By Andrea Rice

Anatomy of a Thank You Note

Keep 3 things in mind when you write your thank you note. It should be immediate, short, and specific.

1. Immediate – Get the note written and out the door within 24 hours. Make sure you ask for their contact information during the interview so you’re not scrambling trying to figure out their email or snail mail address.
2. Short – This should be a quick expression of gratitude and interest. 3-4 sentences should be fine.
3. Specific – Your note should reference something specific you discussed or took away from the interview.  You can also reinforce your skill set as a good match for the job requirements.

Weak Example

Dear Mr. Jones,

Thank you for taking the time to interview me this morning. It was a pleasure getting to meet you and learn more about the opportunity. I am convinced I could hit the ground running. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Strong Example

Dear Mr. Jones,

I enjoyed meeting with you this morning, and in particular our conversation about how this wave of industry consolidation differs from the consolidation that took place in the 1980s.

I am confident that the financial modeling and communication skills I developed in my Leslie Partners internship and as class President would enable me to hit the ground running.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards, 

Why this Works

The weak cover letter mimics hundreds of thank you notes I’ve received, but it’s so generic it could be for any interview for any job. In no way does it distinguish you or help make you memorable. The strong thank you note references something specific from the interview and also reinforces a few selling points.

The Unexpected Thank You Note

Interview thank you notes are expected. While they typically don’t offer much upside, you can hurt your prospects if you don’t write one. The most powerful thank you note you can write is the note to someone who isn’t expecting it.

Who are some of these people?

• The career counselor, family friend, peer, etc who introduced you to someone in their network
• The alum or person you were introduced to who spent time answering your questions about the industry or company 
• The employees you had a substantive conversation with at the information session or bootcamp
• The company representative you spent time talking to at the career fair 
• The random but helpful conversation you had with someone you met at a social function
• The person on the social networking site who wrote something really insightful or answered your questions
• The keynote speaker, panelist or guest lecturer that impressed you

These conversations may not lead directly to jobs, but they broaden your network and help you get smarter, both of which directly impact your ability to succeed in your job search. The thank you note also makes it much more likely that they will try to help you more in the future.