Cards for Colleagues: What to Write

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Special thanks to Lesley of Decorque Cards for sharing some wonderful ideas on what to write in cards for colleagues.

Martin Freeman’s character (Tim) in TV’s The Office had it pretty much spot on when he said something along the lines of: ‘the only thing you have in common with your colleagues is the fact you walk around on the same carpet as them.’

Of course, many of us get on like a house on fire with our workmates, but the fact is there are some you might struggle to find common ground with. Or your relationship is on an entirely professional basis.

While this level of professionalism may mean it’s a bit awkward when you get stuck sitting next to said colleague at the annual Christmas dinner, it also means you can be pretty stumped when it comes to knowing what to right in a card to them.

Whether it’s a Christmas card, a birthday card or a ‘sorry you’re leaving card’, you’ll still find yourself stumped, with a blank mind and a pen still full of ink, when it inevitably makes its way to your desk.

First, determine the occasion in question and then bear in mind some of our top tips to acing that hand-written note. Here goes…

Birthday – Of course, the obvious thing to write would be a simple old ‘Happy Birthday’, but don’t you think everyone else would have got in there with that one first? Next time a card lands on your desk, think outside the box. Even if you write something like ‘Eat lots of birthday cake’, it’s that little bit more original than the former. You could even write a few lyrics from Stevie Wonder or Altered Images’ Happy Birthday, or add a fun birthday poem if there’s room for it.

Wedding – It can be difficult to know what to write in a wedding card, especially if you haven’t been invited to the big day itself. In this instance, just a simple: ‘I wish you all the very best for your future together’ will suffice, as will ‘Congratulations – hope you have a fantastic time!’ Don’t think too much on this one; a nice, simple message is all that’s needed.

Maternity – Keep in mind that the lady in question might not be leaving the business for good; the chances are, she’ll be coming back following nine months to a year or so off. In this instance, the worst thing you can do is write a message as if you were writing to someone who’s leaving for good. Your colleague doesn’t want to think she’ll quickly be forgotten. Instead, write something heartfelt, with an added ‘can’t wait to meet your little one soon!’ Or ‘what on earth will I do without you to show me how to work Excel/PowerPoint/Word?’ etc. Thankfully, the Maternity Leave Coach has some more handy hints to make card writing a breeze, thanks to this blog post.

Retirement/Leaving – If a colleague is leaving to enjoy his or her retirement, it’s now that you might want to let them know what a good support/inspiration they’ve been to you in the role. After years of work, leaving for retirement can be a daunting prospect, but above all the retiree just wants to know they’ve been a valued member of staff.
Just like you would if you were leaving a job for pastures new, you want to know you’ve been a good support to your colleagues and bosses and that yours will be a hard act to follow. If you feel that way about a workmate who’s soon to leave, consider what you might write in their card. Does something stick in your mind – a fun meeting or a great project you undertook together? If that’s the case, don’t be afraid to mention it. Need some more tips? There’s a great list of goodbye quotes here on this link, to help you find the words when they just won’t come. Above all, be sincere. If you’ve had a good laugh with a colleague, tell them. Likewise, if they’ve proved a great help, make it known – don’t over think it, just write from the heart.

And there you have it! Hopefully we’ve helped you out of that ‘what on earth do I write’ zone you so often pass into when you’re passed a blank card and encouraged to sign it.

Photo credit: Rekita Nicole

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