Overview

Thank you letters are written to follow up information and job interviews. Your thank you or follow up letter should be written and sent within 48 hours of an interview. These letters are an important part of making a positive, professional impression with potential employers and should not be neglected. Many employers reward candidates who have sent follow up letters with further consideration for the position, and some employers do not even consider candidates for hiring unless they receive a thank you letter, regardless of how great the interview went.

Thank you letters enable you to reiterate your interest in the position. In addition, the letter enables you to re-state selected qualifications as they relate to the employers' needs, as well as express your interest in the next stages of the selection process. When appropriate, you can also address an interviewer's concerns or questions that were not effectively handled in the interview.

In the first paragraph, thank the interviewer for the interview and confirm your continuing interest in the position. In the second paragraph explain how your background and qualifications match the expressed needs of the employer. The next paragraph is optional if you want to clarify something not mentioned during the interview or re-address an interviewer's concerns or troublesome question. The final paragraph should declare your interest again and suggest a time when you will follow-up on the results.

Finally, thank you letters should be written to all persons with whom you interviewed, or minimally to the individual(s) who is making the hiring decision. As you interview with different individuals within the organization, ask for a business card at the end of each interview. Multiple letters to an organization should be tailored to the specific interviewer and should not be exact copies.

Sample Thank You Letter

Please note: The following sample is for your reference only. Do not copy any of the text because it will appear to the interviewer as a standard letter and will defeat the purpose for sending the letter.

April 10, 20XX

Mr. Ted Young
ABC Retail
100 N. Kellogg Street
Anytown, USA 90000

Dear Mr. Young:

It was a pleasure to interview with you during your recruiting visit to Point Loma Nazarene University on Monday. Your organization's growth potential, customer service philosophy and advancement opportunities for trainees are some of the reasons why I remain very interested in your management trainee position.

My prior sales and customer service experience along with my leadership and organization skills will enable me to be a successful manager at ABC Retail. I am also a resourceful problem solver and would enjoy the many challenges that the position offers.

I look forward to hearing from you within the next two weeks. If you have not contacted me by the end of the month, I will call you to determine my status.

Again, thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

(signature)

Sara A. Ryan
1000 Painter Avenue
Whittier, CA 90602
(562) 693-0000