Thank You Letter Tips

It's always important to say thank you after a job interview and after a second interview, as well. It's also important to thank everyone you interviewed with and everyone who assisted with your job search. Here are some tips on who you should thank and the best way to thank them.

When should you send a thank you note after a job interview? After you have a job interview, it's important to follow-up right away.

Consider your thank you letters as follow-up "sales" letters. This is an opportunity to say why you want the job, what your qualifications are, and how you would contribute to the company. Your thank you letter is also the perfect opportunity to discuss anything of importance that your interviewer didn't ask or that you didn't asnwer as well as you could have.

It takes some time to write and send a handwritten thank you note. However, more than half of executives surveyed prefer handwritten notes to email. If you have time, mailing a thank you note to your interviewers will be well worth the effort.

Even though handwritten thank you notes make a really good impression, when time is of the essence and the employer is making a quick hiring decision, send an email thank you message immediately, rather than have to wait for the postal service to deliver it.

Review thank you letter samples applicable to a variety of employment-related situations, then take some time to edit and customize the thank you letter you choose, so it reflects your personality and your interest in the new job.

When you're shopping for thank you cards, don't choose cards that are cute or too funny. The thank you cards you send should be both simple and professional. A plain card that says "thank you" will create a good impression.

Sending a personal thank you note after a job interview, with your photo, is a great way to remind the interviewer who you are. In addition, a thank you note reiterates your interest and your appreciation for being considered for the position.

A plain note card with just your name on the front (Alison Doyle, for example) is another good choice for thanking both interviewers and the contacts who help with your job search. The receiver will see, at a glance, who sent it.

If you're job searching, take a few minutes during the holiday season to thank everyone who helped with your job search. It's an inexpensive way to both show your appreciation to those who helped and to make a good impression. Do be sure to send a general holiday card, not a religious one.