How to Email a Follow-Up Letter After an Interview
In a tight economy, making yourself stand out from other candidates for a job is even more important. Many employers, whether they work with large or small companies, indicate they appreciate follow-up letters after an interview. A heartfelt thank-you email may be the key to getting the job. Since such a letter is the last impression you make upon a potential employer, it is imperative that the correspondence present you in the best possible light.
Step 1Gather the names and email addresses for all the people involved in your interview since you will need to send a thank-you to each of them.
Step 2Draft thank-you notes to each of the members individually, rather than a single letter to the entire committee or group.
Step 3Thank the people involved in the interview for taking the time to meet with you and express your continued interest in the job. Include comments that directly address a specific idea or concern that came up during the interview and how you can fix the problem or fill the role. End your email with a statement about how you look forward to hearing about the position.
Step 4Individualize each note by adding a detail relating to the committee member's comments or questions during the interview or the person's position within the company.
Step 5Apply business letter format to your emails. Your address and the date appear in the upper-left corner of the page. Skip a line and then type the recipient's name, the company name and then the company address. Add a salutation such as "Dear Ms. Jones." Business letters use a space between paragraphs and do not indent.
Step 6Proofread carefully to present a businesslike, professional attitude. Check the spelling of the recipient's name, in particular, since a spell checking program will not catch such an error.
Step 7Send your emails as soon as possible after the interview, no more than two days later.
Tip If your email program does not have a spell check, type your letters into a word processing program first, run the spell check, then paste the finished product into an email.
References:
Forbes: How to Follow Up After a Job Interview
University of California Berkeley Law: Thank You Letters Following an Interview
Virginia Tech: After Interviews / Thank-You Letters / Follow up