Handwritten Thank You Letters Move You Forward: The Secret Weapon Nobody Uses

Handwritten thank you letters set you apart—but only send them for roles you actually want.

• Don’t bother writing one if you had a weird vibe, didn’t connect, or just aren’t excited.
• If the company, manager, role, or pay feels right—go the extra mile.
• Keep it short, safe, and strategic. This isn’t a place for emotion or storytelling.
• The goal? To show appreciation, reinforce interest, and subtly remind them you’re the solution to their needs.

Handwritten Thank You Letter Template:

Dear [Interviewer's First Name],
Thank you for your time and insight into the [Job Title] role.
After getting to know you, the team, and the mission here at [Company Name], I am convinced that my experience in [Your Area of Expertise] will help advance your mission.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]

• Handwrite it (not an email).
• Don’t go longer than the template.
• Use your handwriting, even if it’s not perfect—authenticity matters.
• Drop it in the mail within 24–48 hours after the interview.

https://moveupcareers.com/strategycall

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-job-interview-experience/id1538223546

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Episode Transcript

Matthew (00:01):
Thank you letters matter and the only question is
whether or not you want to gothe extra mile as a candidate
and to help solidify yourcandidacy.
You really don't have to do thisfor every job.
If you get vibes you don't likefrom maybe the interviewer or
you're at least patient and waitlong enough to get to know like

(00:21):
the manager or someone you'llactually be working with more
and you just don't like howthings went.
Maybe you just didn't get alongor something seemed off.
You don't need to send a thankyou letter for those.
But if you feel like you madethe right connection with the
right company, you had maybe acouple, did we just become best
friends moments, or maybe thepay's just really good and

(00:43):
everything else is fine, but youwould love to get that type of
compensation.
Maybe the projects you'll beworking on are awesome.
The technology is great.
Whatever it is, if you careabout getting a job, there are
things you can do that helpsolidify that.
This one is really simple.
We're just going to focus onwhat The thank you letter says,

(01:05):
I've covered when to write thankyou letters and other episodes.
This is just for handwrittenthank you letters, not emails.
If you want a company to investthe time to get to know you,
prove to them that you'll investthe time to make them glad that
they did for your thank youletter.

(01:27):
Here's what you can write.
Dear John.
Thank you for your time andinsight, insert the name of the
role here, into this role.
After getting to know you, theteam, and the mission here at,
insert company name here, I amconvinced that my experience,
insert your area of expertisehere, will help advance your

(01:49):
mission.
Sincerely, your name.
That simple.
Has to be short, obviously it'sa thank you letter.
They're painful to write.
If you're like me, you're goingto have to write it twice
anyway, because you're going toscrew up like the last word of
it.
So I'm going to read that again,and I'm going to insert some
made up things into here just tomake it flow a little bit
better.
Dear John, thank you for yourtime and insight into this

(02:10):
podcast extravaganza role.
After getting to know you, theteam, and the mission here at
Best Podcasts Ever Incorporated,I am convinced that my
experience as a.
Interview, podcast will helpadvance your mission.
Sincerely, your name.
If you happen to be thinkingthat is really generic and plain

(02:34):
and uninteresting, it is.
The thank you letter is not thetime to schmooze, not the time
to kiss up, not the time towrite a long letter about how
you save puppies and how youwant to save the universe and
this job's going to let thathappen.
What you say in the cover letterdoesn't matter.
You're doing some good thingshere in this template I've

(02:56):
created, but overall it's thefact that you send the, the
thank you letter.
That's all that matters.
So keeping it generic is safeand it keeps you from going way
off field or saying somethingstupid.
Like I really, really, reallywant this job.
Oh my gosh, I want it.
Or like the save the puppystuff.
So that's why it's generic.
Now I've done some sneaky thingshere.

(03:17):
Like I, at the end here, you sayhow your experience will help
advance their mission.
So saying you want the job, yousay you help them do it.
They need to do.
You're helping John achieve hisgoal.
Okay, so this is meant to begeneric.
That's intentional.
I would recommend that you usethis.
You can change it a little bit,but don't make it any longer.
I'm going to include thistemplate for what I just read in

(03:40):
this episode's description.
That's right, it's all yours.
Whatever podcast player you'reon, just go to this, go to the
description or more info orwhatever for this episode.
I don't know if you'll be ableto copy and paste it, probably
depends on your app.
But if nothing else, you canlook at it and write it down or
type it out.
It's all yours.
Enjoy.
I hope that this helps you alot.
If you take the time and use it,I guarantee this will make a

(04:02):
difference in your candidacy.
While you're in the episode'sdescription, click the link and
head over to get way more helpgetting a job just like this,
but more and better.
Check out the packages overthere and have a good one.