Fillable Printable Interview Thank You Letter Template Word
Fillable Printable Interview Thank You Letter Template Word
Interview Thank You Letter Template Word
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.
Thank You Letters 2
IMPACT
In many cases, a simple thank you letter addressing your genuine interest and gratitude can make the
difference between being hired and being overlooked. Amidst a job search, you should look for any
opportunity to set yourself apart, whether by including a tailored cover letter or making a follow-up
phone call directly to an employer to introduce yourself after you send in an application. It is assumed
only 10% of candidates send a thank you letter, so take the time to make yourself stand out!
SUGGESTED THANK YOU LETTER FORMAT AND EXAMPLE
August 9, 2011
1947 Grace Avenue
Springfield, Illinois 10281
James R. Quinn, Director
Personnel Department, Davis Enterprises
22900 Cambridge Street
Boston, Massachusetts 01181
Dear Mr. Quinn,
Thank you for the opportunity to interview yesterday for the Sales
Trainee position. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about
Davis Enterprises. You have a fine staff and a sophisticated
approach to marketing.
PARAGRAPH 1: THANK THE
INTERVIEWER FOR HIS OR HER TIME,
AND THEN MAKE SOME MENTION OF
THE INTERVIEW.
Davis Enterprises appears to be growing in a direction that matches
my career goals. Your organization’s new emphasis in online
advertising parallels my interests in utilizing the internet as a
marketing tool. The interview with you and your staff confirmed my
initial positive impressions of Davis Enterprises, and I want to
reiterate my strong interest in working for you. My prior experience
in operating office equipment plus my training in communication
would enable me to progress steadily through your training program
and quickly become a productive member of your sales team.
PARAGRAPH 2: REITERATE YOUR
INTEREST IN THE POSITION AND
REMIND THE INTERVIEWER OF YOUR
RELEVANT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE.
STRESS THE “FIT” BETWEEN YOU AND
THE COMPANY.
Again, thank you for your consideration. If you need any additional
information, please feel free to call me at (444) 222-7777.
PARAGRAPH 3: EXTEND FINAL
THANKS AND INDICATE WHERE YOU
CAN BE REACHED.
Sincerely,
Cary Harmon
NEXT STEPS
Come to the MU Career Center to talk with someone about your job search and to schedule a
mock interview.
Visit our Handouts link on http://career.missouri.edu/resources to download other handouts in
our Job Search Preparation series.
