How to Use “It Was a Pleasure Working with You” (Plus, the Best Alternatives)

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Convey your appreciation with this polite phrase

Co-authored by Tami Claytor and Ali Garbacz, B.A.

Last Updated: September 5, 2023 Fact Checked

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When to Use

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Alternative Expressions

Whenever you want to express your gratitude toward someone and all of the hard work they’ve done, saying “It was a pleasure working with you” or writing it in an email is always a great way to do so. This expression maintains a professional and respectful tone, but it’s also very friendly and conveys genuine appreciation. Keep reading to learn when and how to use this expression as well as some alternative sayings to use in different situations.

Things You Should Know

Use “It was a pleasure working with you” when writing a resignation letter or saying farewell to colleagues if you’re switching departments within your company.
Tell others it was a pleasure working with them after finishing a team project to let them know how grateful you are for all of their hard work.
Use other expressions like “Working with you has been a privilege” and “I’m grateful to have been given this opportunity” to express your gratitude.

Section 1 of 2:

When to Use “It Was a Pleasure Working with You”

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1
When writing a resignation letter Including the phrase “It was a pleasure working with you” keeps your resignation formal and is good to add if you want to maintain a good relationship with whatever company you’re leaving. Many people who voluntarily leave their position will include this line to make their resignation letter a bit warmer and more friendly. For example: ^{[1]
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- “It has been a pleasure to work at the Smith Company for the last 5 years.”
- “It was a pleasure working with you and the team, and I consider my time at this company to be one of the highlights of my career.”
- “It has been a pleasure working with you, and I feel that I have gained valuable knowledge that will help me in the future.”
2
When a colleague leaves the company Letting a colleague know that you enjoyed working with them and getting to know them can help make them feel truly appreciated as they move on to the next step in their career. Be sure to also wish them good luck in their future endeavors and suggest staying in contact even after they’ve officially left.
- “It was a pleasure working with you, and I wish you the best of luck in your new job.”
- “I want you to know that it was truly a pleasure to work with you.”
- “It was a pleasure working with you. Don’t hesitate to reach out whenever.”
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3
When celebrating a special event or work anniversary If your office is throwing a party to celebrate an achievement or a special anniversary, it’s not uncommon for some people to share a few words of gratitude and appreciation toward their colleagues and overall company. Telling everyone that it’s been a pleasure working with them lets them know how much you value them and the work you get to do together.
- In this kind of situation, it makes more sense to say, “It has been a pleasure” since saying, “It was a pleasure” can make it sound like you’re leaving your job or won’t be working with your colleagues in the future.
- “It has been such a pleasure to work with you all. It’s amazing what we can achieve as a team.”
- “It’s been a pleasure to work with everyone here, and I’m truly amazed at seeing the great things we’ve done together.”
- “Happy 25th anniversary to this amazing company, and it has truly been a pleasure to be able to work with all of you.”
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When thanking team members after finishing a project After you’ve finished working with a team, it’s usually polite and respectful to thank them for their time and hard work. Saying “It was a pleasure working with you” lets them know that you truly valued the time you spent together and appreciate all the effort they put into the project.
- “It was a pleasure working with all of you on this project.”
- “It was such a pleasure to be able to work with you on this assignment. You all did amazingly.”
- “It was really a pleasure to work with you. Hopefully, we’ll get to work together again in the future.”
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When expressing gratitude toward someone you worked with closely This is a great way to express your gratitude toward a mentor or colleague you spent a lot of time together working with. It’s also a polite thing to say if you were acting as a mentor to someone else. For example:
- “It was a pleasure working with you. I always enjoy mentoring new interns at our company.”
- “It was such a pleasure getting to work with a mentor like you.”
- “It’s been a pleasure working closely with you on this assignment for the last 3 months.”
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When you move to a new department Even though you may not be leaving your company entirely, it’s still polite to say farewell to your colleagues as you move to a different department or sector. Let them know how much you enjoyed your time together by saying something like, “It was a pleasure working with you.”
- “I know I’m not moving that far away, but I still want to say that it was a pleasure working with you all.”
- “It’s been such a pleasure working with you all up until now. If you ever need me, I’ll be just across the building.”
- “It was a pleasure working with you all on the design team. I’ll never forget all the things you’ve taught me.”
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When you finish work with a client or customer Saying “It was a pleasure working with you” is very respectful when parting ways with a client or customer you’ve been working with. This is a good way to thank them for their business and maintain a good relationship in case they seek out your services again in the future.
- “It was a pleasure working with you over the last month.”
- “It’s been a pleasure working with you and your family, and I hope you’re satisfied with our services.”
- “It was a pleasure to be able to work with you. Don’t hesitate to reach out in the future if you find yourself needing our services again.”

Section 2 of 2:

Alternative Ways to Say “It Was a Pleasure Working with You”

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1
“This has truly been a valuable experience.” When you’re writing a resignation letter, it’s best to keep a positive tone when talking about your job, especially if you’re leaving the position voluntarily and wish to maintain a good relationship with the company. Other ways to say “It was a pleasure working with you” include: ^{[2]
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- “It has been great getting to be a part of such an innovative and forward-thinking company.”
- “I had such a wonderful time being a part of this company.”
- “This job has taught me many skills that I know will help me succeed in the future.”
2
“Working with you has been a privilege.” Send off a fellow colleague with heartfelt words and sincere compliments that will make them feel valued and appreciated. Compliment some of their best traits and skills, reminisce on the time you worked together, and wish them luck for the future.
- “You’re truly an irreplaceable part of our team, and these last few years working with you have been some of the most fun.”
- It has been an honor to get to know you as both a colleague and a friend.”
- “Wishing you all the best in your new job. We’ll never forget how much you did for this team.”
3
“I can’t imagine a better group of people to work with.” Whether you’re giving a celebratory speech or speaking on behalf of your team at a conference, it’s always best to take a few moments to thank your team and highlight all of the hard work they’ve done. Along with “It was a pleasure working with you all,” here are a few more things you might say:
- “It’s been so great working with a team of people who show such dedicated to our company’s mission.”
- “It’s always an honor getting to work with this great team.”
- “I would like to take this opportunity to share with you all just how wonderful my department is and all the fantastic work they’ve done so far.”
4
“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved as a team.” It’s always polite to tell your team members they did a good job and that you enjoyed working with them once a project or assignment has come to an end, especially if you were the one leading the project. Here are a few other suggestions for ways to express your gratitude: ^{[3]
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- “It was wonderful getting to know everyone on the team and seeing everyone’s development.”
- “I truly appreciate all of the work each one of you contributed over these past few months.”
- “Thank you for making my job as a project manager both easy and fun. This has been, by far, the best team I’ve ever had the privilege to work with.”
5
“I’m grateful to have been given this opportunity to work with you.” This is another way to express your gratitude toward someone you’ve worked closely with, whether it’s a mentor, colleague, or someone you’re training. Be sure to compliment them and thank them for all of their hard work.
- “It was great getting to work with you and create this project.”
- “I’m honored to have been able to work under a mentor as knowledgeable as you.”
- “It’s been great seeing you grow and improve in just a few weeks. I know you’ll do well at this company.”
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“I’ll miss working with you all.” If you’re leaving your team or department, be sure to say a few words of farewell before your departure day. Let your colleagues know just how much you value the time you spent together and how great everyone was to work with. For example:
- “While I’m excited about this new role, I also want you all to know just how much I enjoyed working with you.”
- “It has been so wonderful getting to work with you all for the past 3 years, and I hope we can continue to collaborate in the future.”
- “I have so many great memories from my time working in this department.”
7
“Thank you for choosing our company.” It’s best to always maintain a professional and friendly tone up until the very end when working with customers and clients. Once you’ve finished whatever transaction or project you were collaborating on, be sure to thank the client for their business and express your sincere gratitude to them for seeking out your services. For example:
- “It was wonderful working with you, and I hope working with us will help you in getting your dream house soon.”
- “Thank you for collaborating with our company again. It’s always a pleasure getting to work together.”
- “It was a pleasure doing business with you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions.”