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10 Year Work Anniversary Message, Plus 5, 15, 20 and 25 Year Milestones
For a 10 year work anniversary message, send a short note that names the milestone. Recall one real thing they built or changed in that decade, and thank them for it. Example: 'Ten years at [Company], [Name]. I still think about how you [specific detail]. The place is better because you stayed'. The rule: tie the number to a real contribution, not to time passing.
Milestone anniversaries are rare in a career. Most pass with an automated alert and a few thumbs up. A personal note that recalls what the person did with those years is the one they keep.
The number gives you the reason to write. The detail gives the message its value. Mention a project, a habit or a moment you saw firsthand. Keep it about them, and save any request for another day. A 5 year work anniversary message can be a quick text. A 20 year work anniversary message deserves a little more care.
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Free, no signup. The example is filled in: press the button, then replace it with your own situation. In Capstone, a message like it is written for each person you know when their check-in is due.
11 examples to copy
One message is easy. Hundreds of people, all year, is the hard part. Capstone Outreach puts everyone you know on a rhythm you pick, from weekly to every three months. When someone is due, a message like these is already written in your voice from your history with them. You approve it, and it goes from your own email or phone. See how it works.
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Everyone on a rhythm. Who is due, and when. Recorded in the app on a demo account.
1. 10 years, colleague you worked closely with (email)
Subject: Ten years, [Name]
Why it works: Pointing to work others still benefit from shows the decade mattered beyond their own career.
2. 5 years, client contact at another company (email)
Subject: Five years at [Company], congratulations
Why it works: A client contact rarely hears praise from outside their company. So naming their growth means a lot.
3. 15 years, short text to a friend at work (text)
Why it works: A text with one shared memory feels personal and casual. That fits a friend better than a formal email.
4. 20 years, former boss or mentor (email)
Subject: Twenty years, and a thank you
Why it works: A milestone gives you a natural moment to say the thank you you've owed them for years.
5. 25 years, senior leader you know less well (email)
Subject: Congratulations on 25 years
Why it works: A measured, respectful tone suits a senior leader. It still names one real impact.
6. 10 years, someone you manage (email)
Subject: Ten years, and what they meant
Why it works: A manager's written praise carries weight. Inviting a talk about the future shows they're valued going forward.
7. 5 years, quick text to a teammate (text)
Why it works: Short and specific works for a five year mark between teammates who see each other every day.
8. 20 years, former colleague you've lost touch with (email)
Subject: Twenty years at [Company]!
Why it works: The milestone gives you a warm, no-pressure reason to reconnect after years of silence.
9. 15 years, professional contact or referral partner (email)
Subject: 15 years, well done
Why it works: Linking their tenure to the trust they've built shows why you value working with them.
10. 25 years, text to a close colleague (text)
Why it works: Including yourself among the people they helped makes a big number feel personal.
11. Any milestone, team card or group message (email)
Subject: Celebrating [Name]'s [number] years
Why it works: Asking for real memories up front keeps the group card from becoming twenty versions of 'congrats'.
Sending these to more than a few people? See how people keep track of who to follow up with, and when: what a personal CRM does and the best personal CRMs, compared.
When to send it
- Send on the anniversary date itself. If it falls on a weekend, send it the morning of the next workday.
- Your network may show the anniversary automatically. If so, a personal email or text the same day stands out from the one-click replies.
- For a client or partner contact, send it within the anniversary week. A few days late is fine if you say so.
- If the company is marking a big milestone with an event, send your note a day or two before. That way it doesn't get lost in the party.
Subject lines
- Ten years, [Name]
- Five years at [Company], congratulations
- Fifteen years, well done
- Twenty years, and a thank you
- Congratulations on 25 years
- A decade at [Company]
- Happy work anniversary, [Name]
- [Number] years and still raising the bar
- Celebrating your [number] years
- Here's to the next [number]
- A quarter century, congratulations
- Thank you for [number] years
- Ten years of [specific detail]
- Proud to have worked with you
What to avoid
- Don't joke about their age or how long they've been around. It lands badly more often than you think.
- Don't send only a one-click reaction to an automated anniversary post for a milestone this big.
- Don't turn the message into an ask, like a favor, an intro or a sales follow-up.
- Don't guess the number. Check it, because getting the year wrong undoes the whole gesture.
- Don't write the same text for everyone on the team. At least change the specific detail.
- Don't imply they should have moved on by now, even as praise for their patience.
After you send it
Most anniversary notes get a short thank you, and that's enough. If they reply warmly and you've been out of touch, suggest a call or coffee in the next few weeks. If there's no reply, don't follow up about the anniversary itself. Instead, add the date to your calendar so you remember it next year. Plan to reach out a few times before then with something useful, like an article on their work or an intro.
Building the habit: how to keep in touch with contacts and what a personal CRM does.
Ten years with them. Stay in touch till twenty. Capstone keeps every email, call and meeting with a long-time contact on one page. When you write next, the draft starts from what you last talked about.
Start 14 days free, then $25/mo
A study of 20 million LinkedIn members found that acquaintances, more than close friends, led to new jobs (Science, 2022). Capstone keeps those people warm. You approve every message, and it goes from your own email or phone.
Frequently asked questions
What do you write for a 10 year work anniversary?
Name the milestone, recall one real thing they built or changed over the decade, and thank them for it. Three to five sentences is plenty. Example: 'Ten years at [Company], [Name]. The way you rebuilt [specific detail] still shapes how we work. Thanks for staying'. Skip bland lines about time flying.
Should a 25 year work anniversary message be more formal?
Slightly, if the person is senior or you don't know them well. Use their full name in the greeting and keep the tone measured. Focus on their impact on the company. With a close colleague, warmth matters more than formality. Write the way you'd normally talk to them.
Is it appropriate to congratulate a client on their work anniversary?
Yes. It's one of the few reasons to write to a client that has nothing to do with business. That's exactly why it works. Keep it short and mention how they've grown. Don't attach any request or offer to the message.
Should I send a card, email or text for a work milestone?
Match the channel to the relationship. A handwritten card fits a 20 or 25 year milestone for someone you know well. Email works for most colleagues and clients. A text suits a close teammate or friend. Whatever you choose, the real detail matters more than the format.
What if I missed their work anniversary?
Send it anyway within a few weeks and own the delay in one line. Try 'I'm a little late, but I didn't want this one to pass'. A late note with a real memory is far better than nothing. Nobody will mind the timing.