Work On It Wednesday: Perfecting the Thank-You Letter
By Emily Young MA ‘16
I am a huge believer in the power of two very important words: “thank you”—you can’t say them enough. In building your career path, it is important to be gracious about all the opportunities you receive and acknowledge them. Mentors, job interviewers, informational interviewees, professors, friends, family etc., they all deserve thank-you letters.
I believe there is not enough emphasis on the
importance of thank-you letters to receiving a job offer. Most of the emphasis tends to be on the cover letter, resume, and interview. Writing a thank-you
letter after a job interview is just as important, if not more important,
because it can be the difference between getting a job offer or not.
The Three Key Components to a Job Interview Thank You Letter:
1. Professional Courtesy
A thank-you note illustrates you respect the time of the company
representatives who met with you. A
potential employer who receives a thank-you note from you is likely to conclude
you will exhibit the same degree of thoughtfulness to clients, customers, and
colleagues if you were to become an employee.
Even if you determined through the interview that the role is not the
right fit for you, it is still professional to thank them for their time and
let the interviewer know you are looking in another direction.
2. Demonstrate Interest for the Job
A thank-you note is the place to seal the deal. A thank-you note lets an employer know that you are truly interested in the job you interviewed for and are willing to go the extra mile. Chances are, the company is conducting numerous interviews, and writing a thank-you note will set you apart from the crowd and keep you top of mind.
3. Timeliness
The job field is competitive, so timeliness is key. A couple hours after the interview you should email the interviewer a brief thank-you note exhibiting professional courtesy and interest for the job. In addition, you should mail a handwritten letter within 24 hours of the interview touching on more personal aspects of the interview and demonstrate fit. That way when they are looking to make a decision at the end of the week whom to select, they have a handwritten note from you explaining why you are the best candidate.
Putting it all together:
Justin,
Thank you for meeting with me yesterday and telling me more about the Audience Analysis Position. Audience Analysis would build on my analytical skills and be a great experience for my career growth as I aspire to be a brand manager of a leading sports company in the future.
I’ve had a great experience interning for Fox Sports, which is why I am certain I would learn a tremendous amount under your direction. I understand that all of Fox’s intern positions are highly competitive and sought after and wanted to thank you for your time and consideration. Hope to hear back from you soon.
Sincerely,
Emily Young
Thanks For Reading!
~Emily
