I am often asked whether someone should send a thank you note following a job interview. Some feel it is not necessary and other people believe it is a nice gesture. In my experience, I say that sending a thank you note is a must!
Jobs have been won on the basis of a good thank you note. But it must be a good follow-up note. Although there is nothing wrong with saying "it was nice meeting you... and I am excited about the position", that kind of message doesn't SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY a thank you letter offers. If you CONTROLLED the interview and asked the right questions, then you will walk out knowing exactly what they are looking for in a candidate and what the greatest challenge is that will be faced. Your thank you letter is your opportunity to remind them that you can overcome that challenge and deliver the results they are seeking. This simple gesture can often tip the scales in your favor.
Imagine though that the interview didn't go as well as you wanted or you want to ensure that you have the competitive edge. Another smart tactic with a follow-up note is to add that you gathered a lot of information in your interview and will surely have some additional questions as you give some thought to how you would face the challenges the job presents. Add "I hope you don't mind if I give you a call in the next day or so to ask you some follow-up questions". This tells them that you are serious about the job and are thinking about the challenges it presents and solutions you can provide. It also gives you the chance to continue the dialog and build rapport with the key decision makers. Remember: people hire people that they like!
Here are my rules for a good interview follow-up letter. First of all, if you met multiple people, send each one a note and make sure it is different and reflects the conversation you had. My suggestion is that you email them a thank you note within 24 hours and then ALSO follow-up with a mailed, handwritten letter. If you provide this kind of attention to detail and service, imagine what you can do for their internal/external customers? You can't lose by doing this and you have everything to gain. In short, there is no downside and it might just be the reason you get the offer.
Note: These statistics appeared right after writing this and they confirm my thoughts: in a recent poll, 88% of executives said sending a thank-you note following an interview can boost a job seeker's chances and only 51% of applicants do so. They also said that 52% prefer a handwritten note and 44% prefer email. Need more proof?
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Don Goodman is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer and is President of About Jobs (
http://www.GotTheJob.com). A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University's Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at
http://www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.
