Thank you letters are always appreciated by the people who give you job references or write letters of recommendation, or provide a recommendation on LinkedIn for you.

Why It’s Important to Say Thank You

Everyone likes to feel appreciated. When you take the time to say thank you, your reference providers will be even more inclined to recommend you next time around.

How to Say Thank You for a Reference

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A follow-up letter after you don’t get the job is so rare, you will stand out and it may lead to future recommendations or another job.

If you can muster the professionalism and grace to thank the people who interviewed you, rather than cursing them out, you could pluck future success from the ashes of rejection.

Here are the strategies and a sample template letter you can use…

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Sometimes you just need to say “No thanks” to a job offer.

While it may be tempting to turn down an offer verbally and leave it at that, it’s more professional to write a formal letter to decline the job. Keep these four tips in mind as you write your letter… and use this template:

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Use this sample letter to decline a job offer because of a low salary, and potentially get an employer to increase the salary offer amount…

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Here’s a sample job offer acceptance letter that you can copy and paste…

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There are many reasons to withdraw from consideration for a position. You might realize that the job is not a good fit in terms of your skills, interests, lifestyle or income expectations. In addition, you may have been offered another position that is more attractive, or promoted by your current employer. Sometimes intervening life or health changes make a job transition less appealing after you have begun the application process.

When to Withdraw Your Application: There is no need to withdraw from consideration prior to being selected for an interview. However, once an interview has been scheduled or completed, you should inform the employer if you no longer have an interest in the position and don’t plan to proceed with the process.

How to Withdraw with an Email: You can send an email expressing appreciation for the employer’s time and consideration, with the option to include a reason such as how the position wasn’t a good fit.
Employers may redirect outstanding candidates to other more appropriate opportunities within their organization if they are impressed with the person’s background.

How to Withdraw with a Phone Call: If you have established a solid rapport with the hiring manager or Human Resources representative throughout the interview process, it is more professional (and considerate) to withdraw from consideration with a phone call. If possible, speak directly with the hiring manager rather than leaving a voicemail or message.This discussion could lead to referrals for other jobs or even restructuring of a more appropriate position.

Stay Positive: No matter how you withdraw from consideration, remember to remain professional and positive. Do not go into detail about why you do not like the company, your potential boss, etc. Instead, emphasize how grateful you are for the opportunity to apply for a position at the company, and for their time and consideration thus far.

Here’s a sample email:

Dear Name,
I spoke with you over the phone several weeks ago regarding the status of my application for the (Job Title) position with (Name of Company).

While I understand that you are still in the process of interviewing candidates, I wanted to notify you that I have just accepted an offer for a similar position. Therefore, I respectfully request that you remove my candidacy from consideration.

Thank you for the time you spent with me throughout the interview process. I’m grateful for having had the chance to meet you and to get to know your company. I wish you and your team great success.

Sincerely,

Your Name