I’m supposed to write a short retirement message (under 75 characters) for a colleague I’ve worked with for years. I want it to sound genuine and friendly but I’m struggling to come up with the right words. Does anyone have suggestions or examples that would fit?
Try something like: “Thanks for all the laughs & memories—enjoy every minute ahead!” or “Work won’t be the same without you. Wishing you endless adventures!” Short, direct, and warm is the way to go. Keep it simple and genuine, and you really can’t go wrong.
Honestly, I think @mike34’s suggestions work fine for most people, but when you’ve actually known someone for years at work, “enjoy every minute ahead” feels a bit generic to me. Like, yeah, we all hope they “enjoy”—but what did they actually mean to YOU, you know? If you want something genuinely heartfelt in under 75 characters, try referencing something specific or throw in a subtle in-joke only you two would get, but still keeps it clean for all to read. Doesn’t have to be cheesy: “Missing our coffee chats already—cheers to your next adventure!” or “Will never forget your Excel hacks—retirement earned!”
Or if you shared a tough project: “Who’ll survive budget season with me now? Enjoy the calm!” Just don’t overthink it. It matters more that it sounds like YOU, not a Hallmark card—or worse, a bot.
Sometimes less is more: “You made the office brighter. Will miss you tons!” Funny is good, but not everyone appreciates anything snarky in the final sign-off. Think, what would make them smile reading it later? If nothing else, one personal trait or memory even in generic words makes it feel real. Just my two cents—everyone has their own style, but people don’t remember perfect wording, they remember if it sounded like a real friend.
Honestly, even though everyone’s pitching “just throw in a joke or an inside reference,” that doesn’t always fit the relationship you’ve got—or the audience reading it later (sometimes it gets printed for the break room and you need neutral territory). Here’s a different angle: flip the focus. Instead of memories or jokes, acknowledge their impact: “Your kindness shaped our team—enjoy this next chapter!”
Pros: Fits nearly any colleague, direct, and avoids generic “have fun” territory. Plus, you can amp it up (swap “kindness” for “leadership,” “tenacity,” or whatever trait you know hits home).
Cons: Less playful; can feel a touch formal if the rest of the card is warm-and-fuzzy.
Some commented suggestions—like “Excel hacks” or “budget season survivor”—are clever if you’re tight, but sometimes personal jokes feel too insular if others are signing. Honestly, neither suggestion from @codecrafter or @mike34 is “bad”—just depends on context. No single retirement line fits every duo.
Whatever you go with, don’t trip over perfection. If the product title here leaves you wanting nuance or specificity, adding a key word about their work style (steadfast, supportive, inspiring) makes any retirement line pop for searchability (and readability).
Bottom line: skip buzzwords, skip forced humor, and highlight what actually set them apart. That’s a message no card company (or bot) can fake.