I had a job seeker ask yesterday if he should send a thank you letter for his first interview, even though he has a second interview lined up. Anyone want to guess what my answer was?

ALWAYS send a thank you. Even if you get a rejection. Thank you goes a long way. Remember, managing your career is about managing relationships. Do you think you would want to know this person who makes hiring decisions to remember you?

Three simple paragraphs are all you need:

Opening
The opening can be where you initially say thank you. Try and grab them by saying something nice about them or their company or the people you met or the job. Flattery, when sincere, is a good thing.

Relevant Points
This paragraph can be used to connect the dots for the employer about why you are a great fit for the job, be specific but precise. Use intelligence you gathered from the interview. If you fumbled a question or you think you could give a better answer, this should be where you tackle it.

Closing
Your closing paragraph will thank them again and make reference to the next steps.

Will you email this or send it snail mail? That depends on the time frame for the next steps and who you are sending it to. There is nothing wrong with sending a brief email and then following it up with a hard copy in the mail.

Most Hiring Managers or recruiters will tell you that they receive very few thank you letters. Some say fewer than 5% of job seekers send thank yous. It is an easy way to set yourself apart and sell your interest in the position.

I know you want to see samples so here are two resources I respect:


Quintessential Careers Sample Thank You Letters

Alison Doyle's About.com Thank You Letter Samples