Interview Thank-You Letters

 

After you have finished your interview for an internship, the first thing you should do is to write a thank-you note to the people who interviewed you.

Not only is this a reflection of having good manners, it is also a strategic way of keeping you “top of mind” as they complete their decision-making process.1 It allows you to remind them of the training and/or experience that make you a strong candidate for the position.

During the interview itself, take notes about the conversation, making sure to jot down the names of your interviewers.

You should also note their description of what the new intern’s responsibilities will be, as well as particular points or concerns they emphasized (things like your availability to work, your time management skills, or your qualifications for the internship).

Tips for Writing an Internship Thank-You Note

Keep the interviewer in mind when writing your letter to show you truly valued their time and absorbed the knowledge they shared. Take the time to address any questions brought up during the interview, or, if there was a particular topic you two bonded over, mention it in the opening paragraph.

Use the sales approach when crafting your letter – it’s another opportunity to pitch yourself for the position:

• You can restate why you want the ob, your qualifications, and how you would contribute to the betterment of the organization2
• Was there anything your interviewer didn’t ask or something you wanted to expand on? The thank you letter gives you the opportunity to address anything of additional importance.
• Be sure to check your spelling and grammar before hitting ‘send.’

If you have any doubts about the correct names, spellings, or titles of your interviewers, call or email the office to double-check. Doing so could mean the difference between getting the job and your candidacy being over.

Formatting Your Internship Thank-You Letter

Construct your thank-you letter as you would any other formal business letter. Type your full name, mailing address and the date, followed by the addressee’s full name and address. Here’s how to format your thank-you letter, and what to include in each section of it.

Greeting:
It’s best to use a formal greeting: “Dear Mr./Ms. last name.”

Body of Thank-You Letter:
Keep it brief and to the point. Single space your letter and leave a space between each paragraph. Use the typical left justification. A plain font like Arial, Times New Roman, or Verdana is recommended for clarity. Select a font size of 10 or 12 points.

First Paragraph: The first paragraph of your letter should express appreciation to the interviewer for speaking with you. You should also mention the position you interviewed for and briefly state why you want to work for that organization.

Second Paragraph: The second paragraph of your thank-you letter will include your qualifications for the position. List two or three specific skills that relate to the job you interviewed for, and provide concrete and quantifiable examples for illustration. If you don’t have any prior job experience you’ll want to emphasize the college courses you have taken that are applicable to the position itself. It is a good opportunity to remind the hiring manager of how much value you would add to the company.

Final Paragraph: In your closing paragraph, reiterate your appreciation for being considered for the job, offer to answer any additional questions they may have, and let the hiring manager know you are looking forward to hearing from him or her soon.

Closing:
Use a formal closing such as: Sincerely, Regards, or Best Regards.

Signature:

Handwritten Signature (for a hard copy letter)

Typed Signature

Sending an Email Thank You

f you send an email message, you don’t need to include the address information. You can start your letter with the salutation; however, do include your name in the subject line of the email message, to ensure it gets read.

Internship Thank-You Letter and Email Samples

The following are examples of thank-you letters to send after your interview for an internship.

Internship Thank-You Letter Template

Internship Thank-You Letter (Text Version)

Internship Thank-You Email Message