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Thank You Leers
And other correspondence
Knowing how to write professional thank you letters and other types of correspondence such as acceptance
and withdrawal letters is essential for every job seeker. The guidelines below focus on thank you letters, but
you will nd examples of all three types of correspondence on the back.
Many candidates overlook the thoughtful step of writing a thank you letter in the job search process. Thank
you letters will not necessarily secure you a job, but not sending one will most certainly hurt your chances. A
thank you letter should be sent after an interview for a job or an internship and also after an informational
interview.
Purpose of a thank you letter
Thank you letters provide an opportunity to rearm your interest in the position, restate your skills and
experiences that relate to the position, and acknowledge important points you covered, or may have
overlooked, in the interview. It is also a chance to show your professionalism and writing skills.
General guidelines
• Send thank you letters within 24–48 hours of the interview.
• Use block business letter format; keep your wording professional.
• Print your thank you letter on high quality paper that matches your resume.
• Make sure there are no typographical errors in your letter.
• If you are interested in further personalizing your thank you, then a plain, formal thank you card is
acceptable. Do not handwrite if you have poor handwriting.
• It’s acceptable to email thank you, acceptance and withdrawal letters, and you may optionally follow up
with a handwritten letter.
Parts of a thank you letter
Introductory paragraph
• Indicate the date and location of the interview.
• Restate the position for which you interviewed.
• Mention a point of interest from your conversation.
Body paragraph(s)
• Review your strongest qualications.
• Use specic examples to demonstrate skills and qualications you possess that are relevant to
something discussed in the interview.
Concluding paragraph
• Reiterate your continued interest and enthusiasm.
• Convey a sincere appreciation for the interviewer’s time and consideration.
• State your interest in the results of the selection process.
• Include your phone number (with area code) and your email address.
After accepting a position
Once you’ve secured a position, you should send thank you letters to the people who served as your
references informing them of your successful job search!
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