Thank You Notes
Importance of thank you notes
22% of employers are less likely to hire a candidate who does not send a thank you and 91% like being thanked.
- Demonstrates follow through, professional courtesy and written communication skills.
- Reaffirms your interest in the position.
- Strengthens your relationship with the employer.
- Creates an opportunity to introduce information that wasn’t brought up in the interview.
Thank you notes should also be sent for informational interviews, job shadows and any other career development opportunities where you interact with employers, alumni, etc.
Thank you note etiquette
- Ask for a business card from the person(s) who interviewed you so you have their contact information.
- Send a thank you note within 24 hours.
- You may email your thank you note or print it on business stationary and send it via USPS.
- Avoid “text-speak” when composing your thank you note: thx, r, u, thru, etc.
- Check for grammatical errors by proofreading.
Thank you note layout
Introductory paragraph
- Thank the employer for meeting with you.
- Express your enthusiasm for the position/organization/experience.
Middle paragraph
- After an interview, re-emphasize your strongest qualifications by drawing attention to your skills, experience, or commitment to the position/organization.
- After an informational interview, recall something you learned or gained.
- Mention something specific you discussed with the individual. This personalizes you.
Concluding paragraph
- Thank the employer for meeting with you.
- Express your enthusiasm for the position/organization/experience.
- Indicate which day you interviewed with the individual – they see many applicants.
- Indicate the position you applied for – recruiters recruit for more than one position.
- Provide your phone number and email address.
Examples
Dear Ms. Lewis:
Email Business Format
Subject: Thank You – Sales Management Trainee Interview – May 13
Dear Ms. Lis:
Thank you for the opportunity to interview for the Sales Management Trainee position with Enterprise Rent-A-Car on Monday, May 13, at Western Michigan University. Learning more about the position and company solidified my interest in becoming a part of the Enterprise team.
Knowing that Enterprise is ranked by Fortune magazine as “Top Five Best Real World Experiences in the US” is what initially drew me to your company. My interest in the company increased when I learned of your personal experience at Enterprise – it is great to hear about a company that invests in quality employees, such as you, and promotes talent from within. I am confident my experience as the executive director of a student-run non-profit organization would assist me as I learn to run my own Enterprise branch. My ability to build rapport with customers using active listening and assertive communication will be a great benefit to the company when building a client base that guarantees return business.
I truly look forward to hearing from you about the opportunity to become a part of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Should you have additional questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact me at (269) 123-1234or Emai@wmich.edu. Thank you again for meeting with me and sharing your Enterprise story.
Sincerely,
Taliah R. Acevedo
Mail Business Format
1234 Westnedge Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49001