English for Job Application
Writing a thank-you letter after a job interview
After a job interview, it is better for you to write a thank you letter to the company. This will reinforce your interest in the position and at the same time show your good manner. It may increase your chance of securing the job. In the letter, you should show your gratitude for having the interview, state that you like the job opportunity and highlight that you long for a chance to work in the company, recap your related skills and qualifications, and express your willingness to take any follow-up action.
1. Format
The same as the Cover Letter, it is a usual practice now to use the Block Format, which means starting every part or paragraph on the left-hand side.
2. Date
Write this letter within one or two days after the interview. Don’t leave it after two days since it shows that you do not care much about this position.
3. Salutation
If you do not know the name of the person whom you are writing to, for the salutation part, you have to write:
“Dear Sir/Madam”
If the name of that person is given, you need to write his/her surname in the salutation.
e.g. “Dear Mr Lee”, “Dear Ms Wu”, etc.
Again, never write the person’s full name such as “Dear Mr Robert Lee” or “Dear Ms Susan Wu”.
4. Subject Line
After the salutation, a subject line should be written highlighting the purpose of your writing.
e.g. “Thank you for the interview and your time.”
You can underline the subject for the person-in-charge to notice at once.
5. Introductory Paragraph
To begin your letter, you need to express your gratitude to the recruiter for giving you the chance of the interview. You must state the position that you are applying for and the date of the interview.
e.g. “Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity of attending the interview for the position of Management Trainee on 10th June, 20XX and I really enjoyed the chance of discussing with you the issues concerning this job.”
6. How you like the position and working in the company
In the next paragraph, mention that you like the position and hope to work in that company.
e.g. “During the interview, one of the main features which struck me was the great culture at your company. Your mission of creating local opportunities, growth and impact in the community echoes with me, and I would be extremely willing to help accomplish that mission.”
7. Your related skills and qualifications
In this part, mention again the skills and qualifications which are related to the job you are applying for.
e.g. “The position will surely give me the opportunities for betterment and collaboration. I think my degree in marketing would make me a suitable candidate for the post.”
8. Contact and follow-up action
State that you look forward to a further discussion with the recruiter and request him to contact you for any more information he wants.
e.g. “I look forward to the opportunity of further discussing with you my prospects in the job. Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide you with.”
Things to note:
- Make sure you write the thank-you letter as soon as possible, probably within one to two days after the job interview.
- Keep your letter brief and concise: less than one page long.
- Proofread your letter for grammar and spelling very carefully.
Exercise
This YouTube video is about writing a follow-up email after a job interview, which is similar to writing a thank-you letter. Watch it from 3:58 to 7:15 and answer the questions below.
Title: Ultimate Guide to Following Up: After Job Application, Interview, & No Response
Channel: Indeed
- Subject line
- Reminder
- Purpose
- Call to action
- You should make sure that you are straight to the point and state the purpose clearly.
- Who you are, the position that you applied for, and something in the interview to remind your recruiter of you as a candidate
- Reintroduce yourself as a candidate or remind the interviewers who you are and your interest in the role, or reach out to determine what the next steps in the process might be.
- To showcase to your recruiter that you are patient, empathetic and appreciative of their time but still interested in the position.
The following is a sample of a thank-you letter from an applicant for the post of Project Assistant after the interview.
27th June, 20XX
Dear Sir/Madam
Thank you for the interview and your time
I am writing to thank you for your kindness to grant me an interview for the position of Project Assistant today and I really enjoyed the chance of discussing with you the issues concerning this job.
After the interview, I have no doubt that I am very keen to work for your company, which clearly has a very impressive track record of achievement.
As you can see from my CV and the interview, I have great experiences in doing projects, and therefore, with my skills in researching and analyzing data, I feel confident that I will have a positive impact on your team and add value to your organization.
Thank you very much again and I am looking forward to hearing from you about the next step. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can provide any further information you need and I hope to speak with you very soon.
Yours faithfully
Chris Wong
Chris Wong
Further References
1. Tips to Writing a Thank-You Email After an Interview (With Examples)
This is an introduction to what a thank-you letter is, with details on each section in the letter. There are also tips and examples of writing a thank-you email.
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/thank-you-email-after-interview
2. Thank-You Letter After Interview: Email Examples, Template, & How to Write
This link mentions the best follow-up method after an interview with examples and templates. There are some free sample letters and emails to download.
https://resumegenius.com/thank-you-letters/after-interview-samples
3. 4 Sample Thank-You Emails to Send After an Interview
This link provides information on why it is important to write a thank-you letter and what to include in the letter. There is a video on how to follow up after applying for a job, after an interview and after no response from the prospective employer.
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/sample-thank-you-letter-after-interview