In this scenario, I'm assuming you want to do two things: convey joy and delight over the news, and express gratitude for their efforts. As an example, "That is fantastic news! I much appreciate the time you spent to personally review my application. Or: "That makes me very happy. Thank you for taking the time to send me a recommendation. If you're sending an email as part of your job, it's important to be clear, concise, and relevant. You can do this by considering how you would reply to a colleague if he or she had sent you an email asking about something you had done or were planning to do. In addition to being professional, your email should also provide useful information that will help them do their job better. It's okay to be personal in business emails. For example, you could include a story about someone you know who was given your job and how it affected him or her. You could also mention a project you are working on that may interest them. However, avoid sharing too much information that isn't necessary for the subject at hand. Also, unless you have permission from everyone involved, don't share private information such as salary details with strangers. If you are unable to write a personal note, then perhaps you could suggest someone else who could take action on their behalf.