How to Write a Short Thank You Letter

A thank you letter will make you stand out from a sea of applicants or make loved ones feel appreciated.

Sending a thank you letter is a tasteful way to show your appreciation for many things, from gifts to enjoying a party. Roughly 5 percent of job candidates send a follow up letter to their potential employer. This is a way to be remembered that shows polish and class. Make your comments brief and convey the spirit of your message succinctly without taking up a lot of the recipient's time. Use these guidelines and set yourself apart from the crowd in personal and professional situations.

Things You'll Need

• Email
• Paper
• Pen
• Envelope
• Stamp
• Printer

Instructions

Professional Letters

1. 

   A well crafted email can be just as personal as a letter in your own writing.

   Send an email or a handwritten letter as soon as possible after the interview. Don't allow a long lapse in time. Email is a quick way to communicate and it is also a good idea if you are not confident in your penmanship.

2. Limit your letter to two paragraphs. A short paragraph is between three to five sentences. Write in the present perfect tense which is applicable for things that have recently occurred. This makes your writing connect the immediate past with the present. Avoid using elaborate fonts.

3. 

   A thank you letter will make your resume memorable.

   Use your first paragraph to express that you appreciate meeting the interviewer. Include a brief mention of the date, the time you met and the position you discussed. Talk about usage and relevance in your second paragraph. Point out a specific skill you have that is applicable to the available position.

4. 

   Put thought into your letter content.

   Make your thank you letter personal. Use the full name of the person you interviewed with. If you spoke to more than one person, vary the content of the letters slightly so they don't look like impersonal reproductions. State that you are looking forward to speaking to the reader again in the future; this is applicable for both formal and informal writing. Sign your letters with innocuous endings such as Sincerely or Cordially.

Personal Letters

1. 

   Tell your loved ones you had a good time or appreciate their thoughfulness.

   Follow the same format as professional letters, but note the difference in the execution. Reply quickly after receiving a gift or going to an event. Use a paragraph to start with that states how you enjoyed the time you spent, or your gratitude for your gift.

2. 

   Let people know their gift is now a part of your life, or that their event is a treasured memory.

   Express exactly how you use the gift in your second paragraph, or what you liked most about the event you attended.

3. Add a touch of something that the recipient likes. If they are interested in cooking, add a short recipe at the bottom of the page. If they are interested in sports, go online and copy / paste the logo of their favorite team in the upper corner of your page and print it for your letter. Use endings like Kind Regards, Best Wishes or Take Care for family and friends.

Tips & Warnings

• Review your writing for spelling, grammar and correct punctuation.

• Send a handwritten letter only if you feel that you have established a friendly compatibility. Writing a letter by hand is a great touch for personal situations because it takes more time to write, address an envelope and mail it. This shows more thought and care and communicates consideration for the receiver.

References

• Quint Carreers: FAQs About Thank You Letters
• Write Express: How to Write the Perfect Thank You Letter
• The Morning News: How to Write a Thank You Note
• Monash University: The Present Perfect Tense
• Technology Studies in Education: Basic Paragraph Structure
• My Thank You Site: Your Job Interview Thank You Letter

Resources

• The English Web: How to Start and End a Business Letter or Email
• Boston College: Thank You Letters
• Virginia Tech career Services: Thank-You / Follow-Up Letters
• English At Home: Writing Thank You Letters and Emails
• Writing Business Letters: Thank You Letter
• Quint Carreers: Sample Thank You Letters