Interview Thank You Notes

When you are one of many candidates being considered, what you do after the interview can set you apart significantly and increase your chances of being offered the job. Here are some tips for writing your interview thank you notes.

The first thing to do is to send a follow-up note. The etiquette for thank you letters after the interview has changed as email takes a larger role in communication during the hiring process. Surveys reveal a wide disparity of preferences among hiring managers about whether a handwritten or emailed note is best. However, what hasn’t changed is the need to send a thank you note. It’s a must.

The best post-interview thank you notes are brief and to the point. Cover these four points:

  1. Address the person by name. (Mr. Riley or Ms. Gonzalez, not “Joe” or “Mary,” unless the interviewer directed you to use his or her first name.)
  2. Thank them for their time and the opportunity to interview for the (name of position).
  3. Mention one thing from the interview that especially resonated with you, or mention an issue (or answer a question) that you felt you didn’t address properly in the interview. But don’t take an apologetic tone. Instead, say something like, “I wanted to clarify what we talked about with curriculum development. I should have emphasized that I do have experience in lesson planning and creating course outlines, having prepared a comprehensive course syllabus as part of my graduate class on Classroom Management. I would be happy to forward you a copy of these materials for your review, if you’d like.”
  4. Confirm the “next step” from the interview, including what action you will take — or what you’re expecting from the interviewer.

 

Sample Post-Interview Thank You Note:

Dear Mr. Riley,

Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you today to discuss the ABC Company’s job opening for a Senior Sales Consultant. The plans the company has for expanding into the European commodities market sound incredible, and I think I could be a great asset to the team in this position. Two things I wanted to emphasize are my language fluency and cultural competence. Having spent two semesters in Belgium during college (and returning there twice for trips in the meantime), I possess the specific understanding of this market that the position requires. As we discussed in the interview, I look forward to hearing back from you on Monday, and hope that I am selected to participate in the second round of interviews. I really think I can make a significant impact on your international sales in this role. Thanks again for taking the time to meet with me.

Sincerely,

 

Jane Jobseeker

 

Note: This blog post only touches on certain aspects of this topic and is not a comprehensive list. This blog post is an educational and informational resource for job seekers and is not a substitute for working with a resume writer or other professional. See our Terms and Conditions for additional information.

 

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