How to Write a Thank-You Letter After a Job Interview or Job Offer
A thank-you letter to a potential employer is not simply sent for the sake of courtesy. While employers are most certainly looking for candidates who are polite and sincere, the thank-you letter can also increase your chances of getting hired. The thank-you letter can say more than "thank you"; it can address anything about the job offer or interview that you see as relevant to the possibility of getting hired.
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Things You'll Need
- Notebook
- Pen or pencil
- Stationery
- Envelope
- "Thank-you" card (optional)
- Computer (optional)
- Printer (optional)
- Blank greeting card (optional)
- Fountain or calligraphy pen (optional)
Instructions
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Pay careful attention during the interview. The thank-you letter can address anything that you might need to follow up on. You can amend something the interviewer might have seen as a weakness or accentuate something you see as a strength, but didn't quite articulate properly in the interview. If you are responding to a job offer, this is your chance to make sure they know you really want it, since sometimes a person's enthusiasm doesn't quite show through during a nervous interview process. You can take some notes right after the interview to make sure you remember everything that happened. Taking notes during the interview is possible, but may be distracting and, importantly, may make you appear to be distracted to the interviewer.
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Make sure you send your letter in time. In general, you should send a thank-you letter within the 24 hours following the interview or job offer. Waiting too long will make it appear as though the gesture is an afterthought, not a priority. Sending it sooner rather than later will also make you appear punctual, motivated and professional to the employer.
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Choose your method. You can get a "thank you" card and write a note right after the interview in the company's lobby or in your car, for example, and then hand deliver it to the receptionist. You can also send an email when you get home. You can also mail your note on stationery or card, but be sure to do so within 24 hours. If you're using stationery, use a simple professional-looking style. Make sure your handwriting is legible or, if it's not, print your letter out on the computer. If you really want to make a great impression, you can use a blank greeting card and write "thank you" on the front in calligraphy. Then you can use cursive or italics to write the body of the letter.
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Organize your letter by paragraphs. In general, your first paragraph should be where you express your thanks and your desire to work in the position you applied for. Next, you can reiterate why you feel you are a good fit for the position. Use authoritative language. After that, you can include anything you might have felt was missing in the interview or not articulated correctly. Finally, close by expressing thanks once more and invite the employer to contact you further. For example, "Thank you for your time. I look forward to working with you in the future."
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Tips & Warnings
Include anything in the thank-you letter that you see fit. It is fine if you want to say you had a good time talking with them or some other personal element.
Make sure to use correct grammar and spelling.
References
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