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The job search should not end with the interview. Writing a thank-you note is a critical step in the job-hunting process
that many overlook. Although sending a thank-you note will not assure you of a job offer, not sending one may affect
your chances.
Here are some ps for wring a thank-you note:
Immediately aer the interview, ask for the business card of the person you spoke with or, if none is available, get
the correct spelling of his or her name and tle. Write down your thoughts related to the interview along with any
specic points you discussed. Do this for each person immediately aer your meeng, if possible. This will allow you
to write personalized thank-you notes later.
Write a thank-you note to everyone you interview with. You should send notes following in-person employment
interviews, phone interviews, and informaonal interviews.
Write and send the note promptly aer the interview (within 24 hours if possible).
An emailed thank-you note is also appropriate, parcularly if it needs to reach the employer immediately. If you prefer
to hand write a note, use either a card or the same paper you used for your resume and cover leer. Cards can be
handwrien; paper leers should be typed.
Your note should be brief and personalized.
Express your appreciaon for the opportunity to interview.
Reinforce your enthusiasm for the posion and the company.
Recap the main points that you want the employer to remember about you and your strengths in relaon to the job.
Reiterate what you understand to be the meline for the hiring process.
Include any pernent informaon about yourself that you may have forgoen to menon during the interview.
Describe any acon you have taken since the interview as a result of that discussion.
Thank the interviewer for his/her me and state that you look forward to hearing from him/her soon.
After the Interview:
Writing a Thank-You Note
Thank-you leers should be wrien in business leer format:
Your address
Date
Mr./Ms. . . .
Person’s tle
Company name
Company address
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:
Thank the person for taking the me to interview you for the specic posion. Include one or two sentences about what
you learned about the posion or company.
Briey reiterate your strengths; menon anything you forgot to highlight in the interview; state your belief that you could
make a posive contribuon to the organizaon.
In closing, state that you look forward to hearing from him/her soon and/or reiterate the next step in the hiring meline.
Thank the person again for his/her consideraon.
Sincerely,
Your signature
Your name
Thank-you letters leave a positive impression—unless they are poorly written. It’s a good idea to have someone else
read over your letter to help you spot any typos or minor errors before you send it.
Quesons? For further assistance, please contact Career Services at cservices@clarku.edu.
