Finding the right words to express care and anticipation can make a big difference in professional and personal communication. Saying “I’m looking forward to working with you” is a classic phrase, but sometimes it feels overused, generic, or lacking in warmth. Choosing the right alternative helps you sound more genuine, professional, or friendly—depending on the tone you want to set.
In this article, you’ll discover 30 thoughtful alternatives, each with its meaning, explanation, examples, best use, and tone. These phrases are designed to help you express enthusiasm, respect, and care, whether you’re writing an email to a new colleague, speaking to a client, or introducing yourself in a job interview.
What Does “Looking Forward to Working With You” Mean?
The phrase “Looking forward to working with you” is a polite expression used to show anticipation and excitement about future collaboration. It communicates respect, eagerness, and a positive outlook about a partnership or working relationship.
When to Use “Looking Forward to Working With You”?
You can use this phrase:
- At the end of an email introducing yourself to a new colleague.
- After a job interview when you’ve been offered a position.
- When welcoming a new employee to the team.
- In business partnerships to signal collaboration.
- During networking conversations (e.g., LinkedIn messages).
Is It Professional/Polite to Say “Looking Forward to Working With You”?
Yes, it is both professional and polite. However, it is also a widely used standard expression, which can sometimes feel generic or repetitive. Choosing alternatives can help you stand out and add personality to your communication.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Professional and respectful
- Universally understood
- Simple and concise
Cons:
- Overused and sometimes impersonal
- Can lack specificity
- Doesn’t always reflect your genuine enthusiasm
1. Excited to Collaborate With You
Meaning: Shows genuine enthusiasm for teamwork.
Explanation: Adds energy and positivity beyond the standard phrase.
Scenario Example: “I’m excited to collaborate with you on this project and see what we can achieve together.”
Best Use: Emails to new teammates or partners.
Worst Use: In a formal job interview thank-you note where tone should remain more reserved.
Tone: Enthusiastic, professional, motivating.
2. Can’t Wait to Get Started Together
Meaning: Expresses eagerness to begin.
Explanation: Feels more casual and friendly, but still professional.
Scenario Example: “I can’t wait to get started together and bring fresh ideas to the table.”
Best Use: Team introductions, casual work emails.
Worst Use: Communication with senior executives or in formal corporate settings where informality may feel unprofessional.
Tone: Warm, approachable, engaging.
3. Thrilled to Join Forces
Meaning: Strong, passionate excitement.
Explanation: Suggests team spirit and mutual respect.
Scenario Example: “I’m thrilled to join forces and contribute to our shared goals.”
Best Use: Partnership announcements, new hire introductions.
Worst Use: In serious contexts (like legal, compliance, or audit-related projects) where a toned-down approach is expected.
Tone: Confident, uplifting, energetic.
4. Looking Forward to Our Collaboration
Meaning: A polished, professional variation.
Explanation: Retains formality but adds specificity.
Scenario Example: “I’m looking forward to our collaboration on this upcoming venture.”
Best Use: Professional emails, especially when working with clients or cross-department teams.
Worst Use: With close colleagues or friends, where it might sound overly stiff or detached.
Tone: Professional, respectful, future-focused.
5. Eager to Begin This Journey Together
Meaning: Shows both enthusiasm and long-term commitment.
Explanation: Using “journey” makes it sound more meaningful than just a task—it suggests growth and partnership.
Scenario Example: “I’m eager to begin this journey together and contribute to meaningful progress.”
Best Use: With new teams, startups, or long-term partnerships.
Worst Use: Short, transactional projects (like quick freelance tasks) where “journey” might feel exaggerated.
Tone: Inspirational, future-oriented, committed.
6. Happy to Be on Board
Meaning: Expresses warmth and appreciation for being included.
Explanation: A welcoming phrase that works well for new roles or teams.
Scenario Example: “I’m happy to be on board and can’t wait to get started.”
Best Use: Employee introductions or internal team emails.
Worst Use: With clients or external partners, where “on board” might sound too casual.
Tone: Friendly, welcoming, humble.
7. Anticipating Great Things Together
Meaning: Suggests optimism about positive outcomes.
Explanation: Communicates hope and confidence in future results.
Scenario Example: “I’m anticipating great things together as we begin this collaboration.”
Best Use: Motivational team emails, project kick-offs.
Worst Use: When writing to very formal clients, as it may sound vague or overly cheerful.
Tone: Optimistic, inspiring, supportive.
8. Ready to Contribute My Best
Meaning: Focuses on personal effort and commitment.
Explanation: Shows willingness to work hard and give your best to the collaboration.
Scenario Example: “I’m ready to contribute my best to this exciting project.”
Best Use: Job offers, employee introductions, project onboarding.
Worst Use: With senior clients or stakeholders, where it may sound self-centered rather than collaborative.
Tone: Humble, motivated, constructive.
9. Looking Ahead to Our Partnership
Meaning: Emphasizes future collaboration in a professional way.
Explanation: Sounds more formal than “working with you” and emphasizes a partnership mindset.
Scenario Example: “I’m looking ahead to our partnership and the goals we’ll achieve together.”
Best Use: Client communications or B2B partnerships.
Worst Use: With internal colleagues in casual settings—it can sound unnecessarily formal.
Tone: Professional, respectful, forward-looking.
10. Enthusiastic About Working Alongside You
Meaning: Combines professionalism with warmth.
Explanation: Highlights the team aspect and reduces hierarchy.
Scenario Example: “I’m enthusiastic about working alongside you and contributing to our success.”
Best Use: Team-building contexts or when addressing colleagues.
Worst Use: When writing to executives or senior leadership, where “alongside” may feel too casual.
Tone: Warm, respectful, collaborative.
11. Can’t Wait to Partner With You
Meaning: Shows strong eagerness for partnership.
Explanation: More engaged and personal than the standard phrase.
Scenario Example: “I can’t wait to partner with you and achieve something meaningful together.”
Best Use: Business partnerships or joint projects.
Worst Use: Very formal or legal agreements, where eagerness might sound unprofessional.
Tone: Energetic, personal, optimistic.
12. Eager to Get Started on This Project
Meaning: Expresses readiness and commitment to action.
Explanation: Focuses specifically on projects and tasks.
Scenario Example: “I’m eager to get started on this project and contribute to its success.”
Best Use: Internal team communication or kickoff meetings.
Worst Use: General networking emails, where it feels too specific without context.
Tone: Direct, motivated, project-focused.
13. Looking Forward to a Fruitful Collaboration
Meaning: Suggests mutual benefit and productivity.
Explanation: More formal than “working with you” and carries a positive outlook.
Scenario Example: “I’m looking forward to a fruitful collaboration with your team.”
Best Use: Client relations or international business settings.
Worst Use: With close colleagues—it may sound overly formal or stiff.
Tone: Polished, formal, professional.
14. Happy We’ll Be Working Together
Meaning: Simple, warm, and personal.
Explanation: Adds a touch of genuine friendliness.
Scenario Example: “I’m happy we’ll be working together on this initiative.”
Best Use: Team introductions, peer-to-peer communication.
Worst Use: In very senior or executive-level correspondence, where more formality is expected.
Tone: Friendly, informal, approachable.
15. Excited to Begin This New Chapter
Meaning: Frames collaboration as the start of something meaningful.
Explanation: Works well for big milestones like joining a company or starting a partnership.
Scenario Example: “I’m excited to begin this new chapter with your team.”
Best Use: Career transitions, company onboarding, new partnerships.
Worst Use: For small, short-term projects, where “chapter” may sound exaggerated.
Tone: Inspirational, growth-oriented, warm.
16. Anticipating a Successful Partnership
Meaning: Strongly emphasizes success and professionalism.
Explanation: Projects confidence and business formality.
Scenario Example: “I’m anticipating a successful partnership that will benefit both sides.”
Best Use: Formal business relationships and corporate agreements.
Worst Use: With casual internal colleagues, where it may feel unnecessarily grand.
Tone: Confident, formal, respectful.
17. Can’t Wait to See What We Achieve Together
Meaning: Expresses excitement about shared results.
Explanation: Highlights teamwork and outcomes.
Scenario Example: “I can’t wait to see what we achieve together over the coming months.”
Best Use: Motivating teams, welcoming new hires, energizing collaboration.
Worst Use: Legal, compliance, or audit contexts—it feels too playful there.
Tone: Motivational, upbeat, collaborative.
18. Eager to Learn and Contribute
Meaning: Balances humility and enthusiasm.
Explanation: Great for new hires or career starters.
Scenario Example: “I’m eager to learn and contribute to the success of the company.”
Best Use: Job offers, employee onboarding, career transitions.
Worst Use: With senior clients or partners, where it may sound junior or inexperienced.
Tone: Humble, professional, growth-oriented.
19. Looking Forward to Our Joint Efforts
Meaning: Highlights teamwork and shared responsibility.
Explanation: Sounds formal but positive, with emphasis on collaboration.
Scenario Example: “I’m looking forward to our joint efforts in bringing this project to life.”
Best Use: Corporate partnerships, large-scale projects.
Worst Use: Casual emails with peers, where it might feel too heavy-handed.
Tone: Formal, collaborative, professional.
20. Thrilled to Start This Venture Together
Meaning: Enthusiastic about a new venture or project.
Explanation: Adds startup energy and a sense of fresh beginnings.
Scenario Example: “I’m thrilled to start this venture together and tackle the exciting challenges ahead.”
Best Use: Entrepreneurial collaborations, new projects, partnership launches.
Worst Use: Very traditional industries (like law or banking), where “thrilled” may feel unprofessional.
Tone: Excited, energetic, innovative.
21. Ready to Kick Off Our Collaboration
Meaning: Expresses immediate readiness to begin.
Explanation: A dynamic phrase that works well in professional emails.
Scenario Example: “I’m ready to kick off our collaboration and move forward with the first steps.”
Best Use: Project launches, business meetings, email openers.
Worst Use: With very formal executives or clients, as “kick off” can sound too casual.
Tone: Energetic, proactive, professional.
22. Delighted to Be Working With You
Meaning: Warm, polite, and respectful.
Explanation: A classic, courteous alternative to the original phrase.
Scenario Example: “I’m delighted to be working with you and your team.”
Best Use: Client introductions, interview follow-ups, semi-formal emails.
Worst Use: With casual colleagues or friends—may feel overly formal.
Tone: Polite, warm, professional.
23. Looking Forward to Contributing to Our Success
Meaning: Emphasizes team success over individual effort.
Explanation: Balances humility and ambition.
Scenario Example: “I’m looking forward to contributing to our success as we start this new project.”
Best Use: Team onboarding, employee introductions, motivational emails.
Worst Use: Client-facing emails, where focus should be on them, not “our” team.
Tone: Humble, collaborative, forward-looking.
24. Enthusiastic About the Opportunity
Meaning: Communicates gratitude and positive anticipation.
Explanation: Great for expressing appreciation after interviews or offers.
Scenario Example: “I’m enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with your company.”
Best Use: Job offers, networking messages, career changes.
Worst Use: Everyday team emails—could sound too formal for small tasks.
Tone: Respectful, grateful, professional.
25. Can’t Wait to Begin This Partnership
Meaning: Highlights excitement about formal collaboration.
Explanation: Combines enthusiasm with a partnership-focused outlook.
Scenario Example: “I can’t wait to begin this partnership and achieve our shared goals.”
Best Use: B2B agreements, entrepreneurial ventures, long-term collaborations.
Worst Use: Short-term freelance work where “partnership” may feel too heavy.
Tone: Optimistic, collaborative, future-focused.
26. Ready to Make Great Things Happen
Meaning: Strong, motivational tone focusing on outcomes.
Explanation: Suggests energy, ambition, and results.
Scenario Example: “I’m ready to make great things happen with your team.”
Best Use: Project launches, team motivation, startup culture.
Worst Use: Very traditional or conservative industries, where it may sound too informal.
Tone: Energetic, motivational, ambitious.
27. Happy to Collaborate With You
Meaning: A simple, polite acknowledgment of teamwork.
Explanation: Keeps things light and friendly without over-expressing.
Scenario Example: “I’m happy to collaborate with you on this assignment.”
Best Use: Peer-to-peer emails, colleague collaboration.
Worst Use: In formal business proposals, where more formality is expected.
Tone: Friendly, approachable, respectful.
28. Excited to Tackle This Project Together
Meaning: Focuses on teamwork in problem-solving.
Explanation: Communicates energy and determination.
Scenario Example: “I’m excited to tackle this project together and bring our best ideas forward.”
Best Use: Challenging assignments, team-building environments.
Worst Use: After a serious meeting (e.g., crisis management)—may sound tone-deaf.
Tone: Determined, enthusiastic, supportive.
29. Looking Forward to Achieving Great Results
Meaning: Professional optimism centered on outcomes.
Explanation: A good balance of professional tone and positivity.
Scenario Example: “I’m looking forward to achieving great results with your team.”
Best Use: Client communications, project team updates, motivational speeches.
Worst Use: Casual office chats—it can sound too grand for small matters.
Tone: Professional, optimistic, future-focused.
30. Thrilled to Embark on This Journey With You
Meaning: Combines excitement and meaningful collaboration.
Explanation: A strong way to express both personal enthusiasm and team spirit.
Scenario Example: “I’m thrilled to embark on this journey with you and contribute to something impactful.”
Best Use: Career milestones, long-term partnerships, major projects.
Worst Use: In short, transactional work contexts—sounds too big for small tasks.
Tone: Inspirational, enthusiastic, heartfelt.
Conclusion
Choosing the right way to say “Looking forward to working with you” goes beyond formality—it’s about tone, connection, and authenticity. While the classic phrase is polite and professional, it can sometimes feel overused or impersonal. The 30 alternatives shared here give you the flexibility to adjust your message based on the context, relationship, and level of formality.
