“Thank you.” A tiny phrase with incredible power. You’ve no doubt heard that it’s a good idea to send thank-you notes on certain important occasions, such as when you receive gifts for a wedding or graduation. Few people realize that thank-you notes also form an important step of the job search process. After a job interview, informational interview, job fair, or networking event, you’ll want to send a thank-you letter to follow up.

Are thank-you letters still necessary?

I know, it seems a bit old-fashioned. The days of Emily Post are long past, and it’s tempting nowadays to think of etiquette as an antiquated ritual. You may wonder if anyone will care – or even notice – if you don’t send thank-you letters. We strongly advise against this way of thinking. Sending a thank-you will never hurt your cause, and in some cases, it can help immensely in the following ways:

• It shows that you care enough to make an extra effort.
• It keeps you in the forefront of the recipient’s mind.
• It gives you one last chance to showcase your passion and enthusiasm.
• It reminds the recipient of your best skills and accomplishments.
• It allows you to show off your written communication skills.
• It puts you ahead of other candidates who didn’t write thank-you letters.

how to write/format a thank-you letter

• Start  with a Salutation such as “Dear Mr. Smith,” then write the Body of your letter:
  1. Begin the body of your letter by thanking the person for taking the time to speak with you.
  2. Reiterate your interest in the position/company/industry. If possible, refer back to specific information you discussed when you met with them.
  3. Restate a few of your most relevant and impressive skills/accomplishments, so that the person remembers what you have to offer.
  4. End with a call to action that addresses the next steps in your job search process.
• Include a Closing (something like “Sincerely” or “Yours Truly”), then your Signature.
• Make sure that your letter doesn’t look crowded. Skip a line after each of the above sections and after each paragraph of the body.
• If your letter is emailed, make sure your signature includes all of your contact info – name, email, phone, and LinkedIn profile.
• If your letter is printed, include a Heading with your name and contact info at the top of the page. Also include today’s Date and the Address of the recipient, above the salutation.
• Be prompt! Send your letter within 24 hours after the meeting. Send a different letter to each person you met with – don’t just email one letter to everyone.

winning example

Dear Ms. Parker:

Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me yesterday for your Project Manager position. After our conversation, I am more convinced than ever that ABC Industries would be the perfect place for me to work. I was especially impressed by your description of the unique solutions your company came up with to address the COVID crisis. I look forward to working with such creative and flexible innovators.

I believe that I would be an asset to your organization. My skills exactly match the job as you described it. With my 7 years of project management experience, much of it managing 30+ people, I have a proven track record of seeing complex projects to completion ahead of time and under budget. I would be delighted to bring these skills to use for your company.

I am looking forward to your decision. In the meantime, if you have any more questions for me, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Jane Doe
555-555-5555
janedoe@email.com
www.linkedin.com/janedoe

The Career Center is here to help! You can visit us at 7711 Goodwood Blvd for one-on-one assistance with writing your job search letters.

Written by Lynnette Lee