The importance of a Thank you Letter
Writing a thank you letter or a thank you note, after an employment interview can be the key to getting a job offer. In these days of email and online communication, is it appropriate to send thank you letters by email.
You can get your thank you letter out immediately, rather than having to wait for the postal service to deliver it. If the employer is making a quick hiring decision, time is of the essence. If there is no sense of urgency, you may still want to send a quick email thank you, along with a traditional letter or note.
What to Include in your Thank you Letter
In addition to thanking the person you talked with, the thank you letter reinforces the fact that you want the job. Use your letter to address any issues and concerns that came up during the interview. You can also view the thank you as a follow-up "sales" letter. In other words, restate why you want the job, what your qualifications are, how you might make significant contributions, and so on.
This letter is also the perfect opportunity to discuss anything of importance that your interviewer neglected to ask or that you neglected to answer. Keep in mind though, that the thank you note should be brief and to the point. A couple of brief paragraphs is sufficient.
Writing a thank you letter after a job interview is a must! In fact, some employers think less of those interviewees who fail to follow-up promptly. You should send the letter (or the e-mail) within 24 hours after your interview. Make sure that you customize the letter according to the person.
In case you don’t want the job, you should write a letter respectfully because you never know if you will meet again the same person in another context or for another position which may interest you.
Group Thank You Letters
What if you being interviewed with several people? Are inpidual thank you notes appropriate or should you write a "group" letter?
Choose your approach based on what you think will be most in keeping with the "personality" of the organisation. Also, consider whether the interviews had very much in common with one another. If there was a great deal of similarity (i.e., shared concerns mutually voiced by your interviewers), perhaps a "group" letter will suffice. However, it is suggested that you spend some time and send an inpidual thank you letter to everyone you met with. Do not forget to personalize the letters.
Remember to Proofread!
Check spelling, grammar, typos, etc. If in doubt about the correct names, spellings or titles of your interviewers, call the office to double-check. Your efforts will be worth it!
