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10 Tips for Job Interview “Thank You” Notes
© Sylvia Henderson. Springboard Training. All rights reserved.
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Employers look for people who do the right thing; go the extra mile. A follow-up “thank you” note shows you do this. Such a note shows you appreciate the interviewer taking their time to talk to you – even though it is part of their process anyway – and lets the interviewer know that you have a modicum of manners and “proper etiquette training”. It also provides closure … a succinct wrap-up for you to summarize and emphasize a few key points from the interview.
Ten Tips for Job Interview “Thank You” Notes:
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Hand-write your note. This is personal and direct to the person who interviewed you. E-mail and typewritten letters are impersonal.
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Use a purchased “thank you” card from a card store (or box of cards). Avoid printing a card from your inkjet printer using a card-creation software program. Such computer programs are craft-and-school-oriented and viewed as such by business people.
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Mail your note through the US postal system. FAXing a note is impersonal.
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Write – and send – your thank you note within one week of the job interview.
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Summarize the positive points of your interview experience. This shows that you really did “enjoy meeting with” the interviewer. The “I enjoyed meeting with you” statement is common and generic; it means something when you specify what was enjoyable this time, with this person.
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Include an extra point or two you may have forgotten to note during your job interview. You always think of something you wish you had said at the time. Include a short statement or two about something you want to add that reinforces why you are the optimal candidate for the unique position being considered.
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Be sure to include your full contact information below your signature. This helps the recipient file your note with your other materials they have, as well as makes it easier for them to contact you should you have a positive outcome.
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Keep the note short – no longer than one 8.5”x11” sheet of paper or a standard “Thank You” card from a card store.
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Retain a business tone to the thank you. Personal information and informal language and tone are inappropriate for a job interview thank you. Remember: you are still interviewing for the job with your thank you note. The same business formality practiced in the interview carries through to the written thank you note.
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Use language correctly and check your spelling. Write legibly. Printing (by hand) is appropriate if your script writing is illegible. A thank you note displays your written communication skills. E-mail, instant messaging, and text messaging short-hand is inappropriate for a job interview follow-up thank you note.
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You might be surprised at how few people send thank you notes – appropriately – after a job interview. When you send one, you stand out from the crowd of other interviewees. Your note just might make the difference in whether you get the job or not, given two equally qualified candidates against whom you compete.
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Sylvia Henderson, Chief Everything Officer (CEO) of Springboard Training (www.SpringboardTraining.com) is a business woman, workshop facilitator, general session keynote speaker, and writer. Springboard Training is your springboard to personal and professional development. We provide the people, tools and resources that build knowledge, develop skills, and shape attitudes focusing on professionalism, work ethics, and leadership. Sylvia can be reached at sylvia@springboardtraining.com.
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