Are Thank You Letters Necessary

Every stage of the application for a job position can be trying. There are so many tips and hints to remember; and so many issues of formatting and content to concern yourself with. This said, once you have gotten the interview, finished the interview; and are waiting to hear back-there is still one action that you can take. That is the follow up thank you letter. While some people consider the follow up letter unnecessary, it is recommended by nearly every career reference and resource out there. So, is it necessary? It isn’t necessary, but it is a good idea.

So, what is the follow up thank you letter and what function does it serve? Basically, this document thanks the employer for their time in the interview process, meanwhile reminding them of your professionalism as well as your candidacy for the job. Where many people go wrong even in using a thank you letter is that they do not make this document stand out. Many people write thank you letters that are short and sweet, and they all look the same to an employer. This is why you need to use what is called a thank you cover letter. This offers a review of your skills, qualifications, and selling pitch as the best candidate for the job while also thanking them for their time. This way, they see you spent some time on the thank you and are not sending one, because you have to. Also, it puts another specific reminder in their head of your value as a possible candidate.

Is it is necessary? Again, nothing in life is necessary; but in a game where almost everyone will be sending a thank you letter, you should. Moreover, consider that an employer uses every piece of interaction and document that you offer as means to measure you against another candidate. So, if it came down to you and another for the position, and all was square except that they followed up with a lucid thank you letter and you didn’t; the chances of them getting the position over you is a likely bet.

Moreover, in a more specific way-when addressed in the recommended cover letter format above-you can not only restate your value as a possible candidate, and really sell yourself as the best person for the job; but also, you can approach any aspects of the interview that you might have found lacking or negative. For example, perhaps you didn’t answer a question as fully as you wanted; you could re-answer the question they asked you, in a way that offers a more positive spin. This said, if you decide to write a thank you letter; make sure that it is customized in this cover letter format; because while just the act of sending a thank you is helpful to acquiring a position, it is more helpful when you show that you are earnest and use this contact for the significant one it is.