Thank You Letters
The Thank You letter is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of the job search. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking it isn’t important. The Thank You letter gives you the opportunity to reiterate your interest in the job and enthusiasm for the company. Additionally, each letter can serve a PURPOSE. Whenever possible:
- address an interviewer’s specific concern in greater detail than was possible during the actual interview (for example, the interviewer seemed concerned that you did not have the quantitative skills necessary for the job);
- address a topic of particular interest (to interviewer or interviewee) that arose during the conversation, especially when that topic reflects favorably on the interviewee’s job-related skills (for example, you talked about mountaineering or Clinton’s health care plan for 15 minutes);
- re-emphasize a skill or strength important to that interviewer (for example, the interviewer showed a particular interest in your sports and team-related activities;
- insert a little humor into
the process.
TIMING:
Try to send letters within 24 hours of the interviews, with a maximum
of two days later.
LENGTH:
Keep it brief page. Don’t stress over it – it’s more important just
to send something quickly than to delay doing it for days.
PERSONALIZE EACH LETTER:
When interviewing with several people at one organization, take a few
seconds between interviews to jot down some notes about each conversation.
Use these notes when writing individual thank you letters to each interviewer.
When sending letter to several letters to several people at an organization,
each letter does not need to be completely different from the rest – but
try not to send identical letters to several people.
OTHER TIPS:
Ask for your interviewer’s business cards, or write down their titles
and proper spelling of their names before leaving the interview site.
Sign each letter (believe it or not, people sometimes forget to sign thank you letters and cover letters). Carefully proof-read your letter and have one other person do so, too.
Print each letter on a high quality linen or bond paper (available at most copy centers,) in white, off-white or light gray. Don’t forget to have matching envelopes.
You can consider sending an e-mail thank you. However, if you want this correspondence to be documented, follow up with a hard copy for your file. An e-mail thank you may be most appropriate for technical or computer-dependent organizations.
See the “Job Search Letters” binder in the Career Library.
last updated September 2000
