Why You Never Want to Skip the Thank-You Note

It’s one of the great last impressions you can make!

Congratulations! After:

• Properly formatting your résumé using this free IT résumé template and how-to,
• Showing hiring managers what they want to see on your résumé,
• Preparing yourself for these 3 digital recruitment trends that are changing the candidate selection and evaluation process,
• Cutting through the noise on social media, and
• Networking and collaborating online with hiring companies and other IT and technology professionals

…you got the interview and rocked it. Now, how do you make yourself memorable and continue to differentiate yourself from other candidates? Send a thank-you note.

A couple short sentences sent within the first 24 hours of your interview can really tip the hiring scales in your favor (or not). Keep reading below to learn more, then download these TEN thank-you note templates which you can customize to suit your needs. (Pro Tip: A good IT recruiter like Chase Technology Consultants can help you write and proofread thank-you notes. Just ask!)

Now get on with making that great last impression.

You’ve found the perfect company. You’ve aced the interview. Now all you can do is wait, right?

Actually, no. You have one other important task to complete: a thank-you note. Sending a well-worded note of appreciation can make you stand out from the crowd.

More than a gesture

The post-interview note is much more than a polite gesture. It gives you the opportunity to reiterate your qualifications, provide additional information, and crystallize the interviewers’ impressions of you. It also lets your potential employer know that you’re truly enthusiastic about working for the company.

Depending on the circumstances, you can send a handwritten, printed, or emailed note. Many experts agree that handwritten is preferable – assuming your handwriting is clean and legible. Otherwise, go with a printed note. Limit email to situations in which you know that an interviewer will be traveling or has communicated strictly via email or over the phone. Send an individual note to everyone with whom you interviewed, and send the notes no more than a day or two after the meeting.

In addition to thanking the recipient for the interview opportunity, be sure to restate your most important skills or experience in the context of what you learned during the meeting. You can also finalize any thoughts or questions that were touched on and provide any additional information that was requested.

What not to do

Not all thank-you notes are created equal. A haphazard attempt could leave the wrong impression. U.S. News & World Report warns against a few common mistakes:

• If sending more than one letter, don’t use a cookie-cutter approach. You’re trying to show your individuality and indicate that you were engaged and enthusiastic about the interview, so take the time to personalize each note. Build on the individual conversations that were held.
• Remember that the note is more than a thank you. In reality, this is still part of the interview – so don’t cut corners! This means you shouldn’t email a note just because it’s easier, or write a generic message to leave with reception post-interview.
• Don’t send a gift. Just don’t. No matter how well you got on in the interview or how badly you want to work for a company, anything beyond nice stationery is sure to turn the situation awkward – and it could be illegal!

Treat your post-interview letter like a mini follow-up. It’s a crucial part of the process that you won’t want to skip!


Remember: The thank-you note is an oft-forgotten, yet ever-important, part of proper post-interview etiquette. Take care to craft a custom thank-you note, and don’t confuse it with the subsequent follow-ups!


Blogging Forward,
CareerJuice


Did you like what you read? Subscribe to our free e-newsletter Make the Connection, and every month you’ll get even more of the tech news, recruitment trends, and career advice that you love seeing daily on CareerJuice. Sign up now to get your own copy of the next issue!