Whether you’re a professional writer, a marketing guru, an IT analyst or a bookkeeper seeking a new job, sending effective and thoughtful thank-you notes after an interview absolutely will help you stand apart from other candidates being considered for a job. Make it a New Year’s resolution to start sending them if you haven’t always been consistent in the past. Below are some sample thank-you notes that can inspire you to write an even better one. Notecards are small – three or four sentences are all you need.
Five Sample Thank-You Notes: Use, customize and . . . improve!
1) Thanks for the opportunity to discuss the _____ role with (your company). I believe my (A) and (B) skills, combined with significant (C) and (D) experience, would be an asset to your team. I look forward to future discussions to learn how I can contribute to your organization’s goals. Sincerely,
2) I very much enjoyed our conversation yesterday about the _____________ opportunity on your team. After our time together, I’m even more enthusiastic about how my experience can make a measurable impact on your department’s deliverables, and hope to hear from you in the near future. Best regards,
3) It was a pleasure meeting you yesterday to learn about the ___________ position with (your company). I am very interested in learning more and continuing our conversation. I feel my background is a strong fit for your team. Thanks for the opportunity to meet, and I look forward to hearing from you. Very truly yours,
4) I truly appreciate the time you shared yesterday to talk about the _____ role in your department. Your insights about the position were very helpful, and I hope to have the opportunity to further continue our dialogue and learn more about a career with (your company). Thanks and regards,
5) Thank you for our interview this week; the time and insight you shared were very much appreciated. After our meeting, I’m even more enthusiastic about the _____________ opportunity with your company, and know that my experience and industry background would allow me to quickly make a contribution to your team. I look forward to future discussions with (your company). Thanks again,
Five Job Search House Mother Thank-You Note Rules:
1) Always hand write your thank-you note on quality plain notecards (Target, Papyrus, museum stores are great places to find them).
2) Send a note to every person with whom you interviewed. They gave you their business card for a reason – they’re waiting to see what you do with it.
3) However, do not write the same note to each person after a round of interviews. Mix up the phrases, customize them a bit – the interviewing team likely will walk down the hall and compare their notes, and it’s your effort (not your carbon copying) that will reveal how you go out of your way to make a great impression.
4) Sending e-mail thank-you notes for an in-person interview earns a Grade F in my book. It’s telling me, the hiring manager, that for your most important meeting and opportunity of the year, you took the easiest way out to do the minimum job.
5) There is one exception to e-mailed thank-you notes: If you had an initial screening interview by phone with an HR staff member, and have no way of finding out where the interviewer is located, do send an e-mail thank-you to that person – they probably contacted you by e-mail so you are able to reply. But since you have their e-mail and their phone number, it’s not too difficult to ask them during the phone call where they are located and then look up specifics on the internet. They’ll be pleasantly surprised to receive a hand-written thank-you note, as it doesn’t happen very often for initial phone screens.
Five sample notes, five helpful reminders, and zero excuses for not sending a proper and impressive “thank-you” – a little gift that keeps on giving in the New Year from the Job Search House Mother. Happy writing!
Kelly Blazek shares job search and work success tips from the corporate front lines in her blog, http://kellyblazek.wordpress.comand, and is a featured speaker at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center’s “New Year: New You, Strategies for Job Seekers Over 40” workshop on Saturday, Jan. 21 (www.cvccworks.com). She is available for one-on-one resume review consultations for job seekers. Contact her at kblazek at nls dot net.
