Out-of-office messages are essential for maintaining clear communication while you are away from work. They inform colleagues, clients, and partners that you are unavailable, set expectations for response times, and provide alternative contacts if necessary. A well-crafted out-of-office message can enhance professionalism and ensure that urgent matters are addressed in your absence. This guide presents a comprehensive outline for creating effective out-of-office messages, along with examples to inspire your own.
Best Out of Office Message | Email Outline
Subject Line
- Clear and concise statement of the email’s purpose
- Example: “Out of Office Notification”
- Greeting
- Address the recipient appropriately
- Example: “Dear [Recipient’s Name],”
- Opening Statement
- Briefly explain the purpose of the email
- Example: “Thank you for your message.”
- Main Body
- Duration of Absence
- Specify the dates you will be unavailable
- Example: “I am currently out of the office and will return on [return date].”
- Reason for Absence (optional)
- Provide a brief explanation if appropriate
- Example: “I am on vacation” or “I am attending a conference.”
- Alternative Contact Information
- Provide details for someone who can assist in your absence
- Example: “For urgent matters, please contact [alternate contact name] at [contact email/phone].”
- Expectation Setting
- Mention when you will respond to emails
- Example: “I will respond to your email as soon as possible upon my return.”
- Closing Statement
- Express appreciation for the recipient’s understanding
- Example: “Thank you for your patience.”
- Sign-Off
- Use a professional closing
- Example: “Best regards,” or “Sincerely,”
- Your Name
- Include your full name
- Example: “[Your Name]”
- Optional Elements
- Job Title
- Example: “[Your Job Title]”
- Company Name
- Example: “[Your Company Name]”
- Contact Information
- Example: “[Your Phone Number]” or “[Your Email Address]” (if not using an auto-reply)
Template Email Using the Outline
Subject: Out of Office Notification
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office and will return on [return date].
I am [on vacation/attending a conference], and will not have regular access to my email. For urgent matters, please contact [alternate contact name] at [contact email/phone].
I will respond to your email as soon as possible upon my return. Thank you for your patience.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Job Title]
[Your Company Name]
[Your Phone Number]
Examples of Out-of-Office Messages
- Thank you for your email. I am currently out of the office and will return on [return date]. I will respond to your message as soon as possible upon my return.
- I appreciate your message. I am out of the office until [return date] and will have limited access to email. I will respond to your inquiry once I return.
- Hello! I am currently out of the office with no access to email. I will be back on [return date] and will get back to you as soon as I can.
- Thank you for reaching out. I am away from the office until [return date]. If your matter is urgent, please contact [alternate contact name] at [contact email/phone].
- I’m out of the office and will not be checking emails until [return date]. For immediate assistance, please reach out to [alternate contact name].
- Thank you for your email. I am currently out of the office and will not be available until [return date]. I appreciate your patience.
- I’m currently out of the office and will return on [return date]. If you need assistance before then, please contact [alternate contact name].
- I am out of the office and will not be checking emails until [return date]. Thank you for your understanding.
- Thank you for your message. I am away from the office and will return on [return date]. I will respond to your email as soon as possible.
- I’m out of the office until [return date]. For urgent matters, please contact [alternate contact name] at [contact email/phone].
- Hello! I am currently out of the office with limited access to email. I will respond to your message after [return date].
- Thank you for your email. I am away until [return date] and will respond upon my return.
- I appreciate your message. I am out of the office and will return on [return date]. Please reach out to [alternate contact name] for urgent matters.
- I’m currently out of the office and will be back on [return date]. I will respond to your email as soon as I can.
- Thank you for reaching out. I am away from the office until [return date]. Your email is important to me, and I will reply as soon as possible.
- I am out of the office until [return date]. For immediate assistance, please contact [alternate contact name].
- Thank you for your email. I am currently out of the office and will return on [return date]. I appreciate your patience.
- I’m out of the office and will not be checking emails until [return date]. For urgent issues, please contact [alternate contact name].
- Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office and will respond to your email upon my return on [return date].
- I am out of the office until [return date]. If you need assistance, please reach out to [alternate contact name].
- Thank you for your email. I am currently away from the office and will return on [return date]. I will respond as soon as I can.
- I’m currently out of the office and will return on [return date]. For urgent matters, please contact [alternate contact name].
- Thank you for reaching out. I am away from the office until [return date]. I will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
- I am out of the office until [return date]. For immediate assistance, please contact [alternate contact name] at [contact email/phone].
- Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office and will respond to your email after [return date].
- Here are 25 more examples of out-of-office messages:
- I appreciate your email. I am out of the office until [return date]. I will respond to your message as soon as I return.
- Thank you for your message. I am currently away from the office with limited access to email and will return on [return date].
- I’m out of the office and will not be available until [return date]. For urgent inquiries, please reach out to [alternate contact name].
- Thank you for your email. I am currently out of the office and will respond to your message after [return date].
- I am away from the office until [return date]. If you require immediate assistance, please contact [alternate contact name].
- I appreciate your email. I am currently out of the office and will return on [return date]. Thank you for your understanding.
- I’m out of the office and will not be checking emails until [return date]. For urgent matters, please contact [alternate contact name].
- Thank you for reaching out. I am away from the office until [return date] and will respond to your email once I return.
- I am currently out of the office with no access to email. I will return on [return date] and will respond to your message then.
- Thank you for your message. I am out of the office until [return date]. If you need immediate assistance, please contact [alternate contact name].
- I’m currently away from the office and will return on [return date]. I will respond to your email as soon as I can.
- Thank you for your email. I am out of the office and will not be checking emails until [return date]. I appreciate your patience.
- I am away from the office until [return date]. For urgent inquiries, please reach out to [alternate contact name] at [contact email/phone].
- Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office and will respond to your email after [return date].
- I’m out of the office and will return on [return date]. If your request is urgent, please contact [alternate contact name].
- Thank you for reaching out. I am currently away from the office with limited access to email. I will respond after [return date].
- I appreciate your email. I am out of the office until [return date]. For any urgent matters, please contact [alternate contact name].
- I’m currently out of the office and will not be available until [return date]. Thank you for your understanding.
- Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office and will return on [return date]. I will respond as soon as possible.
- I am away from the office until [return date]. For immediate assistance, please reach out to [alternate contact name].
- Thank you for your email. I am out of the office and will respond to your message after [return date].
- I’m currently out of the office and will return on [return date]. If you need urgent assistance, please contact [alternate contact name].
- Thank you for reaching out. I am away from the office until [return date]. Your email is important to me, and I will reply as soon as I can.
- I am out of the office and will not be checking emails until [return date]. For urgent matters, please contact [alternate contact name].
- Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office and will respond to your email after [return date].