Thank You Letters

The art of being thankful is less frequently practiced in this day and age. Following your interview, writing a thank you note can result in the make-or-break between getting hired, or not.

Here are some dos and don'ts for maximizing your success through the written word:

Express Heartfelt Enthusiasm

Make sure the person you are writing to knows that you are interested in the position.  This is a great place to express how much you truly want the position.  It is also important to explain why you are interested in the position.  Why do you think you are a good fit?

Helpful Hint: You never want to sound desperate.  Here is an example of some expressed enthusiasm, "I feel as though I am an excellent candidate for the executive assistant role and believe I have many of the qualities the position requires.  I hope I get the chance to show you and the rest of your team how I will perform to my maximum capabilities and adapt to each situation with care and determination."

Address Unresolved Points

Perhaps there was a point during your interview where you answered a question differently than you had planned, or perhaps you forgot to mention something altogether.  Your thank you letter is a place where you can bring up these unresolved points.

Helpful Hint:  Think of a transition to introduce any unresolved points, for example, "In the time we spoke together, we discussed how the company has taken on new technologies.  I pride myself on my ability to work with both Mac and PC operating systems, as well as Microsoft Office programs for both technologies."

Personalize It

Find something to write in your letter that you remember about the person who interviewed you.  You do not want your thank you letter to sound generic (something you send out after every interview). 

Helpful Hint: Whether you found out how they got started with the company, or learned that your interviewer is a marathon runner, it is always nice to add some kind of personal touch.  For example, "As an aspiring Project Manager, I admire your ability to manage several different projects at a time and still find time to train for the Boston Marathon."

Reiterate Your Expertise

Emphasize your strengths.  Your recruiter has shared feedback with you on your performance during the interview. You have the inside scoop as to what strengths the company is hoping to identify. Here's the chance to highlight those abilities. If the majority of your experience has been in marketing, and the job you just interviewed for requires strong html language and specific market knowledge, perhaps you might highlight a market trend discovered in a recent article that may be of interest to your recruiter and tie it to your strength.  Make it yours by thinking out of the box and lending a refreshing perspective to your letter.

Helpful Hint: Here is a quick example, "Throughout the past three years, I have worked on over thirty marketing projects, including consumer and business marketing, as well as many others.  I feel as though my experience in the marketing field can greatly benefit your business. I included an article on the trend you and I discussed that I thought you might find helpful."

Highlight Your Success

Brag, boast, toot your horn! This may be your last opportunity to describe how you are an amazing catch! 

Helpful Hint: "During my internship at JP Morgan, I was awarded "Top Intern of 2010" and feel as though the work I put into earning this award was not only beneficial for my future success, but was also valuable to JP Morgan."

Proofread! (Ask for a second set of eyes - your recruiter is here for you!)

We can't tell you how many times it's happened: The candidate is in the top tier for consideration. The call comes from our client: the thank you letter had typos, or it was grammatically lacking finesse and the prospect of an offer is now off the table.  Devastating?  Yes, because it was absolutely avoidable. Spelling and grammatical errors are not acceptable. 

Helpful Hint: Don't rely on automatic spell-check and grammar corrections.  Do not text your thank you notes.  In the interest of getting the letter off quickly, do not compose your letter when you are tired or uninspired. This will be reflected in your letters. Do make sure you have a second set of trusted eyes to give the final approval to your final missive - this is the document that lands your next position.

The Delivery

A hand delivered, hand-written thank you note is a nice touch in an ever-increasingly competitive market and may be the very thing that separates you from the rest of the crowd. Try it.

In Closing

Finally, indicate the gratitude you feel for time your interviewer has allotted you through an earnest conclusion in your letter. Most companies believe candidates want the job they are interviewing for, but how will you show them you are the worthiest candidate for hire?  Following these steps is a good start. 

Although you may think the "art of being thankful" is something that does not need to be practiced, your future employers will beg to differ.  So, set aside some time soon after your interview and make sure to hit all of these points.