Sending Follow-Up & Thank-You Emails

Purpose

• Thank-you’s should be written after you have any contact, whether by phone, email or in-person, with a potential employer, or network contact 
• A thank-you letter is intended to acknowledge the time someone has given you in your job search or information gathering
• It reminds people of who you are, what your skills are and tells them that you appreciate how they have helped you
• Follow-up notes demonstrate that you have good social skills and can be counted on to persevere, follow through, and follow-up
• Because many people do not take the time to write a thank-you, it will set you apart from others

Include:

• A salutation
• What you are thanking them for
• A reminder of something you talked about / the interview topic you enjoyed/ your skills / your interest in the position  (whatever is relevant)
• Your full name as signature

Tips

• Use the opportunity to not only thank the person for their time, but to also remind them of your interest in their industry / position (and, if you are thanking them for a job interview, your relevant skills) 
• Send your note within 24 hours
• Proofread your letter to ensure it is free of errors
• Make mention of a topic or point that you discussed to make a personal connection
• Even if you do not intend to pursue work with that company at present, a well thought out thank you letter can leave open doors and help people in your field remember who you are
• You can send your thank you in the form of a card, letter or formal e-mail
• Make sure you thank everyone who assists you
• If you had a panel interview, send a separate letter to each person on the panel
• If you are sending a thank you letter to a network contact, be sure to offer to reciprocate the favour

Sample (Email Format)

Subject: Thank-you

Dear Ms. Jetson,

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for taking  the time to talk with me on Monday October 11. It was a pleasure to  meet you face-to-face and I enjoyed discussing the many challenges and opportunities faced by the digital music industry.  

I was especially intrigued by your professional background and the sequence of events that brought you to your current position. As a student just beginning my career, it was very helpful to hear that good relationships, hard work and timing all play major roles in the success of any creative professional.

I look forward to staying in touch.

Regards,

Judith Stevens