Thank-You Letters

Purpose

• Thank-you notes should be written after any contact you have with a potential employer, information interview or network contact, whether by phone, email or in-personA thank-you letter is intended to acknowledge the time someone has given you in your job search or information gathering
• It reminds people of who you are, what your skills are and tells them that you appreciate how they have helped you
• They demonstrate that you have good social skills and can be counted on to follow up
• Because many people do not take the time to write a thank-you, it will set you apart from your competitors

Include

• A salutation
• What you are thanking them for
• A reminder of something you talked about / the interview topic you enjoyed / your skills / your interest in the position 
• Your full name as signature
• A relevant and formal subject line (if sending an email)
• Do Not use emoticons
• Check for spelling and grammar before you hit send. Errors in spelling and grammar send the message that you aren’t that interested in details

Tips

• Send your thank-you within 24 hours
• Use the opportunity to not only thank the person for their time, but to also remind them of your relevant skills and your interest in the position (if you are thanking them for a job interview)
• Proofread your letter to ensure it is free of errors
• Make mention of a topic or point that you discussed to make a personal connection
• Even if you do not intend to pursue work with that company at present, a well thought out thank you letter can open doors and help people in your field remember who you are
• You can send your thank-you in the form of a card, letter or e-mail
• Make sure you thank everyone who assists you
• If you had a panel interview, send a separate letter to each person on the panel
• If you are sending a thank-you letter to a network contact, be sure to offer to reciprocate the favour
• Try to send it during business hours ( 9 am – 6 pm)