Writing Thank-You Notes

The last impression that you will leave after your on-campus interview comes in the form of a thank you note. After an interview you may write as many as 20 thank-you’s, but it is very important to show your gratitude for the opportunity and the time each individual has taken to be a part of your on-campus interview. Here are some words of advice with regards to writing your thank you notes.

• Be sure to write them in a timely manner. Ideally it would be beneficial to have them in the mail no later than one week after your interview. Often the process moves quickly after the on-campus interviews, and you want to make sure to leave that lasting impression prior to any decision-making.
  
• Write a note to everyone you meet with individually. Even those that join you for dinner or guide you from one interview to another. Everyone is a potential colleague, and you want to show everyone your enthusiasm and appreciation.
  
• Consider putting all of the thank-you notes in a larger envelope and mailing them together. This will allow you to save on postage, and ensure they all arrive at the same time. The staff mailboxes may be in the same location, so it wouldn’t take too much time to distribute the notes.
  
• Share your enthusiasm and what you appreciated from each individual. Perhaps they shared a philosophy you really appreciated, or explained the culture of the campus very thoroughly. Let them know how they connected with you and why it was so meaningful.
  
• Be aware that thank you’s via email may be a good option. As institutions strive to promote sustainability, consider saving the paper and sending your thank you notes via email. You will be demonstrating your commitment, as well as demonstrating that you value sustainability.

Amy Moreno-Kieffer
Co-Editor
Student Affairs Job Hunting Blog