Thank You Letter Help: A Second Chance to Sell Yourself
A thank you letter should be a part of your job search routine. Erin follows this advice and sends a thank you letter immediately following every interview. The problem is that her thank you letter is so weak. She merely thanks the interviewer and she does not take advantage of the chance to pitch herself for the job. Take a look at Erin’s thank you letter.
The formula to write an effective three-paragraph thank you letter is very straightforward. It is as easy as one-two-three. Here are the steps to follow:
- Be Courteous: Use the initial paragraph to thank the interviewer, confirm that you remain very interested in the opportunity, and declare that you are a well suited for the opportunity.
- Demonstrate Your Value: The second paragraph is the heart of your thank you letter. Identify your top two to three values that meet the needs of the hiring employer. How do you know the needs? One of your objectives in the interview is to find out the challenges the company/department is facing. Next determine what similar challenges have you faced in your career history. Even if you shared that information in the interview, it is worth repeating in the letter. Keep the examples brief and relevant.
- Next Steps: The closing paragraph is your call to action. Confirm your interest and offer to provide any additional information the hiring employer may need in the candidate evaluation process.
Failing to take that second chance to sell yourself could result in the premature end to your candidacy for the job. It’s worth it to take fifteen minutes to create a customized, value-based thank you letter. You may send your letter via email or via USPS. If you would like to read more about thank you letters, follow these links: