After the Interview - Thank You Letter
Your interview is over. But your quest for the job is not quite over yet. You should write a thank you letter to thank your interviewer for meeting with you.
WHAT is a thank you letter?
A thank you letter is a brief letter thanking your interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. It should be business-like and professional.
WHY write a thank you letter?
It is polite to thank your interviewer for meeting with you. It has also become customary (expected) to send a thank you letter. The letter is yet another chance to talk about your strengths. Be sure to mention why you are a good fit for the job and that you are excited about the prospect of working there. If you want the job, you should write a thank you letter!
WHEN do you send it?
The thank you letter should be sent within 2 days of your interview.
HOW should it be written?
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If you hand-write a letter, you need to be sure that the spelling and grammar are 100% correct. Be sure that your handwriting is legible. Ask someone else to review your letter before you send it. |
You can:
- Send an email, if you have their professional email address.
- Type a letter and mail it.
- Hand-write a letter and mail it.
If you do send a letter rather than an email, make sure the letter is business-like and professional. Do not use a greeting card or notebook paper. View a sample thank you letter.
How LONG should it be?
The thank you letter should be approximately 5-7 sentences long.
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In your thank you letter, be sure to:
- Start the letter with "Dear Mr. / Ms. _______,"
- Thank the interviewer for meeting with you (in 1 sentence).
- Tell the interviewer that you really enjoyed meeting with them (in 1 sentence).
- Express your interest in the job (in 1-2 sentences).
- Briefly state one good reason why you are a good fit for the job (in 1-2 sentences).
- Give the interviewer your phone number and / or email so they can contact you (in 1 sentence).
- End the letter with "Sincerely, (your first and last name)."
- In total, your thank you letter should be approximately 5-7 sentences long.
- Ask someone (i.e. a parent, teacher, mentor, friend) to proofread your letter before you send it.
- Much of the information in your thank you letter may be the same as what you have stated in your resume, cover letter, and/or interview, but that is okay. For example, it is better that your phone number is written in several places so it is easy for the company to find.
- The thank you letter should be both sincere and professional.
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