Nailed Your Job Interview? You’re Not In Yet. 5 Tips For Writing The Perfect Post-Interview Thank You Note
Your resume has been submitted and you couldn’t have performed better during the interview. Now, you just have to wait for the job offer … right? Maybe not. A small, yet effective gesture may better your chances. A post-interview thank you note can go a long way. At first, the idea of drafting one may seem a bit antiquated, but it’s actually the perfect move if executed properly.
According to a recent Accountemps survey, 80% of hiring managers consider thank you notes to be helpful in making the decision of which candidate to hire. Yet, only 24% of hiring managers report actually receiving thank you notes. With those numbers, determining which way to go is really, a no-brainer. However, figuring out how to get ‘er done, is something different. But, no worries … here you go!
1. Consider whether you should mail a hand-written thank you note and forward an email or if you should just send a thank you email. While your method is a matter of preference, should the former be chosen, keep in mind that there is a reason for using both regular mail and email. The reason is simple; hiring managers prefer to receive a thank you note and you wouldn’t want snail mail to be the reason you are overlooked.
86% of hiring managers believe an untimely thank you note to be an indication that a candidate is not serious about the position and even lacks the ability to “follow through”. With that said, regular mail can take a couple of days to arrive at your interviewer’s office and that is just a risk not worth taking. Your thank you note should be forwarded within a few hours after the interview (but not too soon after).
If you mail and email a note, start with the email version and forward a much shorter note via regular mail. Here are examples.
FYI - An Accountemps survey shows that 94% of hiring managers believe emailed notes to be appropriate and 86% feel the same about handwritten notes. So, you can’t lose!
2. Don’t forget to say thanks. Yes, that is the reason for the note, but sometimes we all forget the obvious. For example, you may begin your note with, “It was a pleasure to meet with you” and will forget to say thank you altogether. So, begin and finish with a thank you and you’ll be all set.
3. Be enthusiastic. Highlight your skills again and how they fall in line with the position. And, remember to do so with excitement!
4. Include the title/position. You don’t want to assume your hiring manager remembers everything about you (although that would be awesome) and it’s important to keep in mind that they are likely … pretty busy. Make things a little easier by reminding them of the position for which you are applying.
5. Recall an important fact. Think of something specific that was mentioned in the interview and bring it up in the note. Perhaps there was a specific phrase used when speaking about the ideal candidate or maybe your interviewer happened to mention a school play they were leaving early to attend. Whatever stands out, find a way to appropriately include it in your note. Your attention to detail will not go unnoticed.
Thank you note examples:
You’re almost there & Good Luck!
Want Research Grace to help you draft the perfect thank you note? Great! Click here.
