1. Sample Appreciation Letter: How to Write & Template

Sample Appreciation Letter: How to Write & Template

LiveCareer Editorial Team
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It’s a real privilege to work with good people, whether supportive superiors, dedicated subordinates, or selfless colleagues. Writing a letter of appreciation is a great way to express your gratitude. Not only will this let them know how you feel, it could also help their career.

In this article you’ll find:

  • An appreciation letter sample better than most.
  • How the right appreciation letter format should look like.
  • UK-specific advice and a step-by-step guide to write your gratitude letter.

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Appreciation Letter Format (Sample)

Josh Cox

28 Glenurquhart Road

Birmingham

B1 1LA

070 6358 1637

josh.cox@lcmail.co.uk

 

8th April 2022

Sean Young

Production Manager

Via Arc Engineering

55 Bouverie Road

Birmingham

B1 1NG

Dear Sean,

Thank you for taking the time to mentor me these past few weeks. Not only has my transition to production coordinator been much smoother as a result, but the best practices you’ve taught me will serve me well for years to come.

I really appreciate your patience in showing me the ropes, especially in the first week. I have to admit, it was all a little confusing at first, as hard as that is to imagine now. By sharing your in-depth knowledge of Via Arc’s production processes, you have given me a huge leg-up in attaining new levels of competence.

I think the onboarding and mentorship programme you have put together sets Via Arc apart from the rest in a very real way.

Thank you once again. I look forward to continuing working with you.

Yours Sincerely,

Josh Cox

This sample appreciation letter gives you an idea of what you’re aiming for. Here’s how to write your own, step by step: 

1. Start your appreciation letter with a professional header and an appropriate greeting

Unless you’re writing your appreciation letter as a casual email, you’ll need a proper document header. Align to the right your name, postal address, email, and phone number. Leave a line and add the date of writing, always in full form—as in ‘11th February 2022’. Leave another line.

Next, align to the left the recipient’s name, their job title, the company name, and the company’s inside address. It’s important that you set all this out correctly. Your reader might be able to use your appreciation letter as part of a promotion request, pay negotiation, or job application down the line.

Even if you’re just firing off a semi-formal email, it’s a good idea to start with an appropriate salutation. On a first-name basis with your reader? Go with ‘Dear + First Name’. Not on a first-name basis? This is not the time to start—use ‘Dear + Mr/Ms + Surname’. Always use ‘Ms’ for women, rather than Mrs or Miss. 

Appreciation letter format: header and salutation

Josh Cox

28 Glenurquhart Road

Birmingham

B1 1LA

070 6358 1637

josh.cox@lcmail.co.uk

 

8th April 2022

Sean Young

Production Manager

Via Arc Engineering

55 Bouverie Road

Birmingham

B1 1NG

Dear Sean,

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2. Let your reader know what you’re grateful for and why in your appreciation letter

Unsurprisingly, your letter should start with an expression of gratitude or appreciation. Cut straight to the chase, say thank you, and make sure it’s clear what it is that you’re thankful for. Expressing gratitude can do a lot of good, for your recipient and you. So don’t bury it in a later paragraph.

Appreciation letter format: opening paragraph

Thank you for taking the time to mentor me these past few weeks. Not only has my transition to production coordinator been much smoother as a result, but the best practices you’ve taught me will serve me well for years to come.

3. Describe the reason behind your appreciation letter in more detail, with examples

Take a paragraph to specify details regarding what it was that your recipient did for you or your company. This will help them really feel noticed and appreciated. Mention their personal and professional qualities. Focus on their strengths if you’re writing a letter of appreciation for good work.

If you are writing a letter of appreciation to an employee or subordinate, then add a compliment that’s focused on their future. Meanwhile, if you’re writing an appreciation letter to your boss, you can add something focused on the wider impact their help and support has had. Think at the company level.

Appreciation letter format: main body paragraphs

I really appreciate your patience in showing me the ropes, especially in the first week. I have to admit it was all a little confusing at first, as hard as that is to imagine now. By sharing your in-depth knowledge of Via Arc’s production processes, you have given me a huge leg-up in attaining new levels of competence.

I think the onboarding and mentorship programme you have put together sets Via Arc apart from the rest in a very real way.

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4. Express your gratitude and end your appreciation letter with an appropriate sign-off

Reiterate your expression of thanks. This is a great way to bring your appreciation letter full circle. A big part of writing a good letter of appreciation is knowing how to end it. Look positively to the future. If writing to an employee, comment on your subordinate’s promising future, but only if this is realistic.

Your second ‘thank you’ could also serve as your sign-off. This isn’t an option if you’re writing a formal appreciation letter, though. In such cases, use ‘Yours Sincerely’ if you used your recipient’s name in the salutation. Use ‘Yours Faithfully’ in the rare case that you don’t know their name.

Appreciation letter format: closing paragraph and sign-off

Thank you once again. I look forward to continuing working with you.

Yours Sincerely,

Josh Cox

5. Select a suitable format and layout for your appreciation letter

A formal appreciation letter has to follow the standard business letter format. Mirror the setting-out of our letter of appreciation sample, and you’ll have this in the bag. Proofread your appreciation letter. Professionalism is important, no less so in a letter of appreciation. So check it thoroughly.

Use plenty of white space

Set the line spacing to 1.15 and use double spaces between paragraphs. Leave all four margins at 2.5 cm. This will create a lot of white space, making your appreciation letter easier on the eye and easier to read. Keep you letter to a single page if you can, but don’t bunch it up to make that happen.

Choose a professional-looking font

Select an understated, easy-to-read font for your letter of appreciation. Something like Noto, Garamond, Liberation, or even Arial or Calibri. Anything that won’t compete for attention with your carefully chosen words. Leave the font size at 11–12 points. Your letter might be printed out, even if you email it.

Save your appreciation letter in PDF

You want your letter of appreciation to look good no matter what device it’s viewed on or what printer it’s printed on. PDF is the way you can all but make sure that’ll happen. PDF files are much more likely to preserve formatting and layout across devices than something like a *.docx file.

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You’re doing a good thing by taking the time to write a letter of application. Do you feel better equipped to write a good one now? Drop us a line down below. Leave any questions, feedback or experiences of your own that you’d like to share. Have you received an appreciation letter before?

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

About the author

LiveCareer Editorial Team
LiveCareer Editorial Team

Since 2005, the LiveCareer Team has been helping job seekers advance their careers. In our in-depth guides, we share insider tips and the most effective CV and cover letter writing techniques so that you can beat recruiters in the hiring game and land your next job fast. Also, make sure to check out our state-of-the-art CV and cover letter builder—professional, intuitive, and fully in line with modern HR standards. Trusted by 10 million users worldwide.

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