Thousands of Americans go on job interviews each week day. With high national unemployment, odds are that every job opening has several qualified applicants vying to fill it. Stand out above the rest by composing a thoughtful and timely sent thank you letter, email, or note card after an interview.
Sample Thank You Note Wording for Job Interview Follow Up
In this article, find a discussion of the pros and cons of sending thank you emails, thank you letters, and handwritten note cards as follow ups to job interviews.
Interview Thank You Letter vs Interview Thank You Email
Thank you letters are the old standard, but emails have their place. Options for follow up thank you messages after an interview: email, typed letter, handwritten note card.
Knowing which method of business thank you message to send can be tricky. Some hiring managers make decisions very quickly, so the person who sends an email may gain an advantage over someone who mails a note that is received after the hiring decision has been made. On the other hand, an old-fashioned interviewer may strongly prefer a more personal thank you note or letter over a quickly written email; in fact, some people may actually be offended by the receipt of a thank you email.
Try Handwritten Card Instead of Interview Thank You Email
To really make a statement, consider handwriting a thank you card after an interview. The gesture may just stand out, and it will certainly make a favorable impression on an interviewer who is looking for a caring, thoughtful individual to join the team.
Choose Business Thank You Card or Thank You Letter Over Email?
The choice of whether to mail an interview thank you letter / card or use email should be made by taking the interviewer’s personality and assumed preferences into account.
When in doubt, a typed thank you letter or handwritten thank you card mailed immediately after the interview may be the safest bet. Mailed correspondence is acceptable in most instances, whereas emails could be considered rude by some.
Professional Example Interview Thank You Letter Wording
Below is sample thank you letter wording that can be adapted to include specifics. This example follow up thank you letter assumes that the job candidate interviewed with a manager and met with at least two potential colleagues.
Dear Hiring Manager,
Thank you very much for the opportunity to interview for the job opening (insert name of actual job). I enjoyed meeting you, colleague X (name the person), and colleague Y (name the person). I truly feel as though I would fit in with the team (name the specific company or department). As I mentioned before, I am interested in working with you on X (list a specific project or perhaps an ideal, like “challenging work”). I believe my qualifications in X field / doing X work will be an asset to the company.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. You may reach me any time at 555-555-5555 or emailaddress@fakeemail.com.
Sincerely,
Candidate A
Sample Thank You Letter Closings & Business Letter Tips
Keep in mind that an actual professional thank you letter should contain a date and address block at the top. Also, insert four spaces between the closing and your typed name to allow for a signature.
A handwritten thank you note will have a less professional, more personal feel than a typed letter. Adapt the spacing and wording to fit a small writing area.
In the case of a business interview, “sincerely” is a highly appropriate thank you letter closing word. The words “respectfully” and “regards” are also perfectly acceptable for a business thank you letter.
Letter After Job Interview – Adapt Professional Thank You Message
The sample interview thank you letter above can be adapted for any sort of career interview, from a standard job interview to a college student internship interview. Rising college students and those already in college may be interested in the article Sample Letter of Recommendation for Student Organizations. Anyone still contemplating the move from one job to another may need a Free Sample Letter of Resignation Template.
Related article about thank you letter wording:
Sample Thank You Note Wording for Gifts – Get example thank you letter wording that can be adapted for wedding, baby, or birthday gifts.
Related job search article:
Sample Letter of Recommendation for a Co-Worker
Lena Gott - Lena Gott is a Certified Public Accountant who gives practical financial advice to her readers.
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