writing a thank you letter for a scholarship

Tips on Writing a Thank You Letter for an Interview

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Saying thank you to show your appreciation to friends and family is really important but it's equally important in business. When you're given an opportunity to interview you'll be concentrating on how to impress the interviewer, what to wear, how to shake hands, where to go and what to ask. Afterward, though, you will be in a different frame of mind. You'll want to acknowledge the interview and show your appreciation for the opportunity, which you can do with a thank you letter.

Email Only

Writing a letter of thanks is a great way of getting back in touch with the interviewer so take the opportunity to present yourself exceptionally well in the letter. Make sure that there are absolutely no errors. No grammar mistakes, no spelling errors and no awkward phrases that make the reader re-read any part of the letter. When sending any other thank you note most would advise that you hand write the note on paper and post it. With a thank you note for an interview you should always Email.

Timing Is Everything

Timing is everything in business so don't delay writing your thank you note. The last thing you want is for the interviewer to wonder which applicant has written in. Remember while you only attended one interview, the interviewer will have faced several candidates. But don't send the note too soon either. If you send the note minutes or even a few hours after the interview, it might come across like a standard thank you note you prepared earlier, or you might seem desperate. Remember that you're showing your interest in the job so there need to be a gap between the interview and sending the note. It's best to send the note so that the interviewer receives it in their inbox the next morning.

Why Write a Note?

A thank you note shows that you care about the role, that you're polite and considerate, and that you can convey your thoughts concisely, which is a skill that's highly valued in most roles. It's also a great reason to get back in touch with the interviewer. You could use the note to subtly address any concerns the interviewer expressed, for example, if it was said that the journey to work might be too long for you, perhaps you could mention that the return journey from the interview with trouble free and quicker than expected, but only if it truly was.

What to Write

There are several points you need to hit with the note without making it too long. You need to thank the interviewer for their time, and you need to reiterate your interest in the role by mentioning specific aspects of it that got your attention. Mention something you liked about the interview and use that to highlight your qualification for the position. You should also address any concerns the interviewer had while building on any details that built a rapport between you and the interviewer during your meeting.

Will I Get a Response?

A thank you note of any kind is never written to elicit a response so don't expect your Email to be replied to. That's why there should be no questions in your message, no call for clarification of anything, and no demand for an answer on the job role and whether you've been successful. If you incorporate any of those things, you'll be diminishing your chances of success with the interviewer so you'd be better off not sending a thank you note in.