Thank You Notes
The thank you note is one of most important types of correspondence with employers and should follow every
employment or informational interview. It is important to send a note expressing your appreciation and
reaffirming your interest in a position. The thank you note has a number of purposes including summarizing
your interest in the position and the company, stressing relevant points that strengthen your candidacy, and
correcting any negative impressions or clearing up confusing issues that may have surfaced during the
interview (if applicable).
After a company visit where you may have been interviewed by more than one person, it is a good idea to
send a thank you note to each individual who interviewed you. This means you must get the names, titles, and
contact information of all who interviewed you during your visit.
Mailing vs. Emailing Thank You Notes
Many employers have indicated that e-mailing thank you notes is appropriate and preferred. We recommend
that you send the thank you note in the body of the email (as opposed to an attachment to be opened in a
program like Microsoft Word) as this requires fewer steps for the employer.
It is becoming more common for companies to have very short hiring timelines. Some companies that recruit
at Fisher must make decisions about who to invite to second rounds or who to extend offers to the same day
as the interview is conducted. For that reason
we recommend emailing the thank you note
.
If the employers indicate that they will be making their hiring decisions within a couple of days of your
interview, then you will want to email your thank you note
within 24-48 hours
so that they are more likely to
receive and read it prior to completing their selection process.
If you are asked to submit a resume or any other additional document, email your thank you note with the
documents attached.
Format
1. Thank the employer for his or her time.
2. Identify the specific position for which you were interviewed, along with the date and place of the interview.
3. Reiterate your interest in the position and why you fit well with the organization – be specific.
4. Close with your phone number and e-mail address, and indicate that you look forward to hearing from the
employer at the time specified during the interview.
Professional Guidelines:
• Make sure all spelling and grammar is correct
• Start with “Dear Ms./Mr. Last Name:”
• End with “Sincerely, Your Name”