Sending Thank You Letters

By: Keisha White - Antonelli College Cincinnati/West Chester Career Services

When you're not sure how to send a thank you note or who to thank when you're job searching, just think about how you send personal thank you notes to show your appreciation. It's basically the same procedure. People like to be thanked, and that includes the acquaintances who have helped with your job search, as well as hiring managers. A personal thank you note is a great way to remind the interviewer who are. You can send a written thank you note or a thank you email message. Consider timing when deciding which to use. Sending a thank you letter to the person you interviewed with is a good way to reiterate your interest in the job and to remind the interviewer why you are the best applicant. It’s also imperative to take the time to thank everyone who assisted with your job search.

Writing a thank you note after an employment interview can be the solution to getting a job offer. These days of electronic communication has made it appropriate to send thank you letters by email. You can get your thank you letter out instantaneously, rather than have to wait for the postal service to distribute it. If the employer is making a speedy hiring decision, time is of the essence. If there is no sense of urgency, you may still want to send a quick email thank you, along with a traditional letter or note. You'll be restating your interest in the opportunity sooner rather than later.

What Should I Include In My Email Thank You Message?

In addition to thanking the person you talked with, the thank you note highlights the fact that you want the position. Use your letter to attend to any issues and concerns that came up during the interview. You can also view the thank you as a follow-up "sales" letter. In other words, reaffirm why you want the job, what your qualifications are, how you might make momentous contributions, and so on. This letter is also the perfect opportunity to discuss anything of importance that your interviewer neglected to ask or that you neglected to answer as thoroughly or as well as you would have liked. Keep in mind that the thank you note should be succinct and to the point. A couple of brief paragraphs are sufficient.

What Should I Include In Group Thank You Letters?

If you interviewed with a number of people send individual messages to each person you interviewed with. Alter your message to each interviewer so each thank you letter is unique. Ask for a business card at the conclusion of each interview, that way you'll have the contact information for you thank you letters.

Tips For Writing Thank You Letters:

1. Thank Everyone Who Helped You Job Search - It's always important to say thank you after a job interview. It's also important to thank everyone you interviewed with and everyone who assisted with your job search.

2. Don't Wait to Send a Thank You Letter - After you have a job interview, it's important to follow-up right away.

3. Use Your Thank You Letter to Sell Your Candidacy - Consider your thank you letters as follow-up "sales" letters. This is an opportunity to say why you want the job, what your qualifications are, and how you would contribute to the company. Your thank you letter is also the perfect opportunity to discuss anything of importance that your interviewer didn't ask or that you didn't answer as well as you could have.

4. Send a Handwritten Thank You Note - It takes some time to write and send a handwritten thank you note. If you have time, mailing a thank you note to your interviewers will be well worth the effort.

5. Send an Email Thank You Message - Even though handwritten thank you notes make a really good impression, when time is of the essence and the employer is making a quick hiring decision, send an email thank you message immediately, rather than have to wait for the postal service to deliver it.

6. Review Thank You Letter Samples - Review thank you letter samples applicable to a variety of employment-related situations, then take some time to edit and customize the thank you letter you choose, so it reflects your personality and your interest in the new job.

7. Choose a Professional Thank You Card - When you're shopping for thank you cards, don't choose cards that are cute or too funny. The thank you cards you send should be both simple and professional. A plain card that says "thank you" will create a good impression.

Have questions in regards to sending thank you letters? Pease contact Keisha White at keisha.white@antonellicollege.edu