Thank you letters should be sent within 24 hours of your interview to emphasize your professionalism and familiarity with accepted business practice. It should include the following four components:

1. An opening paragraph expressing appreciation for the interview
2. A second paragraph reinforcing your understanding of the position’s requirements and emphasizing your qualifications.
3. If necessary, a third paragraph to correct any misunderstandings or to counter an objection raised about your background.
4. A final paragraph to express your interest in the position and the company.

Here’s an example of an effective letter:

Dear _____,

I appreciate the time you gave me yesterday afternoon to discuss potential employment opportunities with your company.

After thinking about your Regional Sales Manager position and the company’s expectations, I am confident I would be able to meet and exceed those numbers. As we discussed, I’ve experienced building both distributor networks and direct-sales organizations in the oil industry as well as in others. My record had been stellar, with numerous awards and bonuses for increased revenues and new accounts, plus the recruitment and development of talented sales personnel.

I consider your Regional Sales Manager position to be consistent with my plans for personal growth. With you company’s reputation for rewarding top performance, I think this job would be an excellent career move for me.

Thanks again for the meeting, and I look forward to hearing from you.