Developing a Thank You Letter

1
Developing a Thank You Letter

• Tuanh Pham
• ENGL 393 0401
• 9/8/05

2
A Great Idea

• Providing additional information
• Detail oriented and willingness to put in the
  extra effort
• Additional writing and editing skills
• Expressing interest in the job
• Reflecting upon the qualifications and experience
• Opportunity to explicitly say so
• Keeping lines of communication open
• Stays fresh in the interviewers minds
• Provide relevant details that werent mentioned
• Additional questions

Most importantly, it may be the key that sets
you apart from the other applicants
3
Which One?

• There are 3 different types of thank you letters
  that one should consider
• Business Letter
• Email Message
• Hand-written Card

Following slides will show the advantages and
disadvantages of each type. In the end, the
business letter and email message are likely the
best choices.
4
Business Letter

• Advantages
• Room for details
• Standard, professional
• Showcase skills
• Attention to details
• More traditional

• Disadvantages
• Not received immediately
• Not easy to forward to others
• Un-techie communication

5
Email Message

• Advantages
• Room for details
• Fast receipt
• Easy to forward
• Showcase skills
• Attention to details
• Techie communication

• Disadvantages
• Less formal and professional

6
Hand-written Card

• Advantages
• Personal touch
• Traditional

• Disadvantages
• Less professional or polished
• Doesnt showcase skills
• Not received immediately
• Un-techie communication
• Hard to forward

7
Planning

• Things to ask yourself
• Skills, experience, or education interviewers
  asked?
• Topics or issues that came up? Key topics?
• Needs or problems position addressed?
• What information was provided?
• More information that can be provided?
• Make sure to take notes, might use them for the
  letter

• Important to Have
• Names and titles of the interviewers, as well as
  individual addresses
• Acknowledgement of each persons time and
  knowledge shared at the interview

8
Developing the Letter
Introduction

• In this part, goals are
• Thank the recipient
• State position interviewed for and when the
  interview was
• Express interest for the position
• State qualifications

9
Body

• One or more paragraphs
• Can include, keeping with what the companys
  needs are for that particular position and the
  information exchanged
• -Emphasize key details that support
  qualifications for position
• -Additional details that were discussed in the
  interview
• -Notes jotted down from Planning

• Choose one, two, or three of the details that
  seem most relevant to the position and then
  develop a paragraph for each

• Topic sentence
• Sentences the provide details
• Final sentence explicitly connects details to
  position

10
Conclusion

• Goals
• Thank recipient
• Restate interest in position
• Invite recipient to contact with questions
• Include contact information

Finally, edit the letter.