Career Blog: A “Thank You” After a Job Interview Leaves a Positive Impression

While a thoughtfully written thank you note is not enough to get you the job without solid qualifications, it helps to leave a positive impression in the mind of your interviewers.  And in a competitive job market, every little bit helps!  To make the most of your thank you notes after a job interview, here is my advice as a career counselor in Boston.

1. Traditional Paper versus Email Thank You Notes.  The jury is still out on this one.  On the one hand, some hiring managers may enjoy the traditional thoughtfulness of a paper card, but I’ve heard that the promptness of emails is a definite advantage.  I’d conclude that either way you go, as long as you send a thank you note in some form you’re doing well.  Furthermore, consider the industry you’re in.  If you’re interviewing for a start up, perhaps email thank you notes make more sense!

2. Send Thank You Notes Promptly.  Whichever method you choose, send your thank you note the same day as your job interview, or at least by the end of the following day.  Don’t leave your interviewers hanging for longer than necessary.

3. Write a Separate Thank You Note for Each Interviewer.  It’s not uncommon these days for companies to have multiple people interview a candidate, especially a senior candidate.  This may include HR, your future boss, coworkers and others.  Ideally, you should make an effort to get each person’s individual contact information so that you can send separate (and different!) thank you notes to each one.

4. Refer Back to an Interview Topic or Use the Thank You Note to Clarify Something.  Besides saying thank you, reconnect with the interviewer by commenting on something you talked about.  It shows you care and that you were paying attention (and that you’re able to make an intelligent comment).  You might restate one reason you’re a great candidate for the job.  Also, just in case you felt like you gave a sub-par interview answer, the thank you note gives you a chance to (briefly) clarify what you wished you’d said.

5. Reiterate your Enthusiasm for the Job.  Employers want to hire people who are genuinely excited about their job and company.  Take the opportunity the thank you note gives you to continue to show how excited you are.