This is a continuation of PSCI Prep – an ongoing series of blog posts designed to help walk job seekers through the interview process. The first three posts, which focused on the interviews themselves, can be found here.
Whether you’ve just completed a phone, video or face-to-face interview your job isn’t done when you hang up the phone, close your laptop or walk out the door. Not even close. After each interview phase, you should be sending thank you notes to each person you’ve interviewed with. After all, thank you notes are a great opportunity to follow-up and distinguish yourself from other candidates vying for the same position.
It’s also important to remember that those involved in the interview process, which can include many (recruiters, managers, HR, etc.), are busy people so any opportunity you can get to keep yourself top of mind, you should take. Below, you’ll find the tips and tricks you’ll need to write an effective thank you note.
HOW to Send It – For starters, a note doesn’t have to be handwritten, signed, stamped, and sent via the US Postal Service. While that may work for some a well worded email can be just as effective. However, if during the interview process you’ve learned that the interviewer (possibly your future manager) holds an old school mentality, then by all means go the more traditional route.
WHEN to Send It – Send your thank you messages within 24 hours of the interview, thanking your interviewers and re-confirming your interest in the position.
WHO to Thank – Your thank you messages should be sent to all your interviewers. We recommend sending separate emails to each person who took the time out of their day to speak with you, while varying your message to include details from each conversation. This attention to detail and personalized touch is far more effective than email templates others may use.
WHY to Send It – If for no other reason, sending a thank you message is the polite thing to do. However, there’s also a self-serving purpose: it’s another opportunity to get your name in front of decision makers and to leave a positive impression. These messages also allow you to sell yourself one last time by highlighting the ways your skills and experiences are a good match for the position. Plus, if you had forgotten to mention anything during the interview, this gives you the opportunity to address it.
WHAT to Say – First, you’ll want to make your email identifiable. So your best bet would be to list the name of the position along with the phrase “Thank you” in the subject line of the email. This will ensure (hopefully) that your message is not lost or looked over. Second, and as was previously mentioned, personalize each message to include details about each conversation/interview that you had with the recipient. Third, and possibly most importantly, remind the interviewer of your qualifications. Remember, they’ve been interviewing a multitude of candidates so take this opportunity to remind them about what makes you so special and why you’re such a great fit.
If you’re still having trouble wording your thank you notes, even after taking all of our advice into account, rely on your staffing partner (like PSCI) to help walk you through the process. After all, our success is tied to your success!
