Thank you notes 101
Should you send a thank you note after an interview?
Between showing up on time, bringing copies of your resume and preparing questions for your interviewers, there is a lot of etiquette involved in the process of attending a job interview. However, many job seekers also find themselves wondering: Is it worth taking the time to complete an additional step and send a thank you note after the interview as well?
To put it simply: Yes, sending a thank you note after an interview is almost always a good idea. Thank you notes allow candidates to express their gratitude for the opportunity to interview, give them the chance to reiterate their interest in the position, and could potentially help candidates to stand out from the crowd. In addition, thank you notes can be used to highlight any key qualifications or experience that applicants want to re-emphasize.
However, sending a thank you note isn’t as simple as firing off a quick two-sentence email. It’s important to put in the effort to make sure the note is genuine, well-written, and positively reflects you as a candidate. If your note is extremely generic or riddled with spelling errors, it can come off as disingenuous and make it seem like you don’t care about professional communication.
So how should applicants deliver their thank you notes, and what exactly should the note contain?
Most candidates nowadays send their thank you notes via email because it is the fastest and most convenient method to contact employers. However, handwritten thank you notes are another option: they can add a personal touch and make candidates stand out from the crowd. However, it’s important to keep in mind that mailed thank you notes will likely take longer to reach the employer. In general, it is considered best practice to send thank you notes within 24 hours after the interview. This will help demonstrate that you are timely, enthusiastic, and interested in the open position.
In terms of content, keep the thank-you note brief and to-the-point. Begin with thanking the interviewer for their time and for the opportunity to meet with them. Let them know that you enjoyed learning more about the company/role and express your continued interest in the position. Then, you can make the note personal by including some specific things that were discussed during the interview. It’s a good idea to reiterate any specific talking points that are relevant to your qualifications for the position. Finally, include a statement letting the interviewer know that you would be happy to answer any further questions that might come up, and that you look forward to hearing from them soon.
To summarize: Yes, you should send thank you notes after interviews. If your note is genuine and well-crafted, it could give you the advantage needed to secure an offer over other candidates. The extra time that it takes to write a short message expressing your gratitude is undoubtedly worth the potential benefits.
