Job Search - The Importance of a Thank You Letter Following a Job Interview
When we were kids Mom made us sit down and write thank you notes when we received gifts.
Well, all these years later, Mom is still right.
Thank you letters are a key component in any successful job search.
But modern technology has added a new twist.
I've always said that a handwritten thank you note sent within 48 hours of the interview is a powerful way to reinforce any positive impression you made at the interview.
However, in an increasingly instantaneous society, I have recently been persuaded that this thank you note should be preceded by an email sent the same day as the interview.
The email satisfies the modern mind and the handwritten note arriving a few days later is an impressive reminder of any good impression you made at the interview.
So, who gets these thank yous?Everyone!If they were part of the interview process they get thanked.
You want to thank both the human resource representative and the hiring manager.
And, if you were interviewed by a panel or went out to lunch with the team they all get their own thank yous.
Neither the email nor the note needs to be long.
But they do need to be individualized.
You want to thank them for the opportunity and to mention something specific the two of you talked about.
Make sure that each note or email doesn't sound like a mail merge but refers to something specific that you discussed - maybe something that you would like to add a few sentences about to expand on your contribution during the interview.
If you said you would get them additional information on anything be sure to include it or at least mention that they will be receiving the information soon.
Well, all these years later, Mom is still right.
Thank you letters are a key component in any successful job search.
But modern technology has added a new twist.
I've always said that a handwritten thank you note sent within 48 hours of the interview is a powerful way to reinforce any positive impression you made at the interview.
However, in an increasingly instantaneous society, I have recently been persuaded that this thank you note should be preceded by an email sent the same day as the interview.
The email satisfies the modern mind and the handwritten note arriving a few days later is an impressive reminder of any good impression you made at the interview.
So, who gets these thank yous?Everyone!If they were part of the interview process they get thanked.
You want to thank both the human resource representative and the hiring manager.
And, if you were interviewed by a panel or went out to lunch with the team they all get their own thank yous.
Neither the email nor the note needs to be long.
But they do need to be individualized.
You want to thank them for the opportunity and to mention something specific the two of you talked about.
Make sure that each note or email doesn't sound like a mail merge but refers to something specific that you discussed - maybe something that you would like to add a few sentences about to expand on your contribution during the interview.
If you said you would get them additional information on anything be sure to include it or at least mention that they will be receiving the information soon.