What Should Be In a Job Rejection E-Mail?

I wrote yesterday about how to turn the negative of a job rejection e-mail into a positive. One of the things I mentioned was to write a thank-you letter to the company. Although that does sound like an odd thing to do considering the situation, it leaves a good impression. I briefly mentioned what the contents of this letter should be, but I want to elaborate on that a little more:

• Like any thank-you note, you should express your gratitude towards everyone involved in the process. This includes whoever interviewed you and anybody else you may have met at the organization. You should say how great it was to meet all of them, and how grateful you were that they took the time to consider you for the position.
• Say that you really enjoyed learning about the organization and the opportunity to meet employees (if applicable).  Showing interest in what the organization does is a great way to show that you are passionate about their mission.
• You should say that you were disappointed in not being selected for the job. Believe it or not, it is possible to do this without being off-putting. This can be done by bringing it up in the "thank you" portion of the letter. For example: "I was disappointed to learn that I was not selected for the position, but I want to thank you for taking the time to consider me."
• Reiterate that you are still interested in working for the organization should another opportunity arise. This is a good opportunity to give them your contact information once again.
• Finally, end the letter by thanking them again and sign off with a statement like "I look forward to hearing from you again in the future."

By including these points in your thank you letter, you will be making a lasting impression with the company.  And who knows?  Maybe that will make all the difference should they be looking to hire again in the future.