Some interviewers don’t care if you send a thank you note, but many see them as another reason to consider you and written confirmation of your interest.
A short, well-written, impactful follow up note can actually change the way you are perceived and improve your chances of getting an offer.
The majority of job seekers do not send a follow up note. If you are not sending a note, you are missing an opportunity to get back on the radar of your target company. You are also missing an opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the role.
By sending a follow up note after an interview, you show your interviewer common courtesy but you also show them you are enthusiastic about the role.
Also, since few job hunters use them, a good follow up note can help you stand out from the crowd. A follow up note also comes in handy when you want to reiterate the reasons you believe you should be hired, or it can give you a platform to say something you meant to say on the interview but never said.
A thank you note also demonstrates a key skill– writing skill, which is still one of the top skills you bring to any company.
One of the keys to a good thank you note is that it must be well-written. A good thank you note is professional and succinct and has perfect grammar and spelling.
A Word of Caution
A friend once sent a follow up note to the wrong person but to the correct email address and such a mistake would undo any benefit of sending a follow up note.
If you don’t feel comfortable you are sending a note that is bullet proof, well-written and mistake free, get a friend to help you. A second pair of eyes always helps.
Here is a simple, basic template you can work from.
Dear Mr. Phelps,
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your time this morning to discuss the project manager position. I enjoyed and learned from the meeting and came away with a full understanding of how I can help your department.
I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my interest in the position, as well as express confidence that if given the opportunity, I can meet or exceed your expectations.
Please feel free to contact me if you need any additional information or references. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
If you need to remind the interviewer of something you want to express, the end of paragraph two would be the place to do it. Happy Hunting!!!
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