HTML Preview Formal Business Thank You Letter page number 1.
MU CAREER CENTER
Lower Level,
Student Success Center
University of Missouri
PHONE: (573) 882-6801
Visit us online at:
career.missouri.edu
GUIDE TO
THANK YOU LETTERS
PURPOSE
A thank you letter should be sent after you meet a networking contact, after an informational interview
or job shadowing experience, or scholarship interview. The general purpose of a thank you letter is to
show gratitude to the contact for his or her time and information. A thank you letter also provides you
with another chance to remind an interviewer of your interest in the position and the skills that you have
to offer.
TIMELINESS
Thank you letters should be sent promptly after the interview (within 24 hours if possible), because you
will still be on the contact’s mind. Timely thank you letters make a good impression on a person
considering you for a job or potential member of your long-term network. Timeliness is particularly
important in potential employment situations where the employer might make a quick hiring decision.
FORMAT
Depending on the situation and the contact to which you are writing the letter, you can choose between
a hand-written note, a typed letter, or an email. If you have a more casual contact or if the organization
for which you are interviewing is a small business or non-profit organization, it might be more
appropriate to send a hand-written note or card. In cases of dealing with a large corporation or a more
formal business contact, you might consider a business letter format or an email. Lastly, an email
format would be recommended if you are interviewing with a group who may be making their hiring
decision in a very short time frame from when you interview to ensure they get your contact before
then.
ADDRESSING
Ideally, you should send a separate thank you letter to each person
with whom you had contact. If you were a part of a panel interview,
you should send a letter to each interviewer if possible. If for some
reason you were not able to get everyone’s full name, consider
contacting an administrative associate with the company or
organization to obtain more detailed information about proper
spelling, address, and so forth. You might even be able to get
business cards from your interviewers before you leave the
interview!
FIRST STEPS
Remember the name of the person or people who interviewed you so that you can personally
address the letter to them.
Make yourself and your interview stand out by taking the time to make a personal connection
with the interviewer.