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Writing a Thank-You Letter

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Writing a thank-you note after someone has interviewed you for a position, served as a mentor, or helped you with your professional development is very important. It demonstrates to the recipients that you are a careful, sincere individual with good follow-through and is another opportunity to present your name.

For employment purposes, the thank-you note can even reiterate your most important qualifications for the job!

Handwritten or Typed?

Should the note be handwritten or typed? Is it appropriate to e-mail a thank-you note? The answer to both questions: it depends on the situation!

Allow the formality of your interaction as well as the legibility of your handwriting to determine whether your letter is typed or handwritten.

Many believe that a neatly written note receives more notice; in business, handwritten correspondence is relatively unusual. If you choose to handwrite your note, be sure that you use a professional-looking stationary. White (or some other neutral color) embossed cards are always a safe choice.

If you know that a hiring decision is imminent, e-mailing a thank-you may be the only way to reach the employer on time.

It is also very appropriate to send a brief note of thanks to someone immediately following your interaction — particularly if you have used e-mail to correspond in the past. Even if you e-mail a thank-you; however, we encourage you to also send one. Electronic communication is easily deleted and sometimes accidentally overlooked. Following the quick e-mail message with a more formal card or letter ensures that your message is received.

Note of Warning: Treat thank-you notes and all other forms of correspondence with great care. No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors!

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