Job Interview Thank You Letter
From LoveToKnow Jobs
A well-written job interview thank you letter gives you the opportunity to sell yourself one more time and to leave a final positive thought with your prospective employer. What you say, or don't say, in that letter could make the difference between whether or not you get the job.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Most job seekers do not send thank you letters after an interview. Sending a well-written thank you letter right after the interview will make you stand out from the crowd and show that you are interested in the job.
You don't need a long letter on fancy colored stationery to get noticed. The letter can be one page and printed on white paper stock. The goal of your letter is to give the interviewer reasons to hire you and to reinforce that you are interested in the job.
Be sure to ask for the interviewer's business card before you leave the interview. This will send a positive statement about your professionalism and make sure you include the correct name spelling and title on the letter you send to the interviewer. If you did not get a business card, call the receptionist to double check the name and title of the person or people with whom you met.
What to Say
The letter does not have to be formal in style. It also does not have to be a point-by-point recap of your interview. A well-written thank you letter should include statements that:
- Thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. Be sure to mention the names of all interviewers in the letter.
- Reinforce that you think you have the experience and skills for the job.
- Give one or two key examples of why you think you should be hired. Be sure you mention what you can accomplish on the job that will be of benefit to the employer.
- Say you are looking forward to hearing their decision. You can also mention your immediate availability.
Getting the Last Word
A job interview thank you letter can be a good time to mention or clarify facts that you feel might be important as you are considered for the job. This is a good time to mention a special class that you have taken, or experience you gained in a specific skill while you were volunteering for a local organization. You can add a sentence or two of clarification on a subject discussed in the interview if you feel that you didn't adequately answer one of the interviewer's questions.
You can always use the thank you letter as a vehicle to include additional information that might be helpful to clarify your expertise. A one-page listing of reference names and contact information would be appropriate as would any technical or software certification information that might be of interest to the interviewer. A few paragraphs on how you might solve an issue discussed during the interview would reinforce your skills and your potential value to the employer.
Email versus Postal Mail
Always send your thank you letter using postal mail. It will receive more attention as a letter on the interviewer's desk than it would receive as an email in the interviewer's inbox.
When to Send Your Letter
You should send your thank you letter so the interviewer receives the letter within 24 hours of your interview. If your letter arrives too late, the decision on whether or not to hire you may already have been made. Mail your letter the same day as your interview or drop your letter off with the receptionist.
Where to Find Sample Job Interview Thank You Letters
Several job search websites include sample thank you letters which might give you good starting points for your thank you letter:
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