Developing a Thank You Letter Following a Job Interview

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Developing a Thank You Letter Following a Job
Interview

• By Ayaz Siddiqui

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Introduction

• Benefits of a Thank You Letter
• Letter Format???
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Planning
• Developing
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• Review
• Summary

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Benefits of a Thank You Letter

• Gain the potential employers attention
• Reminds the employer who you are
• Reminds the employer about your qualifications
• Showcases your technical writing skills
• Clear up any thing not gone over in an interview
• Expresses interest

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Letter Format The Three Types

• Business Letter
• Email Message
• Hand- Written card

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Business Letter

• Advantages
• Room for details
• Portrays professionalism
• Demonstrates technical writing skills
• Shows interest in the position
• Old- School Method

• Disadvantages
• Not Immediate
• Un-Techie
• Not easy to forward

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Email Message

• Advantages
• Room for detail
• FAST
• Easy to forward
• Can showcase technical writing skills
• Shows interest
• techie

• Disadvantages
• Less Formal
• Non-Traditional

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Hand-written Card

• Advantages
• Personal
• traditional

• Disadvantages
• May be perceived as less professional
• May not showcase your technical writing skills
• Snail Mail Delay
• Un techie
• Not as easy to forward

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Planning Stage

• What skills, experience, or education questions
  were asked of you?
• What answers did you give?
• How would you have changed those answers or is
  there anything you want to add?
• Who interviewed you?

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Developing the Letter - Introduction

• Goals of the Introduction
• Thank the recipient
• Remind the recipient of the position you are
  applying for
• Remind the recipient of the date
• Express your interested
• Mention qualifications

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Developing the Letter Body

• Mention details that support your qualifications
  necessary for the position
• Provide comments, numbers, additional data on
  points the interviewer focused on
• Present something unique to yourself that will
  set you apart.

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Developing the Letter - Conclusion

• Thank the recipient
• Reiterate your interest
• Let the interviewer know that if he/she has any
  further questions, to contact you
• Give your contact information

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Review the Letter

• Make sure to proofread the letter
• Check to make sure facts are accurate
• Does the letter grab the readers attention?
• Did you provide the reader with your skills,
  experience, education, or qualification that set
  you apart from the rest of the applicants?
• Check the tone of the letter
• Did you sign the letter?

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Importance to Technical Writing

• Expresses interest in the job
• Shows your writing skills
• Provides another medium to give more information
  about yourself
• Reminds the interviewer who you are

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Summary

• Sending a thank you letter is a good idea
• Makes you look professional
• Reminds the reader that you are interested
• Showcases your technical writing skills
• A Business letter is the most professional form
  for a letter
• An Email is the quickest and easiest to forward
• A business letter or email can showcase your
  technical writing skills
• Hand written cards are more personal

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Summary

• Planning the thank you letter is very important.
• Make sure you review what questions you were
  asked and how you answered them.
• Think of anything you wanted to say in the
  interview but couldnt or additional details that
  set you apart.
• Introduction
• Make sure you thank the recipient
• Remind the recipient what position you
  interviewed for and what date
• Express your interest

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Summary

• Body
• Reiterate you qualification
• Mention details not discussed in the interview
• Provide any detail about yourself that set you
  apart
• Conclusion
• Thank the recipient
• Reiterate your interest
• Leave contact information

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Bibliography

• Ray, Deborah.Developing a Thank You Letter
  Following a Job Interview. TECHWR-L. 21
  September 2004. http//electronics.howstuffworks.c
  om/hdtv.htm