Thank You Letters : Career Services : UMass Lowell

The thank you letter is one of the most important, yet least used tools in a job search. It is used to establish goodwill, to express appreciation, and/or strengthen your candidacy. The basic rule of thumb is that everyone who helps you in any way gets a thank you letter. When used to follow up on employment interviews, thank you letters should be sent within 24 hours to everyone who interviewed you. Also, be sure to send a thank you letter to each contact who granted you informational interviews and people who provided references for you.

Your address
Date

Formal Name of Person
Title of Person
Company/Institution Name
Address
City, State, Zip

Dear [Name of Person]:

Make your thank you letter warm and personal. Use this paragraph to express your sincere appreciation.

Reemphasize your strongest qualifications. Draw attention to the good match between your qualifications and the job requirements.

Reiterate your interest in the position. Use the opportunity to provide or offer supplemental information not previously given.

Restate your appreciation.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Typed]

Sample Thank You Letter

2913 Baxter Road
Lowell, MA 01854
August 7, 2006

Dr. Julia Edmonds
Director
Atlantic Engineering Systems, Inc.
1220 Warwick Ave.
Newport News, VA 23607

Dear Dr. Edmonds:

I want to thank you very much for interviewing me yesterday for the Associate Engineer position. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about your research and design work.

My enthusiasm for the position and my interest in working for AES were strengthened as a result of the interview. I think my education and internship experiences fit nicely with the job requirements, and I'm sure that I could make a significant contribution to the firm over time.

I want to reiterate my strong interest in the position and in working with you and your staff. You provide the kind of opportunity I seek. Please feel free to call me at
(804) 685-5555 if I can provide you with any additional information.

Again, thank you for the interview and your consideration.

Sincerely,

Frederick Bryan