Be encouraging and specific. Name what they built or improved, what skill you saw them grow, and what you think they’ll be great at. Interns rarely get that kind of feedback written down.
How to write it
- Name a concrete contribution — a feature shipped, a report written, a process improved.
- Offer to be a reference or a LinkedIn connection if you mean it.
- Keep advice short and practical; they’ll have heard plenty of lectures.
From the manager
You arrived not knowing our tools and left having improved one of them. That’s rare. Thank you for a brilliant summer.
Your research changed how we planned next quarter. I hope you’re as proud of it as we are.
It’s been a pleasure watching you grow in confidence every week. Happy to be a reference whenever you need one.
You asked the questions everyone else was too comfortable to ask. Keep doing that.
From teammates
You were never ‘just the intern.’ You were part of the team. Good luck with your final year!
Thanks for the fresh ideas and the even fresher music recommendations.
I learned as much from you as you did from me. Come back when you graduate!
Good luck with everything. Your future employer is lucky.
You made the dashboard actually readable. We’re forever grateful.
It won’t be the same without you at Thursday lunch.
Encouraging advice
Keep saying yes to the project nobody else wants. That’s how you learn the most.
Never stop asking “why do we do it this way?” It’s your superpower.
Find people you admire and ask them for coffee. It worked here; it’ll work anywhere.
Remember: you were good at this before you knew what you were doing. Imagine what’s next.
Short and sweet
Great work this summer. Good luck!
Thank you for everything you brought to the team.
Can’t wait to see what you do next.
Come back soon — as a full-timer!
You’ll go far. We’ll say we knew you when.
What to avoid
- Promising a job offer that hasn’t been confirmed.
- Patronising language about how young they are.
Organising the whole card? Our farewell card guide covers timing and who to invite.