If someone, particularly a current employee of your target employer, refers you for a job opportunity, they deserve a great thank you!
The person who referred you has put you at the head of the line of people applying for a job.
Only current empoyees have a better chance of landing that job than someone who is referred.
Employee referrals are the Number 1 way employers hire people from outside of the company — a.k.a. “external hires”!
Employers love their employee referral programs (a.k.a., “ERP”) because employees hired through those programs are usually more successful than non-referred employees, stay longer, and also have a lower total cost-of-hire — ALL benefits for the employer.
Often, through the ERP program, the employee making the referral receives a financial reward when the person they referred is hired.
Getting a new job can be a challenging process. Often, we rely on the kindness of colleagues, friends, and mentors to provide support and assistance during our job search When someone goes out of their way to help you find a new job, whether by providing advice, sharing opportunities, or giving a recommendation, it’s important to show your appreciation with a sincere thank you
In this comprehensive guide we will cover when and how to thank someone who helped you land a new job. Read on for tips, examples, and suggestions for crafting the perfect thank you message.
Why It’s Important to Say Thank You
There are several key reasons why you should always take the time to thank someone who assisted you in your job search:
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It’s common courtesy and shows you appreciate their efforts.
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It maintains and strengthens your professional network
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It encourages them to help you again in the future.
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It reflects well on your character and professionalism.
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It gives you an opportunity to update them on your new position.
Extending gratitude when someone helps you out is simply the right thing to do. It demonstrates that you value and respect their time. In the professional world, building goodwill and positive relationships is critical for ongoing career success.
When to Send a Thank You Message
Timing is important when crafting your note of thanks. Here are some appropriate times to reach out with a thank you:
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After receiving a job offer – Thank anyone who helped you get the job, whether through advice, references, connections, etc. Do this as soon as possible after accepting the offer.
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After an interview – If someone helped prepare you for an interview or referred you for the opportunity, thank them after completing the interview even if you don’t get the job.
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When someone shares a job lead – If a contact tells you about an open position or upcoming opportunity, send them a thank you for thinking of you.
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After someone writes you a recommendation – Always follow up with thanks if someone takes the time to provide you with a letter of recommendation or LinkedIn endorsement.
The common thread is to thank people soon after they provide you with assistance. Brief, timely thank you notes can go a long way in strengthening bonds.
How to Thank Someone for Job Search Help
When crafting your thank you message, use these tips to make it meaningful:
1. Thank Them Specifically
Mention exactly how they helped you. Did they provide advice, share job leads, or make introductions? Thank them for the specific actions they took rather than saying “thanks for everything” which can seem vague.
2. Note the Impact of Their Help
Explain how their assistance made a difference in your job search. For example, let them know you appreciated their interview tips which helped you land the job, or that the job listing they forwarded led to an offer, etc.
3. Personalize the Message
Address them directly by name and add a personal touch based on your relationship. This makes the message more meaningful than a generic template.
4. Send It Quickly
Get your thank you message out as soon as possible after they provide help. This shows you value their contribution.
5. Offer to Return the Favor
Offer to return the favor down the road and lend them assistance in some way. This continues building your relationship.
6. Follow Up Again Later
Once in your new job, follow up again with another thank you note updating them on how your first few weeks are going.
Thank You Examples
Here are some examples of thank you messages for different situations:
After Receiving a Job Offer
Dear Janelle,
I’m so excited to have received the Account Manager position at XYZ Company! I wanted to sincerely thank you for taking the time to coach me prior to my interviews. Your stellar advice and tips helped me secure the job.
Regards,
Claire
After a Colleague Refers You
Hi Thomas,
I wanted to let you know that I had my interview today for the Sales Rep role you told me about. I really appreciate you thinking of me for the opportunity and making the introduction. The interview went well and I’m feeling positive about my chances.
Best wishes,
Sam
After an Informational Interview
Good morning Ms. Peterson,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me yesterday and answer my questions about the education field. Hearing your experiences and advice was tremendously helpful. I truly appreciate you sharing your wisdom.
Our conversation gave me new insight into the profession. I will be sure to keep you posted on my job search progress and let you know if I have any other questions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you think of any other tips that could help me transition into education!
Sincerely,
Lee
After Receiving a Recommendation
Hi Mr. Jones,
Gratefully,
Max
Thank You Gifts
While not always necessary, sending a small gift can further demonstrate your gratitude. Some ideas:
- Gift card to a coffee shop
- Box of chocolates or baked goods
- Handwritten thank you card
- Personalized stationery
- Small office supply items
- Potted plant or flowers
Use your best judgement based on your relationship. For instance, a gift may be more fitting when thanking a mentor who provided extensive help.
Other Ways to Show Appreciation
In addition to a formal thank you message, consider other appreciation gestures:
- Take them out for coffee or a meal.
- Post a thank you message on LinkedIn recognizing their help.
- Send a handwritten letter in the mail.
- Help them out with something based on what you know they need help with.
- Drop off a small gift or treat at their office.
Personal, customized gestures can sometimes mean the most. Think about what would delight and surprise the person who helped you.
Thank You Note Don’ts
While writing your thank you, avoid these mistakes:
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Making it purely about you and your new job without mentioning their help.
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Sending a generic message clearly copied to multiple people.
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Waiting weeks or months to send your note.
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Forgetting to thank them for the specific help they provided.
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Only mentioning their assistance briefly as an afterthought.
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Skipping a thank you note because you don’t get the job – thank them for their time.
Let Your Gratitude Shine
Landing a new job is exciting, but don’t let that distract you from taking a few minutes to show appreciation. The people who go out of their way to help you should be recognized for their efforts and goodwill. A simple, timely thank you note strengthens your network and builds relationships that can support ongoing career success.
How to Thank Someone for Recommending You for a Job: Sincerely Express Your Gratitude
Like the thank you for a job referral by an external recruiter (when an external recruiter refers you to a job), this thank you provides an update about what happened in the interview.
Of course, it also contains your thanks for the referral and the major advantage provided to you as a result.
Like other job interview thank you notes, send this message as soon as possible after the job interview.
Email is usually acceptable in most situations, particularly if email has been your standard way of communicating with the person who referred you.
To be sure the thank you is received, consider following up your email with a hand-written or typed thank you note sent to the person’s business address.
On the other hand, if your other correspondence with the referring employee has been formal, don’t use email for your thank you. Send a formal note via the postal service, and send it very promptly as with all of your thank you notes.
Formal Thank You Note
For a formal message, typed (or hand written) and sent in a stamped envelope, use the formal business letter format like this:
Your street address Your City, State and Zip Code
Date of the letter
Name of the Recipient Job Title of the Recipient Name of the Employer Employer’s Street Address Employer’s City, State and Zip Code
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:
Thank you very much for referring me to the[Job Title] position at [Employer Name]! I interviewed for the job today [or yesterday or the date] with [Name and Job Title], [Name and Job Title], and [Name and Job Title] at [location, if relevant].
I think the interviews went well, and I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about [Employer Name]. I look forward to the next steps in the hiring process. [Name] told me that they would be in touch in [timeframe]. If you would like, I will keep you posted.
Again, thank you for your help. I greatly appreciate your assistance.
[your name] [Your tagline, like “eCommerce Customer Support Specialist”] [Your job search email address]
19 Ways To Say Thank You & Show Your Appreciation – Business English
How do you thank someone for helping you with a job search?
This provides you with an opportunity to strengthen those ties in the simplest and best way possible: saying thank you. No favor is too small to deserve your thanks. After all, you never know what will lead to your next big opportunity. So, take the time to thank everyone who helps you with your job search.
How do you thank someone in person?
When thanking someone in person, consider saying something like: “Thank you so much for being a personal reference for me. During my interview, the hiring manager mentioned they knew they would offer me a job just based on my credentials and your review of my character. You’ve been such a big help during my job search.
Why is it important to thank someone for helping you find a job?
It’s important to thank someone for helping you find a job because it’s a polite gesture that expresses your gratitude and strengthens your personal and professional network. During your job search, you may rely on other professionals and people in your life to help you find an available position.
How do you thank LinkedIn for helping you find a job?
#11 I would like to wholeheartedly thank you for helping me figure out how best to job search and set up job alerts on [LinkedIn]. Thanks to you, I saw a job posting that fit my experience and ended up getting the job. I am sincerely appreciative that you spent the time to help me.
