Lindsay McMahon
"The English Adventurer"

Have you ever wanted to say thank you and goodbye in the right way especially in a professional context?

Have you ever worked in a temporary situation like an internship or a short term business assignment?

This can be an important part of an experience within many cultures and if you are trying to build connections in your professional life you will want to master this skill.

We’re going to show you how to say thank you and goodbye in this situation, and why it matters.

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Here’s a letter that talks about this very thing that you have likely experienced.

Hi, thanks for podcasts and videos you have been providing. Your work motivates me to improve my English fluency.

I’ve been in Houston, Texas for 6 months as an exchange visitor, and will move back to Thailand at the end of June this year. How can I thank my boss and my colleagues for everything?

Thank you for your help.

Nokmd

Saying Thank You Matters To People

This is a great question because it touches on the idea of thanking people.

This can be especially important as something comes to an end like a job or a temporary work assignment or project.

From this question, we’re not quite sure if this listener wants to know the language to use or gestures to thank her boss and colleagues.

We will focus more on things you can do to properly thank somebody, and throw in some language as well.

The idea is that you want to thank people and leave on a high note.

Even if it isn’t an end to something, saying thank you is an important part of the culture.

We’re going to look at some simple but effective ways to say thank you and make a true and lasting connection–that’s what it’s all about!

Great Ways To Say Thank You

It doesn’t take much, and it doesn’t need to be anything expensive or crazy.

The idea is to let somebody know that you appreciate them or something that they did for you.

It’s all about putting this nice gesture out there to show that you appreciate their kindness.

If you aren’t sure of the right way to say thanks, these ideas offer a few common and very nice tactics.

Option 1: Thank you cards and small gifts

When I had my first internship in NYC, I had a really good relationship with my boss and coworkers. I was so sad to leave! I brought candy and a gift for my boss.

In another internship, I remember writing people personal cards. The idea is to leave something behind to say thank you. This can be through a hand written card or even a small gift like flowers or candy.

In a thank you card, you could say something like: “Thank you so much for this opportunity. I learned so much from this experience. (something personal). I would love to stay in touch and hope to see you the next time I am in the US. Please let me know if you come to Thailand!”

Option 2: Gather everyone around for a short speech

This one may be a bit trickier to coordinate, but if there’s a group lunch or dinner at the end, you can say that you wanted to thank them. You could suggest going out for lunch or ask your coworkers if they’d like to join you for lunch. It’s just about getting together one last time before you go.

If this situation presents itself, you could say something like: “I wanted to let you all know how wonderful it has been to work with you. You  made me feel at home and were so welcoming and this experience was eye opening and one I won’t forget. Please keep in touch! Thank you!”

Option 3: Go around and thank people individually

If there isn’t time for anything formal, be sure to go to everyone and thank them face to face. This adds a nice personal touch. You can tailor what you say to each individual person, which is a nice touch. It shows that you appreciate each person for various reasons. It makes people feel good, and it allows you to leave on a very positive note.

For example, with your boss, you could be specific and say something like: “I wanted to let you know how great it’s been working for you. I learned so much about X, Y, and Z.”

Nice gestures always help to make people feel good and show your appreciation.

The way that you thank somebody can help you to make lasting connections and build relationships–it’s the ultimate level of gratitude!

Takeaway

Our listener had a great idea when it comes to thanking people who deserve it at work.

In these situations, you want to thank people and say goodbye genuinely.

It will help keep up your contacts and give people a “warm and fuzzy” feeling about you.

They will probably tell you that they will miss you, and you can consider asking your boss for feedback.

Be sure to take the time to think about the best strategy to thank others–it is different depending on the company, the environment, and the relationships you have built.

Thanking people and ending on a high note is always a great idea for you and your future!

If you have any questions, please leave them below in the comments section.

We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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