Congratulations! Someone in your professional network just landed a new job. As their connection on LinkedIn, you want to write them something meaningful to celebrate their career move. However, you may be wondering what exactly to say. Should you keep it short and simple? Go in-depth about how you know them? Make it funny? Or stick to tried and true well wishes? There are many different ways you could approach this.
When crafting your message, there are a few key things to keep in mind:
- Be sincere – The most important thing is to be genuine in your congratulations. You want them to feel supported in this next step.
- Personalize it – Add personal details about how you know them or what you admire about their work. This makes it more meaningful.
- Ask about the new role – Show interest by asking about their new company, position, projects they’ll be tackling, etc.
- Offer help – Let them know you’re there if they need advice adjusting to the new role or company.
With those tips in mind, here are some specific ways you could congratulate someone on their new job:
Quick Sample Messages
- “Congratulations, [name]! I was so excited to see you’re joining [company]. It’s a great fit for your skills and I know you’ll do fantastic work. Wishing you all the best in the new role!”
- “Huge congrats on landing the job at [company], [name]! So thrilled for you. Looking forward to hearing all about the new position and how you’re enjoying it there.”
- “I just saw the wonderful news about your new role at [company]. Congrats, [name]! You’re going to crush it. Let me know if you need any tips adjusting to the new gig!”
- “So excited to see you’ll be the new [job title] at [company]. I can’t imagine someone better for the role. Congrats! Let’s grab coffee soon so I can hear all about it.”
Those short messages hit all the main points – showing excitement, mentioning the specifics of their new job, and offering support. Feel free to add a sentence or two to personalize it with details on how you know the person and why you think the job is perfect for them.
You may want to go more in-depth too, especially if you know them well or they’ve shared a lot about their job search journey with you. Here are some ways to write a longer, more detailed congratulatory note.
Detailed Message Examples
Example 1:
“Wow, huge congratulations [name]! When you first told me a few months ago you were looking to transition into a marketing role at a startup, I knew you’d find the perfect fit, and I’m so glad to see you landed at [company].
Based on what you’ve shared about the company culture and the projects you’ll be leading, it seems like an ideal match for your skills. You’re going to do such an amazing job revamping their social media strategy and spearheading partnerships. I can’t wait to see it all unfold.
Let me know if there is any way I can help you transition into the new role! I’d be happy to introduce you to anyone I know there or share any insights I have on getting up to speed quickly. This is such an exciting next step and I’m here to support you however I can.
Best of luck and let’s get coffee soon to celebrate! So proud of you!”
Example 2:
“I was so thrilled to see you’ll be joining the team at [company] as their new [job title]! With your background in [relevant experience], you are going to be a valuable asset and I just know you will thrive.
I loved learning about the company’s [interesting projects/values] when you told me about the role – it seems like the perfect environment for someone with your talent. And I know you were really drawn to their commitment to [social cause]. I truly could not think of a better fit!
We’ve known each other for many years now, and I’ve always admired your [relevant qualities like work ethic, integrity, creativity]. I can’t wait to see how you apply your skills and experience to excel in this new opportunity.
Please reach out if you need any help navigating the transition or just want to grab coffee to celebrate! Congrats again and best of luck! You’re going to rock it!”
Example 3:
“Huge congratulations on your new role as [job title] at [company], [name]! I was so happy to see you’ve landed this great new opportunity.
I know you were really interested in finding a company that prioritized work-life balance and community impact. Based on everything you’ve told me about their culture and values, it seems like the perfect match.
And I have no doubt you’ll thrive leading [key projects and responsibilities]. Your expertise in [relevant skills/experience] makes you the ideal candidate. It’s so exciting to see someone with your drive, intellect and creativity land such a great role.
I can’t wait to hear how your first weeks and months there go! Let’s plan a lunch celebration soon. Please keep me posted on your experience and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any advice navigating the new gig.
Wishing you huge success and fulfillment!”
Making It Funny or Clever
Beyond being sincere and personalized, you could also try injecting some light-hearted humor into your congratulations:
- “Who’s ready to take [company name] by storm? That’s right, it’s you! Congrats on the new gig!”
- “New job alert! So thrilled for you, although your colleagues here will miss getting to work with the office rockstar.”
- “Congratulations on the new role! I know [company name] probably did cartwheels to hire someone as talented as you.”
- “Congrats on landing your dream job! Let me know if they need anyone on their sticker selection committee over there ;)”
Humor can help keep things fun and upbeat. Just focus on positive humor that pokes fun at the situation, not the person or company. And combine the humor with sincere congratulations rather than funny remarks alone.
What to Avoid
When sharing congratulations, there are also a few things you’ll want to avoid:
- Being too formal or dry – Going overboard with formality can seem insincere.
- Making it all about yourself – Keep the focus on them rather than what the change means for you.
- Negativity or jealousy – It’s not the place for negative remarks, even well-intentioned ones.
- Oversharing – Be cautious sharing confidences the person told you privately about their job search.
- Pressuring them for favors – Don’t put them in an awkward spot asking for introductions at the new company right away.
The message should ultimately be about celebrating your connection and this next step in their career journey.
When to Write It
Timing your congratulatory note right is important. You generally want to write it shortly after hearing the news that they’ve gotten a new job.
That way it’s timely and doesn’t feel like an afterthought. Ideally congratulate them within the first 1-2 weeks of the announcement, while still fresh.
You especially want to congratulate them before their start date with the company so they feel encouraged heading into their first day.
It’s best to avoid waiting months after they’ve already settled into the new role, as your message may come across as late or perfunctory at that point. Act quickly while your congratulations will still feel meaningful.
How to Send It
In terms of the channel, you have several options for how to best reach them with your congratulatory message:
- LinkedIn – Posting it on their LinkedIn feed is a natural place since that is likely where you saw the news and where others are also chiming in.
- Text/Email – If you have their contact info, texting or emailing allows you to be more personal outside of LinkedIn.
- Video message – For close connections, send a fun video congratulating them via text or social media.
- Handwritten note – For longtime friends/colleagues, mail a thoughtful card commemorating the occasion.
- Phone call – Let them know you’d like to schedule a phone call so you can congratulate them in person.
Choose the communication channel fitting for your level of connection. Ultimately what matters most is that they receive your genuine congratulations and support.
Templates To Adapt
To make it easy, feel free to adapt one of these templates:
Short generic message:
“[Name], congratulations on your new role at [company]! I’m so excited for you and know you are going to do amazing work. Wishing you huge success and fulfillment in this next chapter!”
Longer personalized message:
“Wow, huge congratulations [name]! When you first told me you were looking to transition into a [type of role] at a [small startup, mission-driven company, etc], I knew you’d find the perfect fit. Based on what you’ve shared about [company’s culture, projects, etc] it seems like an ideal match for your skills. [Personalized remarks on what makes them qualified.] Let me know if there’s any way I can help you transition into the new role! I’d be happy to introduce you to anyone I know there or share insights I have about getting up to speed quickly. This is such an exciting next step and I’m here to support you however I can. Best of luck, you’re going to do fantastic work!”
Humorous clever message:
“New job alert! So thrilled for you, although your colleagues here will miss getting to work with the office rockstar. Let me know if [company name] needs anyone on their sticker selection committee 😉 Congrats and keep crushing it!”
Key Takeaways
When congratulating someone on LinkedIn for a new job:
- Be sincere and make it personal with details on how you know them.
- Ask questions to show interest in their new role.
- Offer helpful resources, connections or support during the transition.
- Avoid formalities, negativity, or making it about you.
- Post it soon after the announcement and before their start date.
- Pick the right channel based on your relationship.
- Adapt one of the message templates provided.
Most importantly, keep the focus on celebrating your connection and this exciting next chapter in their career journey. Sincere congratulations go a long way in strengthening your professional relationships.
Example LinkedIn Post
Here is an example of what such a congratulatory post might look like on LinkedIn specifically:
“I’m so thrilled to see my good friend Ashley Roberts has been named VP of Marketing at ABC Company! Her 15+ years of digital marketing and brand building experience is a perfect match for taking their marketing strategy to the next level.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ashley at our past company and seeing firsthand how talented and innovative she is. But beyond her formidable skills, she’s also one of the most thoughtful, caring leaders I know.
ABC Company is very lucky to have her! Ashley – congratulations on this amazing new chapter. Wishing you great success and fulfillment in your new role. And let’s catch up soon over coffee – my treat!”
This shows personalized congratulations, relevant details about her skills, complimentary remarks about her capabilities, and a sincere offer to connect in person.
Sample LinkedIn Comments
In addition to making your own dedicated congratulatory post, you can also simply comment on the person’s own announcement post. Here are some examples of what to write:
- “Huge congratulations, Ashley! What an amazing opportunity – so thrilled for you.”
- “So exciting to see you land this role, Ashley! With your branding genius, I know you’ll take their marketing to new heights.”
- “What fantastic news! Couldn’t be happier for you, Ashley. You’re going to do incredible work.”
- “This is the perfect fit for your talents. Congrats, Ashley!! Let me know if you need any tips getting up to speed ;)”
Keep comments concise but enthusiastic. They will appreciate the support!
Data on New Hires
Here are some interesting statistics around people changing jobs and starting new roles that could be useful context for a LinkedIn post on the topic:
| Data Point | Statistic |
|---|---|
| US new hires in 2021 | 59.9 million |
| Average new hire retention rate | 82% after 1 year |
| Top 3 reasons people change jobs | Career advancement (59%), Dissatisfaction (43%), Work-life balance (34%) |
| New hires who stay past 90 days | 69% |
| Employees most satisfied at work | 1-3 years on the job (43%) |
| New hires looking to change jobs again | 32% within 6 months |
| Average time in a job before promotion | 3.2 years |
As seen in the data, starting a new job is quite common with almost 60 million new hires in 2021 alone in the US. While some turnover is to be expected, most new hires stay past 90 days and 1 year, showing new roles often turn out to be a good fit. However, job satisfaction peaks in years 1-3 for most. Many factors impact job tenure, engagement and retention among new hires. Sharing support and encouragement on LinkedIn when connections start a new position can help them feel welcomed and motivated in their role.
Conclusion
When someone in your network lands a new job, taking a moment to write thoughtful congratulations on LinkedIn makes a bigger impact than you may realize. It’s a way to strengthen your connection, show you care about their career growth, and provide encouragement as they embark on an exciting new chapter. sinusoidal trajectory through professional milestones is worth commemorating.
With the tips and examples provided, you can craft a sincere, personalized message that will undoubtedly make their day. So next time you see an update that a connection has a new role, take a few minutes to share some cheer – it goes a long way.
