Successful Interviewing

How to Write a Thank You Letter

Write Right Away

It's a good idea to follow-up as soon as possible after your interview. Send a thank you letter the same day as your interview when you can, certainly within the first couple days thereafter. You should also send a separate note to each person who interviewed you. It is a good practice to always get each interviewer's business cards.

Get Your Facts Straight

Be sure to spell all names correctly. You are trying to reinforce the positive contact with the good people who took the time to meet with you. You do not want your thanks to do more harm than good do you? If you didn't manage to get one of your interviewer's business cards, call his/her secretary or the company receptionist to confirm the proper spelling and title.

Choose the Proper Tone

Use your instinct to guide you on this one; match the tone of your interview. If you treated in a formal manner, a more formal response is appropriate. If you felt you interview went well and had a more relaxed tone, craft your letter accordingly (though you should always avoid being overly familiar). If there were important things that you felt were conveyed in your interview or were not clear, fill in the gaps in your thank you letter. If there were any misunderstandings in your interview, this is your chance to do damage control confronting such situations, be positive not antagonistic. Keep in mind, you can control the contents of your letter more completely than you could your interview. Take advantage of this opportunity wisely.

Be Unique

Individualize your thank you letter in some way. This does not mean sending a ballad program. The point is to steer clear of trite, canned statements that may sound impersonal or insincere, or like a mail-merge document that you send out after every interview. For example, refer to something that came up in your discussion. This will help emphasize the contact that you made and will help keep you fresh in their minds if you are competing against a large pool of candidates. Include additional information if you can. If the interviewer took particular interest in something you brought up, send him/her a related article, a copy of that publication you were in, or samples of your work. Add anything pertinent that might reiterate the unique qualities that you have to offer.