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After An Interview, A Thank You Letter
Nearly every career book or counselor advises people seeking work to send a thank-you letter after each interview, but how many people really do this? Only about 5 percent of the people looking for work perform this very simple yet crucial step.
Thank you letters are not wimpy or desperate sounding. Many potential employers consider it just common courtesy, a way to differentiate yourself from the pack, proof that you are truly interested in the position, and a way to keep your name in front of them.
Will a thank-you letter increase your chances of getting the job? Probably not, but it may. A thank-you letter may sway a boss who is wavering between two finalist for the position, which will make all the difference. A simple gesture, could get you the job, so don’t leave it out.
Does it have to be handwritten or typed? Studies have shown it doesn't matter. The important thing is to just do it. If you feel the job calls for a formal business letter, send that. If your rapport with the interviewer dictate a more personal touch, send a handwritten note.
Can a thank-you letter by emailed? Experts are not in agreement. If people in the company use e-mail heavily, your e-mailed thank you will seem right in step. It's also a fast solution if you know the company will be making its hiring decision quickly. It's a good idea to follow an e-mailed thank-you with a hard-copy version.
Can I use a template thank-you letter? Wrong. NO! Candidates on the verge of being hired getting turned down from consideration because they sent sloppy, poorly written thank-you letter, full of typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors. Writing skills are important in many jobs, and employers don't want to have to teach candidates remedial skills. Spell check, proofread, and have someone you trust to read over your letter before you send it.
At the end of this article you’ll find some sample letter to give you an idea what thank-you letters look like. Be sure to borrow just the basic idea don't plagiarize the whole thing as companies check to see if you copied and pasted what you found here, or elsewhere.
The the best approach is to send separate thank-you letters to each person at the interview, it personalizes it and acknowledges them. You can make it essentially the same letter to each, varying at least some of the content to individualize the letters in case your recipients compare notes.
How soon after an interview do I have to send a thank-you letter? The rule of thumb is to send it no more than a day after an interview.
If a hiring decision is going to be made soon and there is no time to mail a letter, email it and apologize for the informality and you would have preferred to mail a letter. If mailing it is too slow, a faster way would be to: e-mail, fax, air-express, or hand-delivery the thank-you letter. In fact, if the interview was local, hand-delivery of the thank-you letter can make a great impression.
If you happened to get the job before getting the letter into the mail, send it anyway. Thank the employer for the interview and the offer. Your letter can also accept or decline the offer. If you accept the position you can re-state your understanding of the offer – salary, benefits, vacations days, starting date, paid training, etc. – that way any discrepancies can be red-flagged by the employer and straightened out before you start.
To make a thank-you letter better, find a way to personalize it. If you notice that the interviewer collects elephant figurines, for example, write your thank-you note on a notecard with an elephant on it.
The idea of a thank-you letter is to help you stand out. You need to play every edge you can, and with so few people actually following through on a thank-you letter, is your first edge, the second is the content of the letter. The sample letters on this site came from a book found at a WorkForce Center which contained sample letters that have been altered as not to plagiarize someone else's work. Edit them to meet you needs.
Take a look at these sample letters:
Thank You Letter Which Builds on the Interview
Thank You Letter That Aims At Damage Control
Additional Resources
The Resume Handbook: How to Write Outstanding Resumes and Cover Letters for Every Situation
Best KeyWords for Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews: Powerful Communication Tools for Success
Acing the Interview: How to Ask and Answer the Questions That Will Get You the Job
Successful Interview Skills: How to Present Yourself with Confidence
You're Hired! Interview Skills to Get the Job
The Art of the Interview: Lessons from a Master of the Craft
Instant Interviews: 101 Ways to Get the Best Job of Your Life
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