In last week’s post, I shared that I may be interviewing for another role at my company.  I’m still deciding if I want to apply, but it got me thinking about all the steps in the interview process.  Last week, I covered one of the first steps, which is updating your resume. In this post, I thought I would cover one of the last steps:  post-interview thank you note.

What is a post-interview thank you note?

Typically the post-interview thank you is a note (I suggest email, but see more on that below) that you send to your interviewer(s) thanking them for interviewing you.  In some ways, it’s really that simple, but it’s also the last chance to sell yourself and your qualifications for the position.

Since this happens after the interview, this is often an overlooked step in the interview process.  However, it is a necessary step for two reasons.  First, you want to be polite and show gratitude to someone who spent an hour of their time helping you take the next step in your career.  In the capacity of an interviewer, they carry a big weight; they will challenge themselves to think critically about you, your capabilities, and whether you would thrive in the job.

After they spend that hour with you (and each of the other candidates), they likely have to dedicate at least 1 more hour (if not more) to gather or share additional feedback.  In the midst of getting yourself ready for the interview, you may easily lose sight of the time and effort on behalf of the hiring manager and/or other interviewers.  Don’t forget it, and show appreciation for it.

The second, and just as important reason that the post-interview thank you note is important is that it is an opportunity to reinforce your candidacy and to differentiate yourself from other top candidates.

How do you write a post-interview thank you note?

Well, there are 2 ways.  The first is to write one that simply “checks the box;” the note simply says “thank you for interviewing me.”  The second is to use this note as an opportunity to reinforce your candidacy and differentiate you from other applicants who may have performed just as well as you did in the interviews.

Ok, so how do you differentiate yourself?

Let’s discuss…

Here is how to write a post-interview thank you note that differentiates you:

1. Express your thanks or appreciation for the interviewer’s time, but also thank him or her for insight or perspective he or she gave you about the role or company
2. Explain your top 3 reasons you would have an impact in this role. Many people focus these types of notes on their qualifications.  That isn’t a bad thing to do, per se.  But what is more powerful is the Top 3 ways you can have an impact
3. Close confidently; assume you will be hearing back
4. Send the note via email later that day (consider writing some of it in advance to streamline it)

OK, that’s great advice, but how do I actually write one?!

Now let’s see how writing a post-interview thank you note like this will enable you to stand out….

Here is a typical post-interview Thank You note…in fact, this is one I received 2 weeks ago…

Mrs. Type A,

Thank you for interviewing me for the Product X Brand Manager job today.  I’m really excited about the position.  My experience with teamwork and collaboration, strategic planning, and management experience are a great fit for the job. Let me know if you have any additional questions,

Thanks,

Forgettable Candidate

Honestly, I delete notes like these, even if I liked the candidate.  What would I even respond?  “I agree!”  Or, worse, “no you aren’t as qualified as you think.”

That isn’t so bad, is it?

Now let’s see what a very powerful and differentiating post-interview thank you note looks like:

Mrs. Type A,

Thank you very much for your time today.  I continue to reflect on our conversation of how the competitive landscape for Product X is expected to evolve over the next 12 months.  Given the opportunities and challenges facing Product X over the next year, I believe I’m well positioned to drive an impact in this role due to my specific experiences and competencies, such as:

• Strategic planning: demonstrated success in assessing changing markets and developing 3 year plans accordingly
  
• Collaboration: 5+ years leading cross-functional teams for product launches
• Management Experience: 3 years of management experience, including winning a Manager of the Year award

It would be an honor to apply my experiences as the Brand Manager for Product X.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Candidate

See how different the second note was??  Which candidate do you think stands out more?

The reason I highly suggest you send the same day is so you get this in the interviewer’s inbox before he / she makes a final decision or recommendation.  If the other candidates are also very qualified, this type of note will definitely help you stand out and may tip the scales in your favor!

Wait, should I send via email?  Or hand-written?

Ah, very good question.  I promised I would address that, didn’t I?  Thanks for reminding me!

Because of the urgency, I refer to above, I do suggest sending it via email on the same day.  That said, you can always follow up with a separate hand-written note as well.  I don’t think anyone would be offended to get an additional thank you!

For some great examples of these, check out Career Contessa’s post on post-interview thank you notes.

In conclusion, the post-interview thank you note is a necessary but often overlooked part of the hiring process.  It’s a chance to reinforce your candidacy and help you stand out from other high caliber applicants.  If, for whatever reason, you do not get the job, I believe you will still stand out in the interviewer’s mind and be considered for other jobs down the line.

How about you?  I’d love to hear your tips and tricks for post-interview thank you notes in the comments below!

If you like this post, be sure to check out these as well:

• How to Ace a Phone Interview
• How to Overcome the Top 5 Interview Mistakes
• Steps to prepare for an interview for a management position

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