Directly after your big interview, within a day if you are mailing, you need to express you appreciation for the opportunity with a “Thank You” note. Too many candidates overlook the importance of a “Thank You” and if you want to be out in front of the pack, send one after every interview. As for the type of note, hand written is ALWAYS best. In today’s electronic age, it is too easy to send an email but why risk your note getting lost among the multitude of emails the Hiring Manager receives each day, or worse yet, end up in the”Junk Mail” bin. A good old fashioned hand written “Thank You” note and the subsequent trip to the post office will acknowledge the Hiring Manager’s time investment in you.
As for the note card, look for a formal card similar to a graduation “Thank You”. A professional approach is always best when dealing with a potential employer’s HR Manager, so leave the whimsical and flowery cards at home. When writing the “Thank You”, be brief and try not to rehash too much of the interview. Never apologize for anything you said or did in the interview because the manager may not have even noticed the mistake. Be specific in reference to something you had discussed to make it relevant and personal. As always, write or print neatly and with correct punctuation.
Make sure you end your “Thank You” note with something like, ” Thank you again for the opportunity and I look forward to hearing back from you.” When closing, use “Sincerely” or “Best Regards” with your signature underneath. Be sure to print your name below your signature in the event it isn’t perfectly legible.
A potential employer will always contact a candidate when they are ready to hire, so try not to be overly zealous with communications. They may begin to think your impatience as a personality flaw and take you out of the running for the position you want.
Here is an example of a laughable “Thank You” note from Examiner.com,
An example of a short and sweet “Thank You” note:
Dear (Hiring Manager),
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me on (Date). It was such a pleasure speaking with you about the (Job Title) position. After hearing more about the position I am confident that I can make a (Positive Adjective) contribution to (Company Name).
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
A brief, thoughtful, and well written “Thank You” note could just put the finishing touch on your career search. Stand out in the sea of candidates because the Hiring Manager you interviewed with yesterday may be the person in the next sentence. The following is a direct quote from Thank-You-Note-Samples.com concerning an interview “Thank You”: “One manager I spoke with said it’s not that he cares to be thanked necessarily, but he believes that someone who doesn’t write a thank you shows a lack of interest in the job, a lack of thoroughness, and is basically not a serious candidate.”
Let HR Associates tweak your resume and introduce you to an Ohio Hiring Manager. Check out our Resources & Downloads page for many tips.
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