Write the introduction of your speech. Humbly thank the person who introduced you. You can add a joke or a short anecdotal story at this point to grab the audience's attention and set an open, witty and reverent tone for the speech.
Write the body of your speech. Limit your speech to three to five minutes. Use a relaxed tone for your speech, but use standard grammar for clarity of communication. Avoid using slang.
Talk about your time with the company. Begin with when you were hired and mention key events in your career, including awards and promotions that you feel are noteworthy. If there are many events that fit this description, mention only the ones that you most want to share with your audience, keeping in mind the three- to five-minute time limit.
Talk about the training and mind-set you have that allowed you to succeed in your career and what your career has meant to you.
Mention colleagues who had a positive impact on your career, and any close friends who made your time at work better. If there are many people who fit this description, it is acceptable to make a statement like, "I wish I could thank each colleague who was a positive part of my work experience, but there are too many to mention so I thank you all."
Include a funny story or anecdote. This story should come out of your work experience. Do not choose a story about a situation that your co-workers may find embarrassing.
Write your conclusion. Talk about how you feel about retirement if you feel positively about it. Mention the activities you look forward to in retirement. If there is charity work or a cause that you will be focusing more energy on in retirement, mention it.
Review your speech for grammar and clarity. Correct grammar errors and explain or define anything in your speech that may not be common knowledge to your audience.
Practice your speech. Your speech should have rhythm and flow. If it does not, edit the speech to flow smoother. If you have trouble pronouncing a word, use your thesaurus and replace the word with something simpler.
Check your speech to make sure it is not boring. If you find the speech tedious to give, the audience will find listening to the speech tedious.
Time your speech to make sure you stay within a three- to five-minute time limit.
Deliver your speech in an upbeat tone. Keep your energy positive. You are giving this speech at an event to celebrate your achievements.