After a job interview, it’s both polite and prudent to write a thank you letter to your interviewer. This is not only a way of expressing your appreciation for their time, but also gives you another opportunity to reiterate your interest in the position and to address any concerns that may have come up during the interview. Here are some tips on how to compose an effective thank you letter after your next job interview.
1. Send a separate thank you letter to each person who interviewed you.
While it may be tempting to send out a mass email thank you note to everyone who interviewed you, it’s important to take the time to write a separate, personalized letter to each interviewer. This shows that you were paying attention during the interview and that you value their time.
2. Send your thank you letter as soon as possible.
Ideally, you should send your thank you letter within 24 hours of your interview. This shows that you’re excited about the opportunity and that you’re prompt and professional.
3. Keep it short and sweet.
Your thank you letter doesn’t need to be a novel. In fact, it’s better to keep it short and to the point. Thank the interviewer for their time, reiterating your interest in the position and briefly touching on one or two key points from the interview.
4. Avoid regurgitating your resume.
Your thank you letter is not the place to reiterate your qualifications or to list all the reasons why you’re the perfect candidate for the job. The interviewer already has your resume and, chances are, they’ve already made up their mind about you before they even met you.
5. Address any concerns that came up during the interview.
If the interviewer raised any concerns about your qualifications or about the job itself, use your thank you letter as an opportunity to address these concerns. Reassure the interviewer that you’re the right person for the job and that you’re excited to tackle the challenges that come with it.
6. Edit, edit, edit.
Before you hit “send” on your thank you letter, take the time to edit and proofread it. There’s nothing worse than sending a poorly written, error-filled letter to your potential employer.
7. Send your thank you letter by email.
While it’s certainly possible to send a thank you letter by regular mail, it’s much faster (and often just as effective) to send it by email. This way, the interviewer will receive your letter almost immediately after your interview.
8. Use a professional email address.
If you have an email address that’s unprofessional or that sounds like a child’s name, create a new, more professional email account to use for your job search. This will ensure that your thank you letters (and your job applications) always look professional.
9. Don’t get too creative with your thank you letter.
While it’s certainly important to make your thank you letter stand out, resist the urge to get too creative with it. Stick to a simple, professional format and avoid adding any frills or flourishes.
10. Say thank you.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to actually say “thank you” in your thank you letter. A simple “thank you for your time” will do.
By following these tips, you can be sure that your thank you letter will make a positive impression on your interviewer and that it will help you to secure the job you want.
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