Follow-up or thank you letters play a central role in your job search. Write a brief follow-up letter thanking the interviewer within 24 hours of an interview. The letter should be typewritten and no longer than one page.

Often, these letters provide the extra push that gets you a second interview or the job itself. The thank you letter ensures that you stay in the hiring authority's mind.

Do not send a form letter! Make sure that the letter is personalized. Finally, the thank you letter offers you the opportunity to add any additional information that was not covered during the interview. Remember, never stop selling your ability to do the job that the company needs done.

Follow this basic outline for thank you letters:

1. Express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview with the person.
2. Express your continued enthusiasm about the position and the company.
3. Recap your qualifications and abilities, being careful to relate them to the requirements of the job and the company. Keep this portion under two sentences.
4. Conclude by stating when you will contact the interviewer for a follow up meeting or a decision on the status of your candidacy.

Closing the thank you letter is the toughest part. The standard "I look forward to hearing from you" close is limp and does nothing to show the employer that you are really interested. Instead, end your letter by taking action! Specify what you will do and when you will do it.

Examples:

"I will call your office on Wednesday, September 19th, to see if we can make an appointment to continue our discussion."

"I enjoyed our talk on Monday, I will call you the morning of Wednesday, September 19th."

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