You nailed the interview, right? Now close the deal! One of the best ways to do that is to send a thank you note (email) to each of your interviewers. Why send a thank you note?
- It will differentiate you from the majority of candidates who did not do so.
- It’s a great way to reinforce your interest in the job.
- If you forgot to say something during your interview, you can include that information in your thank you note.
- It will keep you in the minds of interviewers.
- A thank you note can help build relationships with future employers.
Still not convinced? A recent survey by Accountemps found that 80+% recruiters liked being thanked and said thank you notes were helpful in making hiring decisions. Given the number of potential candidates available for every open position, you cannot afford to do everything possible to portray your candidacy in the best light.
Here are some tips for crafting a great thank you note:
- Use email for swift delivery. While many of us still enjoy receiving handwritten notes, email is acceptable in today’s work environment. And, if you are applying for a federal position, email is about the only way to guarantee that your correspondence will be received; most federal agencies screen “snail mail” so it could be days or a week or more before the recipient actually sees your thank you.
- Thank everyone who interviewed you. Hopefully you asked for business cards before you left the interview so you have everyone’s name. If not, reach out to Human Resources to get the names, proper spelling, and emails addresses of the interview panel. Each person should receive a slight different thank you.
- Make it friendly but do not be presumptuous. Refer to something that was said during your interview so that it shows you were paying attention and want to continue the relationship you started to build. But, do not come across as overly familiar by using memes, etc.
- Keep your thank you short—just a short paragraph or two. Be sure to thank your interviewer, highlight your qualifications, express interest in the job, and share links to any relevant articles you may have published, your online portfolio, etc.
- Send your thank you within 24 hours. Be sure that the subject line of your email is clear (Thank you for the Program Manager interview, or something similar), the text of your email is error-free, and your note includes a signature block with your name, contact information (email and phone), and customized LinkedIn URL.
A timely, well-crafted thank you note is an essential tool in landing that dream job!
