Even in the advent of electronic mail, letters continue to be one of the most efficient means of communication to parties from both the online and offline community. A common example of these handwritten or typewritten documents includes the thank-you letter.
As a convenient way of expressing our gratitude toward others, thank-you letters play an important role in various settings. But for the letter to serve its intended purpose, it must be written clearly and concisely for a recipient to grasp.
A thank-you letter is no different from an average letter. But if you’re sending a letter to a client or manager, you may want to take note of the essential components that every formal letter should have.
For many years, we’ve often struggled with the right way to say thank you. While today’s society continues to find new methods to extend their thanks through instant messaging and social media, sending a thank-you note will always be the perfect option for those who wish to deliver their message through a more personal approach.
There are a variety of reasons as to why people choose to write thank-you letters. While interview thank-you emails are one of the easiest ways to convey your sentiments toward a potential employer, many applicants still recognize the value in traditional letters. A thank-you letter may also be addressed to a friend, family member, or colleague.
Thank-you letters usually contain words of gratitude, whether or not the words “Thank you” were expressed directly. It also explains your specific reason for writing. It could be your way of showing your appreciation toward someone who has given a gift, provided a service, or done a favor for your convenience and benefit.
While there isn’t an actual rule as to when these letters should be sent out, it’s always a good idea to do it as quickly as possible. Set a 24-hour deadline for yourself to keep the letter timely and relevant. But if you’re writing the same type of letter to more than a dozen people at a time, consider sending the letter within a month after the event.
Here are a few tips to help you create a thank-you letter worth remembering.
There isn’t an established rule as to when a thank-you letter is most applicable. After all, there’s no harm in sending a thank-you letter out of the blue, for no exact reason. But if you’re looking to justify your purpose for writing the letter, here are a few situations where sending a thank-you letter is most common:
After wrapping up an interview for a job you’re eager to land, you’d want to raise your chances of getting the job by leaving a lasting impression that’s sure to be noticed. Sending a thank-you letter gives you the opportunity to highlight your candidacy in a subtle yet memorable manner.
Sending a thank-you letter to a colleague is a professional gesture that’s hard to ignore. It’s not unusual for someone to feel unappreciated and unrecognized at work despite the time and effort they exert to fulfill their daily tasks, so by writing a simple thank-you letter, you can solidify working relationships with these unsung heroes.
Sometimes, we forget how important it is to show how grateful we are to the people closest to us. These are the people who would cross oceans and move mountains just to see us happy and succeed in life. When a heartfelt face-to-face thank-you is physically impossible or hard to do, a thank-you postcard, letter, note, or email would do.
If you want to stick with the traditional method of delivering letters as opposed to sending the letter as an email attachment, you can have the letter printed on a 8.5″ × 11″ ANSI A (letter) paper, as this is also considered to be the standard printing size for nearly any purpose.
Let’s have a look at some of the most frequently asked questions regarding thank-you letters:
The great thing about thank-you letters is that they only require less than ten minutes of your time to create. You can write your letter by hand or type it on the computer to make it easier for you to locate any spelling or grammar errors while writing. The letter should be brief and to the point to successfully deliver your message.
A thank-you letter is vital in both personal and business communication. We often send thank-you letters to express our appreciation toward someone who has done something for us. The letter may be written to show your gratitude for a job opportunity given, a gift received, a friendship formed, or for virtually anything you’re thankful for.
In the world of business, a thank-you letter is known to be an effective marketing tool that can get you to the next round with a prospective employer. It’s a critical element of your job-search strategy which can help you establish credibility as an applicant. This will help you develop a rapport and increase the hiring manager’s comfort level in your candidacy.
Thank-you letters continue to be an essential component to the success of your job search. It’s a great way to reconnect and cement relationships with friends, relatives, and colleagues as well. So with the help of these letter templates and examples, you can create a meaningful thank-you letter in no time!