Ruth Robb posted on March 07, 2012 12:20
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.
~Author Unknown
Yes, you need to send a thank you!
One commonly overlooked step in the job search process is the post Interview thank you letter.
Think you did well on an interview, follow-up with a thank you letter or note. Think you did crappy on the job interview, follow-up anyway.
No matter how you feel about the interview, you can use your thank you note to reinforce points from the interview, share new information, or confront objections that may have come up in the interview.
Writing a thank you letter say’s you’re a professional. Writing a thank you letter can set you apart from other candidates, and tip the scales to your advantage if you are one of 2 or 3 preferred candidates.
There are 3 acceptable formats to send a thank you. You can send an actual letter by mail, send a handwritten note in a card, or send a short email.
When sending an actual letter, choose a format similar to your resume and covering letter.
Example:
John Doe
600 John Doe St.
John, Doe, N0N 0N0
555 555 5555
1 (Shows the number of Line Spaces between headings)
2
Date
1
2
3
4
Employers Name
Title
Company Name
Address
Postal Code
1
2
Dear (Name of interviewer):
1
1st Paragraph: Thank the interviewer for having spent the time to meet with you to discuss the career opportunity (state the position) at the company (state the company name).
1
2nd Paragraph: Reflect upon one or two key topics discussed during the interview. Or clarify any topic you feel would make a difference in their decision to hire you based on the interview answers you gave.
1
3rd Paragraph: Mention one key skill of yours that you know will be a benefit to the company.
1
4th Paragraph: Express your appreciation for the time devoted to the interview, and offer to provide any additional information if required.
1
2
Sincerely,
1
2
3
4
Your name (if you are sending a hard copy by mail, then make sure you sign the letter).
If you choose to write a handwritten note, you can follow a similar format except it must be short and sweet. You can omit the company address information and start out with the salutation of Dear (Name of Interviewer). Keep it to a few lines. I found that handwritten notes can say a lot about your personality, and shows that you have taken the extra effort to be original.
If you send your note via email, follow the same format as the mail letter above.
For more information about thank you letters, please see the following articles:
Thank You Letters - Indiana University Career Devleopment
The Post-Interview Thank You Note - From Monster Canada
After Interviews thank-you letters follow-up - Following an interview, promptly (within 2 business days) write the interviewer a letter expressing appreciation and thanks for the interview.
Interview Thank You Letters - Writing interview thank you letters is a must!
Be Well
~The Advisor