Personal Thank-You Letter Example

Personal Thank-You Letter Example Personal Thank Throughout your career, from your first entry-level position through retirement, you will encounter many people who will provide you with help and guidance. Take the time to  thank these people with a personal thank-you letter. Sending a thank-you note is almost always a good idea. If youre ever in doubt about whether or not to send a note, err on the side of sending it. Sending a thank-you note will encourage people to help you â€" and other job seekers â€" again, so this is an important courteous gesture. Thank you letters don’t need to be complicated or overly long and can be written in the form of a formal business letter, as an email, or as a  handwritten thank you card.   What to Include in Your Letter Clearly, the  most important information to include in your note  is your appreciation for the assistance your friend or colleague has provided. Be specific about what the person has done and how it has helped you in your job search.  Thank them for their help, and if they’re personal friends, you may want to offer to return the favor if ever possible. Personal Thank You Letter Example See below for an example of a personal thank-you letter you can send to  people who have assisted you with your job search, as well as tips for how and when to send your letter, and what information to include within it.   Your NameYour AddressYour City, State Zip CodeYour Phone NumberYour EmailDateNameTitleOrganizationAddressCity, State Zip CodeDear First Name,  (or Mr./Ms. Last Name if you dont know them well)Thank you for all the assistance you have provided me during my job search.I appreciate the information and advice you have given, as well as the connections you have shared with me. Your expertise and help have been invaluable during this process.Again, thank you so much. I sincerely appreciate your generosity.Best Regards,Signature  (hard copy letter)Your Name Expand The Best Format for a Personal Thank-You Letter There are three basic options for how to send a thank-you letter. Here’s what you should know about each one:   Business letter:  This is a good option for more formal connections perfect for people who have offered you assistance but that you normally don’t see on a social basis. Youll need to include contact information for both you and the letters recipient, a  salutation, and a  complimentary close. Look at the example above or read more information on how to  format a business letter. Don’t forget to personally sign the letter, and of course, in order to mail this letter, youll need to have your contacts mailing address.   An email thank you:  If you are sending a thank you message through email, be sure to include your name and thank you (FirstName LastName - Thank You) in the subject line of the email. Or just include your first name and thank you (FirstName - Thank You) if you know the person well. This is a good option for both formal and informal connections. You can use it to thank a former colleague or a friend who introduced you to a connection. Heres more information on  how to send email thank you letters  and  guidelines for writing professional email messages.   A thank-you card:  One other option is to mail a thank-you card. Use nice stationery or a thank-you card, and your best handwriting. This is a more personal option. Sending a handwritten thank-you note is more common in some industries, such as nonprofit and publishing, than in others. Use your best judgment if a handwritten note will be well received. Remember to proofread carefully. It can be helpful to type and spellcheck your note first and then hand copy it onto your notecard.   Send Your Thank You Letter Right Away Aim to send your thank you note soon after youve received the help â€" the same day if possible, especially if you’re mailing a business letter or thank-you card. Don’t wait too long because a late thank you letter may seem more like an afterthought, or worse, you may forget to send the note at all.