28 Ways To Send Best Wishes on a New Career

Writing someone a message is a way to show them you care. If you have someone in your life who recently got a new job, a nice thing to do is to wish them well. This act is called sending career wishes. In this article, we discuss the use of career wishes and list 28 examples of how you can wish different people in your life well in their future careers. Key takeaways:

Career wishes are thoughtful messages shared when someone starts a new job, typically to congratulate them, offer encouragement, or say farewell.
Sending career wishes helps nurture relationships and can support future networking, especially with former colleagues.
The tone of a career wish should reflect your relationship with the recipient, whether friendly for peers, sentimental for family, or professional for work contacts.

What are career wishes?

Career wishes are messages you send someone who's recently started a new job. The person is typically someone close to you or someone with whom you work. The purpose of career wishes is to congratulate the individual on their new career or job and to wish them good luck. You can also use career wishes to say goodbye to someone with whom you no longer work.

Why are career wishes important?

The reasons to wish someone well with their new career include:

It's kind

The primary reason to send career wishes is it's a nice thing to do. People like it when others recognize their accomplishments and take the time to send a message. In other cases, the person might be nervous about the new challenges ahead of them, and the warm wishes can help them feel better about their situation.

It can continue the relationship

Another benefit of sending a congratulatory message, especially to a colleague, is it can help you maintain the relationship after the person leaves. Staying connected with past colleagues is an important part of networking since you might work with this person again in the future. Sending a congratulatory message helps end your current working relationship wiht a positive tone. Related: Professional Networking: What It Is and How To Master It

It improves team camaraderie

When a person is leaving a team, getting together to wish them well in their career can improve the camaraderie of the remaining employees. It shows the team members care about one another, even if they're no longer part of the team. This can help the entire department feel appreciated, knowing that each person would likely receive the same treatment if they left. Related: How To Improve Teamwork and Collaboration

28 ways to say "best wishes" for a new career

Here are some ways to say best wishes for a new career to different people in your life:

Best wishes to a friend on a new career

When sending best wishes to a friend, you can keep the message informal and light. Examples include:

I am so proud of you for your new job! You worked hard to earn this new role, and you deserve it.
All your hard work has finally paid off. Congratulations on the new job! I'm sure your new coworkers are going to love you.
I was so happy to hear you received a promotion! Congrats!
Congratulations on your new job! It makes me happy to see you reaching the goals you set for yourself.
I am so excited for you! With this promotion, that means you can pay for our next dinner!
Well done on the new career. You're going to show them they made the right decision in hiring you!
We've known each other for so long, it's wild to think about where we both started and where we are now. Congratulations on the new job, I can't wait to see what else you achieve!

Best wishes to a family member on a new career

You can write a more sentimental best wishes note to a family member. Examples include:

I'm so proud of you! This new job will likely bring new challenges, but I'm sure you're up to the task.
Congratulations on your new job! I always knew you were destined for great things.
Getting your first job is an exciting time. Make the most of it and do your best. Congratulations!
Congratulations, my love. It's inspiring to see all your hard work paying off. I'm excited to continue this journey with you.
Dear brother/sister, all the best for you in your new position! I always thought I was the smarter sibling, but clearly I was wrong!
Dear son/daughter, you continue to make us so proud. Your employer just made the best decision of their lives in hiring you. Congratulations and good luck!
When you told me you were promoted, I was so happy for you. Now, I think I'm even happier for your employer, who gets to watch you work up close.

Best wishes to a colleague on a new career

When sending best wishes to a colleague, keep the message professional. You can also reference your time working together. Examples include:

All the best on your new adventure! We're going to miss you around here.
May your new job bring you plenty of happiness and fulfillment. Congratulations!
I'm going to miss seeing you at team meetings! Congratulations and good luck in your new position!
Best wishes on entering your new career field. I hope it's everything you want it to be.
Well done on the promotion! You were always the hardest working person in the office, so it's no surprise. Congratulations and good luck!
It's been a pleasure getting to know you professionally over the past few years. Good luck with your new job, and please stay in touch.
It's not going to be the same around the office without you, but I'm very happy to see you earned a promotion. Good luck!
Your new job sounds perfect for you, you're going to love it. If you're ever back in town, let's get lunch!

Best wishes to a manager on a new career

In most cases, write best wishes to a manager professionally. However, you can be more informal if you have a close relationship with them. Examples include:

I've really enjoyed working for you. Good luck with your new organization, and congrats!
Thank you for your mentorship and advice over the years. It's been an invaluable resource that I'm going to miss. Enjoy your new job!
You're one of the best managers I've ever had. It's no wonder another company wanted you! Good luck, and you'll be missed!
Congratulations on your new role. Don't forget about us as you ascend the corporate ladder!
While we haven't worked together long, I feel I learned a lot from you in a short time. Best wishes for your new career, and I hope we work together again in the future.
Good luck with your new adventure! It's been a real pleasure working for you over the past few years.