A new career move can be thrilling, overwhelming, and even a bit frightening.
Whether you’re jumping into a new position or sharing the experience with a friend, putting all these emotions into words is harder than it seems. That’s why I get asked about new job quotes a lot.
To take some of the transition stress away from your shoulders, I’ve gathered a comprehensive guide to the best inspirational quotes, how they work, and how to use them without sounding like a cliche.
What Are New Job Quotes?
New job quotes are inspirational pieces of text that people use to express their excitement about a major career change in a loved one’s life. Others use these messages to celebrate their success after a lengthy job search.
It’s not 100% clear how they work their magic, though.
Some believe that motivational quotes, in general, get us psyched up through the coaching effect, instilling self-validation, and sparking a train of positive thoughts.
Work-related quotes shouldn’t be much different; they help us gather courage and momentum to walk into a new beginning full of hope.
How Do You Use New Job Quotes for Inspiration?
Inspirational quotes can come off as meaningless cliches if you don’t use them right.
Avoid generic messages and pick something that resonates with the person and their field. Then, you’ll want to choose the right delivery medium, including cards, framed prints, verbal communication, and emails.
In a Card for a New or Leaving Employee
They say that you should never burn bridges in business. If we go by that notion, the employee should be leaving the previous workplace on good terms.
In this case, it would be a polite gesture from HR to send a goodbye card, thanking the employee for their years in the office and wishing them the best in the new role.
It doesn’t even have to be from HR. The colleagues and the supervisors can tackle the card and come up with a quote to keep things personal.
On the other side of the equation, the new employer can use motivational quotes as part of the onboarding program.
In fact, the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP) recommends sending signed cards to welcome new hires in remote roles.
Above Your Desk
You don’t always have to wait for the inspirational quote to come from previous or new employers.
Grab a frame and hang your favorite quote 6-8 inches above your desk. This range works well for pictures and artwork, but it should do the trick for framed text as well. If that doesn’t work, consider a minimalistic on-desk frame.
I get that hanging wall decor is easier if you work from home and have more control over your space, but you can still talk about the logistics with your supervisor if you work from the office.
After all, studies show that letting employees customize their desks to feel more like home can boost morale and engagement levels. It’ll be hard to turn down your request when you put it that way!
On Your Computer
Not everyone wants to clutter their walls or desk with framed quotes. That’s when customized computer wallpaper comes in handy.
Some people advocate using a standardized corporate wallpaper to enforce branding and company culture. It could also reduce virus risks associated with downloading wallpaper/software.
However, many companies still let employees choose a wallpaper that suits their taste, provided that it’s work-appropriate and not distracting. Most inspirational quotes related to hard work fit that bill.
The best part is that it’ll be the first thing you see after logging in. To keep things fresh, set a collection of quote pictures on auto-change. This way, you’ll get a new good morning quote every day.
In an Email or Text
Both recruiters and prospective employees can use positive quotes in written communication. You can limit the quotes to the last stages of the hiring process to keep the channels professional.
For instance, HR can use a congratulations quote in the job offer letter. By then, the employee would have passed the filtration and interview phases successfully.
It’s also possible to use motivational messages in a welcome video from the full team after the candidate signs the contract.
How to welcome a new employee to your team
You, as a new hire, could insert an inspirational quote in the offer acceptance email. Showing that you’re eager to join the team could make you seem less likely to renege on the job offer.
What is a Good Quote for a Job?
Motivational quotes shouldn’t embrace your struggles instead of erasing your previous work experience. The key is getting the tone right, depending on where you’re using the quote. Is it on a social media post?
Or are you sending a thank you letter[3] to the recruiter?
What Do You Caption the First Day of a New Job?
Here are some nifty quotes to add to your celebratory post after accepting a job offer:
- “Finally, I can look forward to Mondays!”
- “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” — Zig Ziglar
- “Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.” — Chris Grosser
- “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” — C.S. Lewis
- “It’s the start of something new.” (for all the High School Musical fans out there!)
- “Dear 13-year-old me, we finally made it to our dream job!”
- “Today marks a new beginning, and I’ll make it count.”
How Do You Express Your First Day of Work?
The following new job quotes could be relatable after you nail the first day of your new journey:
- “From the moment I woke up, I could tell that it was going to be a good day.” — Aly Johnson
- “If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.” — Seth Godin
- “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” — Walt Disney
- “I still get the jitters every time I start a new job!” — Camille Guaty
- “One successful workday is over, but many more are to come!”
- “I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” — Thomas Jefferson
- “My success was due to good luck, hard work, and support, and advice from friends and mentors. But most importantly, it depended on me to keep trying after I had failed.” — Mark Warner
- “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” — Mark Twain
New Job Quotes
It’s not always easy finding the right words to congratulate someone on a new job, but you don’t have to go overboard. A simple good luck message in one or two sentences will do the trick.
New Job Quotes Wishes
Check out the following wishes and inspirational quotes:
- “With a passion like yours, you’ll be doing great things in no time!”
- “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.” — Henry David Thoreau
- “Wishing you good luck with your new job, but you probably don’t need it!”
- “Believe you can, and you’re already halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt
- “Congratulations on your new position. Hope it brings you joy and fulfillment!”
- “Best wishes! May your new job never feel like work.”
- “Luck is yours. Wishes are mine.” — Ralph Chaplin
New Job Quotes for Card
You can always pick up a ready-made greeting card. Yet customizing one with a relatable quote can take the message to the next level, especially if you take the time to craft a hand-written note.
- “Trust your heart, and success will come to you.” — Oprah Winfrey
- “Today, choose to do more of what you love.”
- “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” — Milton Berle
- “The expert in anything was once a beginner.” — Helen Hayes
- “Don’t let that imposter syndrome creep in. You’ve got what it takes.”
- “We’re sad to see you go, but we hope you achieve all you seek in your new position.”
- “Be prepared, work hard, and hope for a little luck.” — Ed Bradley
Try to get the employee’s new colleagues to sign the onboarding card. If you’re bidding a coworker farewell, get the old work buddies to share their finest moments and memories on the card as well.
Wrapping Up
Depending on the context, job quotes can make someone feel at ease at their new workplace or get a job seeker to reflect on their journey so far. They can even help old colleagues find closure and say their goodbyes before someone leaves the office.
The trick is to avoid overused cliches, keep the message personal, and tweak the tone to suit the delivery method. Formal and corporate-oriented quotes work best for emails, but you can always find something feisty to use in social media posts.
Do you have a favorite quote to welcome new career opportunities?
