by Katriina L.

Created on: August 10, 2008

Many people don't bother to write a post-interview thank you letter because they think it doesn't make a difference to their odds of winning a position. In today's competitive marketplace, anything you can do to make yourself stand out will improve your chances. An interview thank you letter is an easy and important way to make an additional impression on a potential employer.

FORMAT
While many articles will suggest that you write your letter in Word as a formally structured letter, I disagree. You are better off writing a polite, concise and well crafted E-MAIL and include your message in the body of the e-mail as opposed to an attachment. After years of recruitment and hiring experience, I can tell you that interviewers prefer to be able to open up your message right away as opposed to be bothered with downloading your attachments. Using e-mail as your medium imposes a different style than a formal business letter. Your note should still be well written and professional, but you can and should do away with some of the conventions associated with printed letters. You do not need to include the date or a regarding line. Here is an example:

"Subject line: Thank You for the Opportunity to Interview for the Marketing Manager Position

Body:
Dear INTERVIEWER'S NAME,

It was a pleasure meeting you today..."

CONTENT
Your thank you e-mail should be short and to the point. The first sentence should reiterate the position you interviewed for, and thank the interviewer for the opportunity. In the same opening paragraph, write something positive about the position. Don't be afraid to make it personal; a standard message won't be as impressive as a few thoughtful paragraphs that show that you've given some additional thought to the position.
In the second paragraph, feel free to expand on one of the answers you gave in the interview. You can either choose a question that you feel you answered well and give some more detail, or you can try to salvage a question you may not have answered very well. Whatever your content is, be sure to use it to draw parallels between your skills and personality and the role based on what you learned at the interview. Don't be too stuffy or stagnant - be sure to reflect your personality in this section.
Your third and final paragraph should reiterate your interest in the position and your main contact telephone number.

TONE
Some final notes on tone. Your e-mail should sound confident, but not arrogant. It should be strong and forceful, but to over the top. Above all, it should not sound desperate. Regardless of how you actually feel about your chances, write the e-mail with the idea in your head that you are one of the main contenders for the position. For example, a good closing line might be, "I look forward to discussing this position at greater length with you, and how my last position as ... has prepared me for the new challenges I would face at your organization."

TIMING
Some people will advise that you send your e-mail the day after your interview. With the speed of business today, I think it is unnecessary to wait even this long. As soon as you get home, sit down at your computer, collect your thoughts and send off your e-mail!

Good luck!

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