Lesson 10 – The Thank You Letter

Make sure to send a thank you letter to all the people you interviewed with.  Additionally, send your letters within twenty-four hours of your interview. After completing an interview, make sure the follow up with a thank-you letter.  The letter is not optional. It is expected and a major part of the interviewing process.  If the job selection comes down to two candidates, the job will most likely go to the person who followed up with a letter.  In addition to making a great impression, the thank you letter serves several purposes:

• It reminds the employer that you are a great candidate and reiterates your capabilities.
• It demonstrates your strong communication skills and writing ability.
• It provides follow up with any information you told the interviewer you would get back to them on.
• It redresses any questions that you did not answer fully and clearly or would like to elaborate on.

The format of the cover letter should follow a standard business letter style and include the following information:

1. Top of your letter:
   • Contact information
   • Date
   • Company’s address
   • Greeting
2. Opening Paragraph:
   • Thank the interviewer for their time
   • Remind the interviewer of the date and the position you interviewed for
   • Reiterate your interest in the position
3. Second Paragraph:
   • This paragraph should contain information specific to your interview and how you fit the job.  Consider one of the following for the paragraph:
     • Discuss a point that you forgot to mention of did not cover well in the interview and relate it to the job requirements.
     • Bring up something (job related) discussed during the interview and share your enthusiasm for the topic.
     • Discuss the strong rapport you felt with the interviewer or team (be confident that the feeling is mutual before discussing this).
     • Discuss your ability to fill the company’s immediate needs.
4. Last Paragraph:
   • Sum up your letter by showing appreciation for the employers time, reiterating your interest in the position, and indicating that you look forward to hearing from them.
5. Signature:
   • Make sure to sign the letter with either a ‘Thank you’ or ‘Sincerely.’  If mailing the letter, type your name and sign above your type-written name.  If emailing, it is not necessary to physically sign it, however be sure to include your name and maintain a professional business format.