Thank-You Letters

How to write a pleasant thank-you letter:

If possible, address your letter to a specific person
Do not address your thank-you letter just to the company or organization in general.

Do not thank the person beforehand
For example, "Thanking you in advance for your help in this matter". To do so is presumptuous and suggests you are unwilling to write a follow-up letter.

Stick to the point

Be sincere
Most people can sense when you aren't being honest.

Make your letter stand out
Be creative. Create a headline if appropriate. Be specific and include details from the event.

End the letter on a positive note
Closing depends on the type of thank-you letter. For example, you may:

• Reaffirm your gratitude or restate the compliment.
• Suggest possible future action.
• Close with either an expression of thanks or an indication of your intention to continue contact.

Realize that often a thank-you letter is placed on a person's desk
There it reminds that person of your appreciation so choosing the right words is essential.

Remember, everyone loves a cheerful letter that says you appreciate their kindness.
Of all the letters you will write, the thank-you letter may be the most important because it has the potential of producing the most good.

People respond positively to thank-you letters that express kind thoughts and warm feelings.

Thank-You Letter Tips:

• Write your thank-you letter as soon as possible after the interview or occasion. For a job interview, this should be within 24 hours of the interview.

• Write clearly and concisely; this is no time to be longwinded or flowery.

• Handwrite personal letters and use customized letterhead for business correspondence. Use quality paper. E-mail may also be appropriate in less formal situations, especially if the addressee expresses a preference for it or if time constraints require it.

• Proofread the letter before sending it: grammatical errors and typos are sloppy and unprofessional. You may want to wait awhile and proofread it again. Some professionals proofread by reading the letter backwards.

Why writing a thank-you letter can get you a job!

Managers say thank-you letters are expected in most situations. A recent survey by CareerBuilder.com found that:

• Nearly 15 percent of hiring managers would reject a job candidate who neglected to send a thank-you letter after the interview

• 32 percent said they would still consider the thankless prospect but that their opinion of him or her would diminish

• Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of managers prefer handwritten thank-yous

• 21 percent seek a typed hard copy

• 19 percent want e-mailed thank-yous followed up with a snail-mailed letter

Should you e-mail personal thank-you notes to your boss?

In a recent survey by the Emily Post Institute, 70% of managers said e-mailing thank-you notes was appropriate, especially to acknowledge a small gift or gesture.

Need example thank-you letters? We recommend 4,001 Business, Sales & Personal Letters. This collection includes many professionally written thank-you letters to help you say it right. Empower your writing with: Must-know letter-writing tips Expert help every step of the way Appropriate phrases and sentences Words writers agree work the best  Learn more You will get a variety of thank-you letters for each of these topics: Business or Work Thank a business for good service, low prices, or professional courtesies Thank a customer for purchasing a product or service Thank a customer or client Thank someone for an appointment, interview, or meeting Thank someone for an award, bonus, or raise Miscellaneous Thank someone for goods or materials received Thank someone for an inquiry Thank someone for a speech or presentation Service Thank a doctor or health care facility Thank a religious leader Thank a retiree for his or her service Thank someone for a compliment or praise Thank someone for a favor Thank someone for a gift Thank someone for a job well done Thank someone for a philanthropic contribution Thank someone for a pleasant occasion Thank someone for a referral or recommendation Thank someone for a reply or response Thank someone for accepting your advice or recommendation Thank someone for advice or a suggestion Thank someone for help or support Thank someone for helping in your absence Thank someone for hospitality Thank someone for information Thank someone for media exposure Thank someone for volunteer work Thank someone for writing a reference or recommendation for you Social Event Thank someone for visiting a place or attending an event Sympathy Thank someone for expressions of sympathy Related Letters Accept a formal invitation to a social event Accept a job offer Accept a request to serve in an honorary position Accept a resignation Accept an honor Accept an informal invitation to a social event Accept an invitation to a business appointment Accept and express appreciation for a suggestion Acknowledge an order or subscription Acknowledge payment of an overdue balance Acknowledge the receipt of a report, letter, or other Acknowledge the receipt of a resume Acknowledge the receipt of a suggestion from an employee Acknowledge the return of an item for exchange, refund, or credit Announce an employee's retirement Announce your own retirement Compliment or praise a product or service supplier Compliment or praise a program chairperson or planner Compliment or praise a salesperson or a sales staff Compliment or praise a speaker Compliment or praise an employee's family for their contribution to the employee's success Compliment or praise the media, an author, or an editor Congratulate an employee on the anniversary of his or her service Congratulate someone on a speech or presentation Congratulate someone on his or her retirement Encourage/motivate your reader to increase sales Express appreciation to an employee Express appreciation to long-term customers and those who pay their bills promptly Follow up after a sale to thank the customer and offer service Give personal compliments or praise Praise government officials or employees Relieve someone from delegated responsibilities because someone else will assume them Reply positively to a suggestion Respond positively to negative feedback Write a farewell letter to a person who is leaving employment Write a farewell letter to a person who is retiring Write a farewell letter to management, co-workers or clients Get the right words for your letters in three easy steps: Choose from a variety of prewritten thank-you letters that cover many common situations. Copy your letter directly into Microsoft Word or your favorite word processor. Or let our software guide you step-by-step through the writing process, suggesting sample phrases and sentences for each writing step. In minutes, you can write an effective thank-you letter. Print your thank-you letter and send it!