How to Write a Thank You Letter to a Recruiter After a Job Interview
A job interview doesn't end with a handshake but with a thank you letter. Sending a thank you letter to the hiring recruiter or interviewer after a job interview is not only considerate to the recruiter but can single you out from other candidates. A thank you letter gives you the opportunity to make one last impression on the hiring recruiter by expressing your interest in the job, reinforcing why you are a perfect fit for the position and adding any key information you may have forgotten to mention in the interview.
Things You'll Need
- Hiring recruiter's business card
- Computer
- Thank you card(s)
- Pen
- Envelope(s)
- Stamp(s)
Instructions
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How to Write a Thank You Letter After a Job Interview
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Ask the interviewer, as well as anyone else you talked to during the interview, for a business card at the end of the interview, if you do not already have their contact information.
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Write your thank you letter as soon after the interview as possible, while the experience is still fresh in your mind. Send the letter within 24 hours after the interview.
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Send a typed thank you letter or, if your handwriting is legible, a handwritten thank you note by mail or send your thank you note via email. Sending your thank you letter by mail is more personal, so only send a thank you note via email if the hiring recruiter plans on making a decision right away. If you choose to send your thank you note via email, write your thank you email as you would a formal letter.
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Insert the proper heading. Type the date on the first line of your letter or email. Hit "enter" on your keyboard twice. Type the following contact information on separate, single-spaced lines: the recruiter's name, his or her job title, the company name, the company's street address and the city, state and zip code. Hit "enter" three times and address the recruiter with "Dear" followed by either Mr., Mrs., Ms. or Miss, the recruiter's last name and a comma. Hit "enter" twice and begin the body of your letter.
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Use the first paragraph of your thank you letter to thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you, to express how much you enjoyed meeting with him or her and learning more about the position. Restate your interest in the position.
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Use the second paragraph to concisely and confidently reiterate the specific qualifications, skills and/or experiences that make you the perfect candidate for the position. Try to include at least one specific point that you and the recruiter talked about during the interview, such as the relation between your qualifications and the job responsibilities, as described by the hiring recruiter during the interview. This is also your opportunity to provide any qualifications or points that you forgot to mention during the interview.
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Use the last paragraph to reiterate your appreciation for the hiring recruiter's time and consideration as well as your interest in the position and the company. Offer to provide any additional information the hiring recruiter may need. Close the final paragraph by telling the hiring recruiter that you look forward to hearing the final decision.
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Close your letter with "Sincerely," followed by a comma. Hit "enter" twice and type your first and last name. If you are sending your thank you letter by mail, sign your name in ink in the space between "Sincerely" and your typed name.
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Proofread your thank you letter carefully or ask a friend to proofread it for you. You should focus as much attention on proofreading your thank you letter as you did with your resume and cover letter, as the hiring recruiter may see your thank you letter as an opportunity to evaluate your communication and writing skills.
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Tips & Warnings
Send separate, personalized thank you letters to everyone that you spoke with directly for a significant amount of time as well as the main interviewer or hiring recruiter.
Keep your thank you letter short -- no longer than three short paragraphs.
Avoid sounding desperate in your thank you letter. You want to express your interest in the specific position and the company, not your desperation for a job.
Single space the lines within your paragraphs, double space between paragraphs and triple space between the final paragraph and your closing.
References
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