AFTER
THE INTERVIEW
the Thank You note
Sending
out a thank you letter is not only proper interviewing etiquette, but it also makes you
stand out from the other candidates competing for the position. Here are some
helpful hints in writing a successful thank you letter.
Your thank-you letter should be typed in a
business letter format. Address the letter to the person with whom you interviewed.
Include the interviewer's name, title, organization, and complete mailing address. If you
intereviewed with more then one person a letter should be sent to each individual.
Brevity is nearly as important as
timeliness. Don't "wow" the
recipient with your verbal skills, and don't try to repeat your meeting or interview. Keep
your word count under 150 and make the paragraphs short, sentence structure simple, and
format easy to read.
If the helper agreed to take an additional
step on your behalf, confirm it in your letter. Avoid the presumptive close: if offers of an introduction or
additional assistance were not made, do not fabricate them. Be careful not to ask for
additional help unless you are certain that door was opened to you.
Express appreciation for the opportunities to
interview, tour the facilities, meet other employees, etc. Time out of a busy day is
worthy of thanks, even if the help offered does not contribute to your immediate job
search.
Encourage the helper to call or email you
if additional suggestions come to mind. Make
it as easy and painless as possible to contact you by giving your email, pager, home
phone, or fax numbers.
The only thing worse than not sending a
thank you note is to send one with the helper's name, title, or organization misspelled or
other spelling errors. Spelling, proper
grammar, and correct use of language may seem like minor points, but they are not. (Click here to connect to useful resources.)
"Thanks, thanks, a thousand
thanks" is too dramatic, but a thank you reprise in closing is acceptable. "Thanks again for all that you have contributed to
strengthening my career search ... my sense of important next steps ... my referral
network ... and/or introducing me to Mr. Smith."
Send your letter within 48 hours of the
initial contact. Any later, and you will have
missed the opportunity to maximize the impact of your letter. A prompt letter conveys that
you have a good sense of business protocol, timeliness, and an active, professional search
process.
National
Executive Personnel
and Marketing Group, L.C.
12734 Kenwood Lane, Suite 73
Fort Myers, FL 33907-5638
(239) 931-0200 Voice
(239) 931-0204 Fax
Email: search@NationalExecutivePersonnel.com
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