Tips for Writing a Job Interview Thank-You Letter

Are you trying to write a job interview thank-you letter—and getting stuck, staring at that blank page? It may help to know that simply by writing a thank-you letter, you’re taking the most important step.

According to CareerBuilder, 43% of applicants fail to send thank-you notes after a job interview. That’s a problem, because nearly 1 in 5 interviewers said they’d dismissed a candidate for not sending a thank-you note, per a survey from TopResume.

Bottom line, it’s always appropriate to say thank you. Not sure what to include? These tips will help you get started.

Tips for Writing a Job Interview Thank-You Letter

1. Thank-You Letter Basics. Thank-you letters can be handwritten, typed or sent via email. Use standard business-letter format for a typed or handwritten letter. Include an appropriate subject line if you send an email. Each thank-you letter should include a thank you for the interview, your interest in the job, your qualifications and skills, and a final thank you.

2. The Clock Is Ticking. Plan to send out thank-you letters as soon as possible (preferably within 24 hours) after your interview. If time is of the essence, say thank you by email or call to say thank you.

3. Be Concise. Keep your thank-you letters short and simple, but do use the letter to reiterate your interest in the job, your enthusiasm for the company and to sell yourself as the ideal candidate.

4. Use the Letter as a Tool to Get Hired. If there was something that you wish you had mentioned during the interview, here's your chance to say it by including it in your thank-you letter.

5. Know When to Send a Group Letter. Are individual notes appropriate or should you write a group letter? Choose your approach based on what you think will be most in keeping with the personality of the organization.

Also, consider whether the interviews had very much in common with one another. If there was a great deal of similarity, perhaps a "group" letter will suffice. If so, address all the people on a master letter and add a personal note to each. Otherwise, send a personalized letter to each interviewer.

6. Don’t Forget to Thank Other Folks, Too. In addition to thanking your interviewers, thank everyone else who assists with your job search, including references, people who refer you to a job opening and any other employment contacts whose help you have appreciated and who you want to develop a good relationship with.

7. Proofread Your Letter. Spell-check and proofread your thank-you letter. Then ask someone else to proof it for you, too. That way you will be sure that it's perfect. If you send an email thank-you letter, send yourself a test message to make certain that the formatting holds up. 

Thank-You Letter Example and Template

This is an example of a job interview thank you letter. Download the job interview thank you letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Thank-You Letter Email Example

When you send an email thank-you message, include your contact information in your signature so it's easy for the hiring manager to get in touch.