are periods when someone is doing the “grunt” work to learn unique aspects of the profession they are pursuing. Internships and training periods can frequently be stressful, time-consuming, and overwhelming. Meanwhile, they are likely doing the work for little to no money and with little recognition for their progress. 

When it is time for the intern to leave farewell messages from their colleagues, it can be the perfect opportunity to tell them how much they have grown and to continue the professional relationship. 

A Move

Someone moving is one of the most common situations warranting a goodbye card. It is natural to want to give someone who is moving a goodbye message, and a card is one of the simplest and most efficient ways to send it. 

Writing out a card message before someone moves can be beneficial, as it validates the relationship and allows both parties to resolve feelings they may be processing due to a move. No matter the situation, providing sentiments of appreciation, gratitude, and best wishes to someone moving will leave things on a positive note. 

Activities Where You Can Say Goodbye

Apart from an extreme sport, almost any activity can become an opportunity to say goodbye. The biggest thing to remember is that the situation should match the closeness of the relationship and the comfort levels of both parties. 

For example, extroverted people who enjoy a good party would appreciate a more elaborate farewell celebration. In contrast, someone more introverted may find it more meaningful to receive a farewell letter on their desk or go out to dinner. 

As long as you are conscientious of the recipient, any activity can become the perfect goodbye party. Here are some ideas for activities where you can say goodbye:

• A Graduation party
• A Farewell party
• A Retirement party
• An End-of-Year party
• Dinner with friends
• At a local Coffee Shop
• On a Hike
• Going for a drive
• A potluck or BBQ

Ways to Make a Goodbye Card

There are many different ways to make a goodbye card. They can be digital, full of pictures, homemade, or bought at the store. The way to make it depends on the style of card you wish to create. Some of the various ways to make a goodbye card include:

• Online Group Card– An online group goodbye card, like Kudoboard, is an e-card that adds convenience to gathering farewell messages from a group. Instead of sending a card around the office or from person to person, Kudoboard allows you to easily create and collect goodbye messages from multiple people, no matter where they are. To create one, click the “create kudoboard” button at the top, select the event and board, and make a goodbye card full of multimedia goodbye messages.

• Handmade- Get out the glitter pens and construction paper; it’s time to channel your inner Bob Ross. A handmade card will be made entirely by you. You will create a card unique to your style and situation using various craft supplies. If you are not an artist but still want the homemade feel, do not worry; there are digital design programs that can help you make a card. 
• Ecard- An e-card is a digital version of a greeting card. The recipient receives the card virtually, typically through a link to their email.  An e-card can be easily created on various online platforms. Each platform provides a different level of customization, so be sure to pick one that meets your needs. 
• Store Greeting Card- A store greeting card requires no creation on your part. These are perfect for those who don’t have much time or feel they aren’t creative. To get one, you only need to go to your local grocery store and peruse the cards until you find one with the perfect message for your occasion. 
• Printed Poster or Book- Who said goodbye cards have to be small? Posters are perfect for when you want to display the goodbye card. Printing a goodbye card as a poster or a book provides an easy way to read goodbye messages. All this requires from you is to create a goodbye board and select from the printing options. Your poster or book will then be made and sent directly to you.

Send a Goodbye Card

While we’ve provided multiple situations that could warrant sending a goodbye card, they are not the only times you may want to send a card to express your goodbyes. The best goodbye card is one with intention. If you feel the need to say “best wishes” or “Thanks for your positive attitude all these years, you will be missed,” then you have an opportunity for a card. So, when in doubt, send a goodbye card. Except maybe for a break-up—that might require a different means of communication.