Finding a job out there can be tough and if you’re get lucky enough to interview for one, it’s considered good etiquette to send a thank you note. A lot of applicants tend to forget or don’t realize the importance of a simple thank you note, but it could make an impact on whether you get hired for the position or not. This will make you a stand out candidate in the hiring process and show how much you care about the job. It’s part of the hiring process, so think of it as an extension of your resume and job interview. It’s also another tool that can be used to sell yourself.
The debate between writing a good old-fashioned handwritten letter or an email has been discussed and many argue that writing a letter is a lost art, and if you can write one then it’s best to do that. Sending a handwritten letter will definitely make you stand out. The only downside is that depending on where the job is located your letter might be received later than the emails. An email is a quicker and more efficient way to write a letter. There’s also less room for spelling and grammatical errors and if you lack good penmanship then an email will suit you better. The con to writing an email is that it could get lost in the other emails your employer receives or could be sent straight to spam. You have no way of knowing if they received it unless they respond.
So if you’re writing a letter, or an email, there are some rules to follow. Send the letter as soon as possible, no later than the day after you interviewed. Send a letter to not only the manager but other people that you interviewed with as well. Start off your letter by thanking the person for taking the time to interview you. State the specific job that you were interviewing for because chances are they’ve been interviewing people for other positions as well.
Share what you learned in the interview about the organization that you didn’t know prior to meeting. If there was something you were meaning to say about yourself in relation to the position then this would be a good time to mention it as well. Avoid restating anything you said in the interview and avoid generalizations. Be specific in your statements, “I was thinking about ‘X’ in the job. I believe I can do this because of my ‘X'”.
End the letter with warmth and gratitude. Be confident in your closing statement by saying, “I look forward to hearing from you”. Make sure your contact information is in the letter as well. That way they don’t have to scramble through a pile of resumes to find it. Make sure you have spelled the name of the person correctly. Spell-check everything and just to be safe, have someone look over it- preferably someone who has had experience writing thank you notes after interviews as well. Getting a second set of eyes to look over it will help resolve any errors. If you’re writing a handwritten letter, make a draft in pencil and once it’s been revised write it on stationary with ink. Mail or hit send and you’ll be one step closer to landing your job!
SOURCE: Forbes
IMAGE: Courtesy of Graphics Grotto
