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Thank-you letters, graciously and sincerely written, are essential in the business world. Whether a former boss has provided you with a reference, a business contact has recommended you to their employer, a colleague has helped you with a project, or you've just been interviewed for a position, it is important to take the time to thank everyone who helps with your career, job search, or business.
Thank-you letters are a great way to express your appreciation for people’s help.
Thank-you notes can also help you in several other ways. A professional thank-you letter can help you maintain contact with someone in your network or help you remind a hiring manager why you are a good fit for a position. It can also show your supervisor you are professional and polite.
Make sure you know both what to say in your letter and whether to send your note as an email, letter, or card. Saying the right thing using the right format will impress your recipient and make them feel appreciated.
How you send your thank-you letter depends on many factors, including the intended recipient, context of your relationship, and speed in which you want it to be received.
Email is pretty much the standard for business communication these days. If a prompt follow-up is essential, email is the way to go. For example, if you want to express gratitude for the opportunity to interview for a job, sending an email is the best way to ensure your message is received before the hiring manager makes a decision.
Physical thank-you letters can take the form of an informal, handwritten note or a formal, typed letter. How you write the letter should show your understanding of the company and the person you are thanking.
If you know you have time to relay your thanks by mail, a written thank you demonstrates you've taken an extra step to show your appreciation.
More traditional companies often prefer either a typed letter or a handwritten note. However, if you want to really personalize your message of thanks (for example, if you are thanking a coworker whom you’ve worked with for years), consider a handwritten card.
No matter what form you use for your thank-you note, there are certain components you should always include.
Address the person appropriately. At the start of the letter, address the person with a proper salutation, such as “Dear Mr. Lastname.” or “Dear Firstname.” If you know the person well, use the person’s first name. Otherwise, address him or her as Mr., Ms., or another appropriate title.
Say thank you. Get to the point of your note quickly. Say the words “thank you” in the first sentence or two, so the person knows why you are writing. If you are sending an email, include the phrase “Thank You” in the subject line as well.
Give (some) specifics. Make sure you specify what you are thanking the individual for. Go into a bit of detail, so the person understands exactly what you appreciate. For example, if you are saying thank you to someone who gave you job advice, explain what you found to be most helpful. If you are saying thank you after a job interview, remind the person of a particular moment from the interview (or remind them why you are a good fit for the job).
A bit of detail shows the person what you really appreciate, and why.
Say thank you again. Before signing off, reiterate your appreciation.
Sign off. Use an appropriate closing, such as “Best” or “Sincerely.” Then end with your signature (handwritten and typed if it is a letter, handwritten if it is a card, and typed if it is an email).
Send it as soon as possible. Write and send your note as soon as possible. Don’t delay in sending your thanks, especially after a job interview. Not sending a thank-you letter after an interview can hurt your chances of getting hired.
Be positive but sincere. Express your gratitude, but don’t go overboard. People can tell when a thank-you note is insincere. For example, if you are thanking an employer after resigning from a job, you should express your thanks, and focus on what you liked about working there. However, don’t lie and say you loved everything if you didn’t really. Focus on the positives, but don’t lie.
Personalize each letter. Personalize each thank-you letter you send. For example, if you send thank-you notes to everyone you met with during a job interview, add something to each note about your specific conversation with each person. Don’t simply copy and paste the same message for each person—this will come across as insincere.
Keep it brief. Thank-you notes should be short. Keep your note no longer than a couple of concise paragraphs.
Proofread and edit. A thank-you note in the workplace must be professional. This means it should be well-written and error-free. Proofread your letter carefully before sending it.
This is an example of a general thank-you letter. Download the letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or see below for more examples.
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A printed letter, sent by mail, should have your contact information as well as that of your recipient at the top of the page:
Jason Jones
123 Main Street
Anytown, CA 12345
555-555-5555
jason.jones@email.com
Cedric Lee
Account Manager
Acme Rental
123 Business Rd.
Business City, NY 54321
I hope you are well. I just wanted to say thank you so much for writing me a letter of reference for the job at Acme Retail.
I really appreciate you taking the time to write the letter. I am happy to announce that I have a second interview with the company next week! I will let you know how it goes.
Again, thank you so much. I greatly appreciate your assistance with my job search.
Jason Jones (signature hard copy letter)
When sending an email letter, as opposed to a traditional mailed one, there is no need to include your return address or your address at the beginning of the message. Simply list your contact information in your signature.
Subject: Thank you!
I would like to thank you for the invaluable support you provided to me during my recent career search.
When I began this search, I had very little idea how to go about it or how to network to discover new job opportunities. The information and advice you gave (and, in particular, the list of contacts you shared with me) made all the difference in helping me to focus my job search.
I’m happy to report that I have just accepted a new position with ACME Auto! Again, thank you so very much. I greatly appreciate your generosity.
