Wondering how do you write the dreaded job interview
thank you note?
Should you shoot a quick email to your new boss, or
write a powerful piece of prose on fancy embossed
letterhead?
Consider these thank you note facts.
According to a recent
CareerBuilder.com study:
Nearly 15 percent of hiring managers would
reject a job candidate who neglected to send a
thank-you letter after interviewing.
32 percent said they would still consider the
person who did not sent a thank you note but their
opinion of this candidate would be negative.
A well-written thank you note is the extra push to
help get you hired. Don't neglect this essential
sales and marketing tool that can give you the edge
in a competitive job market.
But first, here are a few thank you note tips:
1) Keep the thank you note short and sweet.
A proper thank you note is not a novel or short
essay. It should be no more than 4 -5 lines in
length. The thank you note should include three
points: appreciation of the interview, a recap of your job skills,
and a quick mention of a relevant topic that you
discussed during the interview.
2) Handwritten thank you notes are preferred by
managers.
If you poll the top hiring managers, they would all
prefer hand written notes over emailed thanks.
Unless you are interviewing for a highly technical
programming position and email is the preferred form
of communication, write your thank you note on your
personal stationary.
If you must send a gratitude-filled email, follow up
with a written thank you note within 24 hours of the
email transmission.
3) Time is of the essence. Send your thank you note
immediately after the interview.
Ask each interviewer for their
business card during the meeting. If you interview
with more than one person, a bulk thank you note is
inappropriate. Send a separate thank you note to
every person, regardless of position or rank within
the organization.
4) Use the thank you note outline.
-
State what the thank you is for.
-
Be sincere, positive and pleasant.
-
Mention a quick recap of your skills and or
desire to work for the organization.
-
Include any points that you forgot to mention in
the interview that will help you get the job.
-
Thank the interviewer again.
To prevent your resume from dying a horrible death
via paper shredder or waste paper basket crumbling,
learn how to write a sincere and appropriate thank
you note using these samples.
Interview Thank You Note Samples:
(These samples are provided for informational
purposes only. They will need to be modified for
each position and your level of experience.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Washington,
Thank you for providing more information about the
Sales Manager position within Krager Chemicals. As a
results-oriented Account Manager, I would enjoy
bringing my 10 years of sales and marketing
knowledge to this exciting opportunity.
I appreciated the tour of the chemical facility and
thoroughly enjoyed meeting the other members of the
sales team. I am interested in working for you in
this capacity and look forward to hearing your
response soon.
Sincerely,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Ms. Marshall,
It was a pleasure meeting you this afternoon. After
our interview I thought about our great conversation
and the thought-provoking questions you asked about
my qualifications. If I am selected for this amazing
position, I would not only benefit greatly from your
25 years of experience in human resources and
training, but also have the opportunity to use my
support skills to assist the attorneys at Biddle,
Babbit & Baxter.
Again, thank you for a wonderful interview. If
selected for this position, I am would enjoy the
opportunity to provide excellent administrative
support as an Executive Assistant II.
Best regards,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As you write your thank you note, keep in mind that
you are reminding the interviewer of your skills;
but most of all you are selling your skills. In a world
of texting and impersonal communications, a proper
mixture of gratitude, salesmanship and the personal
touch will never go out of style.
