This article was updated on October 6, 2021. 

Sometimes the hardest things in life are the goodbyes.

Cover letters are no exception — saying thank you and goodbye in a job application or a cover letter can be tricky.

Often, we hear the term “thank you for your consideration” used in applications and thank you letters to employers, but is it really the best (and only) way to complete the letter or application?

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You may be thinking to yourself — “saying the same phrase at the end of every thank you note is so boring. How can I stand out?”

Recruiters look for flawless job applications. How could they not?

When a job posting has hundreds and sometimes even thousands of applicants, they have to get picky.

When you are applying to very competitive positions, even the smallest of details matter.

And a proper thank you note — one that’s professional and tasteful — at the end of the application or cover letter is one detail that should not be overlooked.

You may be asking:

“Can I at least spice it up a little?”

The short and simple answer to that question is yes — you can make your closing unique and still keep it professional.

So where to begin?

Keep reading for a detailed look at “Thank you for your consideration” — What it means, and how to use it properly to land the job you want.

“Thank you for your consideration” is a phrase often used at the closing of a job application, cover letter, letter of intent, or email to a recruiter or HR department.

It is also the primary phrase used for thank you notes after interviews.

Essentially, you are thanking the interviewers for taking the time to look over your application.

Saying “thank you for your consideration” may seem like fluff added to the end of an email.

And in some ways, it is.

Obviously, you want the job, and you would be ever-grateful and happy for them to look over your materials and offer you the job.

It is also a critical part of any thank you note after an interview.

So why do you have to add this phrase or something with the same intent to the end of these communications?

Because it is proper etiquette and employers expect to see a formal thank you at the end, acknowledging their efforts in the application process.

So what’s the best way of closing these types of communications with potential future employers?

What is the best way of saying “please look over my materials and I will be grateful forever” or “thank you so much for interviewing me, you won’t regret it?”

There are two variants that are often used in closing an application or email: “Thank you for your consideration” and “thank you for your time and consideration.”

Both are acceptable, but wouldn’t you agree that they are a little bit boring?

Most likely, they also do not match your writing style, because we are no longer in the 1800s.

These two phrases are also generic and overused.

You don’t want to be that generic applicant — you want to be the name-brand applicant, the one employers will pay extra for.

Thank you for your consideration and understanding is much the same as the others. It is generic and long-winded, and it doesn’t really saying much.

When you are saying thank you to an employer, you want to emphasize what exactly you are thanking them for.

Their consideration and understanding? Their time? Yes, but what else?

Whether you spoke with the recruiter, the HR department, or had an interview, focus your “thank you” on what they did or said that you are particularly thankful for.

Ready to learn the best way of saying thank you professionally?

Have you ever heard of the compliment sandwich? You probably know it as the go-to way to deliver criticism or bad news to someone.

But did you know that the same method can be applied to delivering the best thank you to a potential employer?

We call it the thank you sandwich.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Thank them and highlight key points. Thank the person for their conversation or interview with you.

Then highlight some key aspects that you took from the information they gave you, which shows employers that you were paying attention and care.

2. Reiterate the thank you. Reaffirm why you would make an excellent candidate for the position and close with a reiteration of thanks and a call to action for next steps.

Instead of writing a boring and completely generic thank you, as a closure to any communication, it is best to make it highly personalized, while still maintaining the professionalism that “thank you for your consideration” gives.

By following this guide, you are effectively sandwiching information about why you would be a good candidate with the thank you closing.

You are being polite and following proper job search etiquette, while also making your thank you highly individualized and more memorable.

Ready to see how all this comes together? Check out this example:

Example

Dear XYZ,

(Add what you want to convey in the message first here).

Thank you for taking the time to interview me today. I greatly appreciated being able to meet X, Y, and Z and speak about the position.

Our discussion about your nonprofit’s mission to ensure a safe place for every child stood out to me, and I believe my experience working with the Department of Social Services for the past 10 years would make me an excellent candidate to advance that mission. My work history affirms my belief that every child needs a safe home, and it would be an honor to work with your nonprofit.

If you need any more information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you again for the opportunity, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,

Applicant

Using “thank you for your consideration” is not a bad way to say thank you, but it definitely can be spiced up to sound more fluid and individualized.

When contacting employers, you want not only want to make sure that all of your communication is professional, but you also want it to be memorable.

When they ask, “who was this person we interviewed?” after a day of interviews and all they get as a memory jogger is “thank you for your consideration,” you probably won’t be the candidate they pull from the pile.

Making your “thank you” more active by adding in details about the interview or the job application and linking it back to a crucial part about why you would fit in well with the company is a great way to stand out.

Keep it is short and sweet — no employer wants to read a billion lines about why you are so awesome. But also make sure it conveys thanks in a professional way and maintains the job search etiquette that is expected, while not being overly dull.

So there you have it.

Thank you so much for reading this article. We know that you will do great with writing these “thank-yous” after reading our “thank you for your consideration” guide.

If you have any further questions about the job search, Zippia has all the resources you need to excel at the job search game.

Thanks again for the opportunity to bring you these resources.

Sincerely,

Zippia.

(Not bad for a thank you statement to readers, right?) Try your own and get that dream job.

This article originally appeared on Zippia.