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There’s a lot that you should and shouldn’t do during a job interview but what exactly should you be doing during those moments after the interview? What you do after your job interview is equally as important as what you do during it.
The truth is that there is very little that you can do following a job interview. But one of the key things that you can do to help you land the job you want is to send a thank you letter to make a good impression on your potential employer. A simple thank you letter can be the difference between getting an acceptance letter and a rejection letter.
In this article, we discuss why you should write a thank you letter to your employer after your job interview and how it can make a significant impact on your job application.
Why Write a Thank You Letter After an Interview?
The simple act of writing a thank you letter to your interviewer can make a lasting impression on them. Too often people miss this key step. However, if you really want the job, you wouldn’t jeopardize all the hard work you put into preparing for your interview by overlooking this crucial step. In fact, employers are much less likely to hire a candidate if they do not send a thank you following an interview.
Still not convinced? Here are the top reasons why you should send a thank you letter to your interviewer post job interview.
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1.
Makes You Stand Out
If you want to increase your chances of getting that job offer, you want to stand out from the rest of your competition. Surprisingly, many candidates often fail to send a thank you letter or email following their job interview. However, this opens the window for you to make an unforgettable impression on your interviewer. Taking the initiative to send a simple thank you note can help give you an edge over the rest of the candidates.
2.
You Can Mention Information You Forgot to State In The Interview
Have you ever left a job interview wishing you had talked about something very important that you feel you should’ve mentioned to your interviewer? A thank you note to your interviewer allows you to do exactly this. One of the best advantages of writing a well-composed thank you letter to your interviewer is that it gives you the unique opportunity to mention any important points that you failed to present in your interview. After thanking your interviewer for their time, use the next few lines to subtly touch upon the important points that you failed to mention in your interview.
3.
You Can Reiterate Points
Imagine this. You’re walking out of a job interview to your car and realize that you should’ve emphasized a certain point more. This could perhaps be a certain skill set or past work experience that the hiring manager was looking for. The good thing is that there’s nothing to worry about. By writing a thank you note to your interviewer, you get the chance to reiterate and/or elaborate upon key points that you made during your interview.
4.
Shows Your Enthusiasm
Writing a thank you letter or email is a great way of communicating your enthusiasm towards the job to your interviewer. A thank you letter delivers a personal touch and shows the interviewer that you are eager to work with them.
5.
Helps You Stay on Top of the Interviewer's Mind
You don’t want your interviewer to forget you. By sending a thank you note, you can remind the hiring manager why you’re the best person for the job. This is the perfect opportunity for you to refresh the interviewer’s memory and highlight your key skills and strengths again.
6.
Demonstrates Professional Courtesy & Respect
From our childhood, our mothers and teachers used to tell us that we should always say thank you. Everyone likes a person who has basic manners. Sending a thank you letter to your interviewer will serve as a sign that you have the common courtesy that they look for in every candidate. It shows that you are likely to treat your coworkers with respect if you are hired.
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What to Include In Your Thank You Letter
Now that you know why you should write a thank you letter to your interviewer following an interview, you should also know what are the things you should include in your letter. Here are some of the key features of a well-written thank-you note:
- Subject: The subject line is perhaps the most important few words in your entire thank you letter or email. The subject will decide whether the interviewer will further read your note or not. The subject should be brief and to-the-point such as “Thank You for Your Time”.
- Personalized Greeting: You want your thank you email or letter to be as personalized as possible which is why you should start off your thank you note with a personalized greeting such as “Dear [Interviewer Name]”.
- Appreciate Note: This is the body of your thank you letter where you should take the time to thank the interviewer for their time and for considering you for the position.
- Recap Of Your Skills: Very briefly highlight your skills and qualifications again to remind the interviewer why you’re the perfect candidate for the job.
- Contact Information: Listing your contact information such as email and phone number makes it more convenient for the hiring manager to contact you for further information regarding your job application.
- Call To Action: End the thank you note with a call to action that prompts your potential employer to take the next step in the hiring process. You can write something like, “Please feel free to reach out to me for a follow-up interview. I look forward to hearing from you soon”.
- Formal Closing: Conclude your thank you note professionally with a formal closing such as “Yours Sincerely” or “Best Regards”.
To ensure that your thank-you note is effective, make sure it is customized according to its recipient while also keeping it formal. Also, remember not to slip into a casual or informal tone while writing the email or letter.
When To Send the Thank You Letter
While you may be tempted to send the thank you letter or email right after your interview, it is best that you wait a few hours before hitting send. Waiting around 6 to 24 hours before sending your thank-you note delivers the impression to your interviewer that you took the time to process what happened in the interview and decided that you are still interested in the position you applied for.
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The Bottom Line
Most hiring managers expect a short thank you after the interview. Although not many people do it, sending a thank you to your interviewer can wield significant power in helping you stand out from the other candidates. You won’t land the job solely based on your thank you letter, but it’ll end up making a much bigger difference than you might think. Taking the time out to write a good thank you letter will go a long way in your favor. It may very well be the last chance you get to impress your potential employer before being offered the job (or not).
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