“It just might be the difference between landing the job
and missing the mark.”
Growing up, my Mom would always emphasize the importance of either writing or
sending out a thank you note. She told me when she was hired for her first real
professional job, her boss told her that she was the only applicant of the people that
were interviewed to send him a thank-you note. Being that so few people follow up
interviews with thank you notes you automatically will stand out a little more and be
remembered.
As easy as it may seem, writing a thank you note could be the simple difference in
securing your job.
Sending a Thank You Note Shows Your Respect and Interest
Like I said above, in today’s world, it is very uncommon for people to write thank you
notes in general, especially following job interviews. Because of this, sending a note will
tell your interviewer that you appreciated the time they gave to you and in return, they
will appreciate the time that you also took to send your thank you note. With a relevant
message, thank you notes can have a big impact on interviewers and their perception of
you after an interview.
A Thank You Note Gives the Opportunity Restate the Important Things
Said During the Interview
After a job interview, there is going to be a chance that maybe you wished you had
better emphasized a skill that you have or mentioned a particular experience that could
be seen as beneficial for you in getting the job. You want the interviewer to think that
you are the best candidate for the job, writing a thank you note can give you the chance
to do that. For the first paragraph, you should use it to exclusively thank the interviewer
but after the second paragraph you can include the key points you said during the
interview and anything else you think sets you apart from the other possible applicants.
Thank You Notes Shows Your Communication Skills
When the interviewer receives your thank you note, he will be able to clearly see how
you handle yourself on paper. Being that a thank you note is a personal message,
he/she will be able to collect and form opinions on the interviewee and how they
communicate to others. Because of this, it is crucial to make sure you proofread your
writing and make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
What Is Snake Mail?
When Should I Use It?
Snake mail is messages that are either handwritten or typed.
It is useful to write a handwritten note if you are thanking others in the office other than
the interviewer who helped you. A typed note is the most common when using snake
mail. Writing a typed note will show the business or organization that you are
interviewing for your professionalism and letter writing capabilities that can be used later
on in the job.
Content For Your Thank You
When deciding the content of what to include in your thank-you note, it is important to
consider to mention a few things. Make sure to reference specific points of your
interview. Doing this will allow the interviewer to better remember your conversation.
Doing this will also give you the opportunity to highlight something that you found
particularly important during the interview. Another tip for content to add to your thank
you note is to quickly rediscuss your fit for the position, mention the skills you have that
you think to make you a perfect fit for the job. Lastly, and most importantly, make sure
your thank-you note is enthusiastic. You want the interviewer to think you are eager and
excited for the position that you are trying to get.
Sample Thank You Note
Hi (Interviewer Name),
I just wanted to reach out to thank you so much for meeting with me today. I am very grateful
to have had the opportunity to get to learn about the position and your organization. I am very
excited for the chance to join (Name of Company) and (Highlight Skills).
I look forward to hearing from you soon and for the next upcoming steps in the hiring process.
Please reach out and contact me if there is anything else that I can do to help you in this
process.
Best wishes,
(Your Name)
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