How to Write the Right Thank You Note
A few months ago, a friend volunteered to sit down for me while I was out of town. When I got home, I thanked her for her service and handed her an envelope with several bills inside. The envelope in question was probably missing what sets us apart from the wild animal she was watching: a thank you note.
According to New York City School of Etiquette founder Patricia Fitzpatrick , who spoke to Lifehacker on the topic, writing a thank you note isn’t as difficult as it sounds. No need to confuse yourself with flowery language or fancy cursive writing; it is an expression of gratitude, not a written exam.
Thank you notes should be sent in different scenarios, Fitzpatrick said.
“A Thank You Note indicates appreciation and appreciation for what has been done for you or given to you. Every time someone does something special for you, you must acknowledge it. Whether it’s someone inviting you to dinner, inviting you as a guest to their home, staying at home for the weekend, or giving you a gift. You should always send one after receiving the gift. “
Whether you’re heading for an interview for a new job or the current president leaving comments after attending an event, there are several ways you can make your gratitude attempt more effective and, according to Fitzpatrick, more touching.
Do your prep work
Thank you letters are meant for thoughtful correspondence, and since you never know when you might need to send it, it’s worth preparing ahead of time and saving yourself some trouble. That means stocking up on office supplies, whether personalized or not. No bullshit with printer paper.
Fitzpatrick suggests starting with correspondence cards: small note cards made of thicker paper and attached to an envelope for easy mailing. As far as colors go, you can’t go wrong with a bright white or cream card. You can get personalized correspondence and thank you cards at office supply stores such as Papyrus and Crane & Co. , or browse Etsy to find some unique designs. Avoid filling blank cards. “It’s definitely for little kids.”
If your letter stinks, write a note
My favorite writing style is cursive, and I’ve always preferred to write thank you notes myself, but there is no need to resort to fancy script when expressing my thanks. In fact, Fitzpatrick says you can print them even if you have poor handwriting.
Above all, a thank you note needs to be legible, so if your scribbles leave a lot to be desired, don’t be afraid to open Google Docs and throw one of them away. If you are printing a thank you note, it is best to choose paper-sized stationery. This saves you the hassle of tinkering with printer settings and saves you the hassle of trial and error to get it on a smaller dedicated card. Typing a thank you note may seem a little tasteless, but worse than not having one is that it is impossible to read.
Send as soon as possible
If you find you can send a thank you letter, do so immediately. Submitting within 48 hours is usually standard operating procedure, but a faster response may be required in some cases. When it comes to events like a job interview, Fitzpatrick suggests starting with a thank you note and a paper card at the end.
“Sometimes companies make decisions very quickly, and since not everyone sends handwritten notes, this sets the person sending them apart from the rest. It helps them outperform the competition. “
If you can’t give someone a thank you card in person, mail it. Don’t be afraid to ask for their mailing address!
Be specific
Who the hell needs the regular thank you card you signed? Nobody, that’s who. Personalizing your thank you card will add warmth to your note and remind the recipient of both what they did and how thoughtful you were when you thanked them. It doesn’t have to be long either. One or two opening sentences of gratitude to someone for their gift or favor, followed by lightheadedness and a closing remark on the aforementioned gift, and you are golden. Everyone wins!
At the end of the day, here’s a note I should have written to my helpful friend (sorry Kate):