How to Write a Post-Job Interview Thank-You Note

You just had an interview and you think it went pretty well. How do you keep your name in front of your interviewer after you’ve walked out the door? Send him a post-interview thank-you note. This step not only shows your appreciation for the time he took out of his day to see you, but also keeps you front-of-mind when he’s making hiring decisions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Nice stationary or thank-you cards
• Pen

1. Think about the number of notes you need to write. Anyone who had any part in your interview deserves a note (and no, you can’t send one note addressed to several people).
2. Grab your best stationary. This isn’t the time to rummage in your junk drawer for the stray thank-you note that you saw sometime last year. Break out your best heavyweight stationary or thank-you note set. And please use a pen!
3. Word it well. Start off by thanking your interviewer for her time, and mention the specific day you interviewed to refresh her memory. Tell her how much you appreciated learning more about the job and the company and that you hope you’ll have the opportunity to add your (marketing, sales, writing) skills to such a terrific company. End with another thank you and by asking her to call you if she has any additional questions.
4. Proof your note. A thank-you note can help in your quest to secure the job you interviewed for, but it can also work against you if it’s poorly worded or grammatically incorrect. Proof it once after you’ve written it and then again a couple of hours later.
5. Mail it. Make sure you drop your thank-you note in the mail no more than two days after your interview.

Tips & Warnings

• You probably asked a friend to proof your resume before you sent it, so why not ask someone to look over your thank-you note as well? Sometimes a new set of eyes can discover misspellings or grammatical errors that you’ve overlooked--especially crucial for a handwritten note that doesn’t have the benefit of your computer’s spell check.
• In the age of the Internet, it’s tempting to send a thank-you via email, especially if that was the mode of communication the interviewer used to set up a time to meet with you. But resist the temptation. It’s not archaic to send a hand-written note; it’s professional.

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