Leaving a job can be an emotional time filled with excitement for new opportunities as well as sadness about moving on. While you may be eager to share the news of your career transition on LinkedIn, it’s important to carefully consider how to craft your post in a professional, positive way that doesn’t burn bridges. Here are some tips to write a good LinkedIn post about leaving your job:
Keep it professional
Resist the urge to vent about your employer or air grievances in your post. Keep the tone polite, respectful and focused on the positives. You never know when you may cross paths with your colleagues again down the road. Taking the high road preserves your reputation and demonstrates emotional maturity as you make this career move.
Express gratitude
Before announcing your departure, start by thanking your employer, colleagues, clients and connections. Show appreciation for the opportunities, experiences and relationships you gained during your time there. Outline some of the most meaningful projects you worked on or milestones you accomplished.
Explain your reasons for leaving briefly
You can briefly share your motivation for making a change without oversharing or being overly critical of your current role. For example, you may say you’re seeking new challenges and growth opportunities, or that it’s time for a change to broaden your skills and experiences. Keep the focus more on what you’re moving towards rather than what you’re leaving behind.
Share your next steps
Let your network know what’s next for you career-wise. Will you be starting a new job? Taking time off? Launching your own venture? Share a few highlights of your new role or business if possible. This helps redirect the tone of your post toward the future.
Show enthusiasm
Communicate genuine excitement about what lies ahead. Share how much you’re looking forward to new challenges and opportunities to continue growing. Express optimism about this next chapter. When appropriate, describe specific projects or responsibilities you’re excited to take on.
Things to Avoid
When sharing news that you’re moving on, there are a few things you want to avoid in your LinkedIn post:
Don’t badmouth your employer
You may have frustrations about your current or soon-to-be former employer, but a public post seen by colleagues and clients is not the place to air those grievances. Take the high road by keeping your post professional and neutral.
Don’t share confidential information
It’s understandable to want to explain your decision to move on, but be very careful not to share any confidential or proprietary information about projects, finances, strategy or other inner workings of your employer. Always honor your company’s privacy.
Don’t make exaggerations or disparaging remarks
Resist any urges to paint an overly rosy or harsh picture of your experience at your current company. Stick to the facts and objective observations. Making exaggerated claims or putting down your employer can undermine your credibility.
Don’t make it all about you
While this post is understandably focused on your job transition, don’t make it seem like you are the sole driver of your employer’s success. Credit your colleagues and talk about team accomplishments. Demonstrate humility by keeping the tone focused on your contributions rather than overstating your importance.
Don’t write in haste
Slow down and think carefully about what to include. Don’t hastily fire off a post while you’re feeling emotional, excited or bitter. Take time to reflect on what will be most appropriate and professional to share publicly. You can always sleep on it and revisit the post in the morning with fresh eyes.
Examples of Good LinkedIn Posts
Here are a few examples of LinkedIn posts that thoughtfully announce departures and career transitions:
Example 1
After 5 great years with XYZ Company, I’m sharing the bittersweet news that I’ll be moving on next month. I’m so grateful for the many opportunities I’ve had here – from helping launch our Paris office to leading the product redesign last year. I’m especially thankful for my amazing colleagues who have inspired me and pushed me to grow.
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be starting a new role as Head of Product Design at 123 Enterprises. I’m looking forward to taking on new challenges and collaborating with fresh perspectives again while continuing to build great digital experiences.
Wishing the XYZ team all the best and I look forward to seeing you around the industry!
Example 2
I have an exciting update to share! After 3 rewarding years at ABC Corp, next week I’ll be starting a new position as Marketing Director at Vision Media.
My time at ABC has been an invaluable learning experience. I’m grateful to have contributed to launching several successful campaigns and proud of the creative marketing team we built.
In my new role at Vision, I’m looking forward to leading an expanded team and taking on new challenges in the e-commerce space. Stay tuned for more updates as I dive into this next chapter!
Wishing all my ABC colleagues the best. Let’s stay connected!
Example 3
I’m writing to share that after much reflection, I’ve decided to leave my current position at 123 Designs. As difficult as this decision was, I feel that it is the right next step for me.
I’m immensely grateful to 123 Designs for the opportunities for growth over the past 2 years. Working on client projects across the beauty industry has been an incredible learning experience. I’m especially appreciative of my colleagues who have taught me so much and become friends.
At this point in my career, I’m looking to gain broader experience in the fashion and luxury space. I’m excited to announce I’ve accepted a position doing exactly that on the design team at Couture Brands.
While bittersweet, I know this new role is the best move for me professionally. I can’t wait to share more soon about what I’ll be working on. Thank you to everyone at 123 who helped me get here!
Key Do’s and Don’ts
Here are some key dos and don’ts to keep in mind when crafting your farewell LinkedIn post:
Do:
- Express gratitude
- Keep it professional and positive
- Share a few details about your new role or plans
- Show enthusiasm for the future
- Make it about your growth and opportunities, not grievances
Don’t:
- Badmouth your current employer
- Share confidential information
- Exaggerate or distort the facts
- Make it all about you
- Write it in haste while overly emotional
Questions to Ask Yourself
Here are some questions to reflect on as you craft your farewell LinkedIn post:
- What accomplishments or contributions from my time here should I highlight?
- What skills did I gain or improve that are worth mentioning?
- What relationships or connections do I want to express gratitude for?
- What details can I appropriately share about my new role or plans?
- What tone will preserve my professionalism and positiveness?
- Am I saying anything that could come across as exaggeration or disparaging?
- Does this post focus more on my own growth versus complaints?
- Will this post represent me well to colleagues and peers who see it?
Taking the time to thoughtfully reflect on these types of questions can help guide you to write a farewell announcement that is professional, gracious, positive and forward-looking.
Conclusion
When sharing news of your departure on LinkedIn, being strategic about your tone and message is key. With care and forethought, you can craft a post that maintains strong relationships and leaves people excited to support you in your next endeavors. Focus on the growth ahead of you rather than the grievances behind you. Express genuine gratitude for the opportunities you had and pay respect to the colleagues you worked with. Share your enthusiasm for how this move aligns with your career goals. With this gracious and positive approach, you can make your farewell announcement in a way that preserves professionalism and garners support.