If you're
like most job seekers, you know that you're supposed to send a thank-you note
after an interview, but you're not quite sure what that note should say or what
makes a good one. Here are the five most important things to know about how a
post-interview thank-you note can increase our chances of getting the job:
1. What does sending a
thank-you note achieve?
Thank-you
notes contribute to the overall picture of a candidate. They serve two
functions: First, they signal that you pay attention to the little things and
care about presenting the best possible face to your candidacy. And second,
they signal interest by showing that you went home, digested everything you
learned in the interview, and concluded that you're still enthusiastic about
the position.
Now, if
you're not the best candidate, a thank-you note isn't going to change that. No
one is going to hire the lower-tier candidate just because of a thank-you note.
And if you're the undisputed top candidate, the lack of a thank-you note
probably isn't going to stop you from being hired. However, when the decision
is close between you and another candidate, a thoughtful note can tilt the
scales in your direction—especially if the note isn't just a perfunctory
"Thank you for your time," but contains substance that builds on the
conversation you had during the interview. Speaking of which…
2. What
should the note say?
The job
search advice industry has done candidates a disservice by calling these
"thank-you notes." It's better to think of them as follow-up notes.
After all, most interviewers don't really care if you thank them; they're not
interviewing you to be charitable but rather because they might want to enter
into a business arrangement with you—one that they'll benefit from. So, despite
the term "thank-you note," your note shouldn't be as much as thanking
them as about providing follow-up on the interview that demonstrates your
enthusiasm for the job. That means it should build on the conversation from the
interview. Talk about specific topics that were covered, and use the note to
strengthen your candidacy, not just to express thanks.
3. Is it
okay to send it through email?
It's
perfectly fine to send your note through email—and sometimes it's even better
than postal mail, because it will arrive quickly. If an employer is moving
quickly, a letter sent through the mail may arrive after a decision has already
been made.
4. How soon
after your interview should you send the note?
Send it
within a few days of the interview—but wait until at least a few hours have
passed. If you send a thank-you email just minutes after leaving the
interviewer's office, it comes across as a bit perfunctory and less genuine.
After all, you wouldn't have had time to reflect yet, so the interviewer will
know that you're just checking off an item on your to-do list.
Keep in
mind that employers want to know that you went home, thought about what was
discussed, digested it all, and concluded that you're still enthusiastic about
the position. If the email is sent on your way out their door, that won't be
realistic.
However,
any thank-you note is better than no thank-you note, regardless of timing.
5. Do
employers really care about thank-you notes?
There are certainly hiring managers who don't.
But that shouldn't dissuade you from
sending them, because there are also plenty of hiring managers who will tell
you that a thank-you note has swayed their hiring decisions. And as the
candidate, you have no idea which type you're dealing with … so it makes sense
to err on the side of sending them. Why not spend five minutes on something
that could impact your chances?.
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