Thank-You Letters: Just How Important Are They?

-Stacey Staack

Have you ever had a job interview go amazingly well but did not end up getting the job? Let me ask you something else: did you follow up with a thank-you letter or email after your interview? If you did, you may want to start doing so. Writing a thank-you letter after your interview is important for so many reasons.

Writing a thank-you letter to the interviewers gives you a chance to remind them as to why you are the ideal candidate. The interviewers may have several candidates that they are interviewing. By them receiving a follow-up email, including your top skills and qualities that make you best suited for this position, will let them know that you are still very interested and have the skill set that they are looking for.

In addition, it shows that you are great with follow-up and communicating with others. Just remember to double-check for any grammatical errors. This is also your time to show that you have a strong writing ability, especially if that is one of the skills they are looking for. You want to make sure that your writing is accurate and stands out in a good way.

Remember that a thank-you letter does not have to be long. In my opinion, five or so sentences is sufficient. Now, you may be asking yourself, what should I include in my cover letter? Below are my top six tips for a great thank-you letter/email:

1. Send out an individual letter/email to each interviewer right after your interview, on the same day.
2. Thank them for their time.
3. Reiterate the job position in which you had your interview for. (They may be interviewing for other positions as well, so reminding them which position you are writing about is a great idea.)
4. Share a couple of the essential skills and characteristics that they are looking for in a candidate that you excel at.
5. Share why you feel that you in this position will make for a great fit for both parties.
6. Proofread, proofread, proofread!

It is important to show that you are enthusiastic in your letter. This shows that you are happy with how the interview went and shows your excitement to land this new role. Remember, The Career Center is here to help you. Therefore, if you have any questions regarding preparing a thank-you letter/email stop in and see us. We are happy to offer guidance!