Post-Interview Thank You Note or Not?

Posted April 16, 2012

Dorothy Tannahill Moran

As soon as it’s obvious that an interview is coming to an end a strange discomfort falls over the job seeker. They aren’t sure how to end the interview and certainly what to do afterwards. Year ago, the idea of sending post-interview thank you notes was never questioned. These days, we’re so casual about things most of the time a simple “Thank You” will suffice. As a hiring manager, I can tell you receiving a thank you note after interviewing someone was kind of irritating because it felt like a suck up. I’ve discovered that my feeling is not shared with the majority of hiring managers. Manners count to most people in the hiring process.

It is important to follow up after the interview with a thank you letter. The post-interview thank you letter demonstrates your gratitude for the time to be considered, your professionalism and can act as a reinforcement of your qualifications. There are certain elements you want to ensure are captured in your letter while still remaining brief. Among the elements:

Appreciation for their time and interest in you
Restatement of your interest in the position
Review of your qualifications for the position or if you forgot to mention some pertinent item is to state it to ensure they consider it
Follow up with any information the employer may have asked about during your time together, whether or not it is related to the position
A clear demonstration of your manners and professionalism

Post-interview thank you notes are equally valuable sent via email or mail. They should be sent within 2 days immediately following the interview. As always, ensure the letter is free of typos and grammatical errors.

Thank You Letter Examples

Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me about your business development position yesterday. I’m very excited about the position and feel well qualified to perform the job.

In addition to my MBA, I have 5 years of experience in developing markets in the high tech industry which have lead to over $5M in new business. You mentioned you were looking for someone who was exceptional in forging new markets and I believe that my background demonstrates that I can do that for your business. As well, I work well in a team environment and pride myself in making and meeting my commitments.

I am very interested in working for you and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Josh Brown

Dear Jane,

I wanted to thank you for taking the time to discuss the sale positions with you and John. I am sure my background and skills fit with your needs.

You mentioned the challenges in the region including penetration into the education sector. I think that my background in education along with sales experience will help your company make the kind of progress you are looking for.

I look forward to hearing from you concerning your hiring decision. I appreciate your consideration.

Sincerely,

Mike Jacobs

Manners and good business etiquette is never wrong, even for people like me. This is an easy thing to do, doesn’t take too much time and gives you one last opportunity to demonstrate your brand.

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