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Elements of a successful thank you note
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If you aren’t following up every interview – and by that I mean each individual person with whom you meet or speak – with a thank you note, you are likely costing yourself the position.
“I’m a little saddened by how few notes I get after interviews in the late 2000s compared to the 1990s when everyone was eager to prove how wonderful they were, even if they didn’t particularly want the job. Sure, Generation X was all about entitlement, but they were passionate about making sure you remembered them,” said Richard Laermer, author of “2011: Trendspotting.”
But, let me be clear. The simple act of saying “thank you” is not enough. To really put yourself ahead of your competitors, consider the following elements:
1. Send your note within 24 hours. “Sending an e-mail within 24 hours strongly conveys how enthusiastic you are about the position,” said DeAnne Merey, president and founder of D M Public Relations. “In addition, if the interviewer is deciding between several candidates, the one who offers up the timeliest thank you will be afforded the greatest consideration. I can't tell you how many candidates conclude their interviews by telling me how they hope to hear from me soon, when often the most important factor is when I hear from them!”
2. Reference your conversation. “Think about each of the meetings you had that day. What was that person most passionate about, and what things came up that were unique to that meeting? Find a way to work in something that shows you were really listening carefully, and particularly address any challenge or passions you uncovered in your discussions with that person,” said John West Hadley, career search counselor at John Hadley Associates.
3. Emphasize your strengths. Katy Piotrowski, author of “The Career Coward’s Guide to Interviewing,” offers an example: “Discussing the ABC project was especially exciting for me. As I mentioned in the interview, I have strong interest and some experience in researching market information to support your goals.”
4. Reaffirm your interest in the position. Remind each interviewer that you are truly interested in the position and why. Or, if you are no longer interested after having been through the interview process, tell them so. Send your thank you note regardless because you never know when the interviewer will cross your path in the future.
5. Keep it short. Four to five sentences is plenty. Quality over quantity.
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