What is the purpose of a thank-you note after a job interview?

A thank you note can be the difference between being the person getting the offer and being the runner-up. In my experience, when we have two candidates who are neck-in-neck in terms of experience and qualifications, and only one person sends a thank you letter to the hiring team, that person is far more likely to receive the offer. It may seem old-fashioned but many hiring leaders want to know that candidates are truly interested in the role before making them an offer, and one way for candidates to express their interest and excitement is through a thank-you note. By not sending one, there can be a perceived lack of interest which could be enough to sway a hiring leader to opt for another finalist.

I can cite at least a dozen examples of when a senior executive has come back to me, as his recruiter, after all level of interviews have been completed and asked which of the Finalists sent me a “thank you” and then who sent them a “thank you”? The answers to these 2 questions contributed to the final hiring decision. Please do send “thank you” emails to everyone in your interview process - it can make the difference of getting the offer!!

A thank-you note shouldn't be seen as any of the following: 1. Being desperate 2. Trying to 'woo' the interviewer to give you the role even when you don't merit it 3. Being impatient It should rather be seen as: 1. What it is, "a thank-you note". 2. A candidate being courteous and professional 3. A candidate showing real interest in the role and ready to bring in value. I always love it when I get one from candidates.

A thank you note could be the tie breaker that gets one the job. All things equal between candidates the one that goes that extra mile and leaves that lasting impression could be the difference between landing the career and missing out.

Courtesy and good manners go a long way. Not only for the purpose of creating positive experiences, but also fostering relationships, a way to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts. Good manners are timeless.

The best thank you notes do 3 things: 1. Thank Them For Their Time "I wanted to thank you for taking the time to speak with me today! I really enjoyed our conversation." 2. Recap A Specific Topic Mentioning a specific item you covered in your conversation shows that you listened and illustrates your attention to detail. Ex: "Your perspective on LinkedIn’s potential ad integration with Microsoft’s platform was fascinating." 3. Reiterate Your Enthusiasm Showing your interviewer that you want this role the most will always help your chances! Ex: "I’m very excited about this opportunity, looking forward to hearing more around next steps. If there’s anything I can provide from my end, don’t hesitate to ask!"

Take something that was impactful from your interview conversation and reiterate it in your thank you note… then expand on it. I’ve had some excellent examples of candidates sharing they researched whatever topic was discussed in an interview, and listed highlights from their findings. More often than not, a hiring manager will be excited to know a candidate listened to what was being discussed and took action to follow up on it.

Thank you notes are actually meant to be a genuine, authentic (word of the year!), thank you. Make them personal, and appreciative. Use it to express interest, but no need to rehash experience. That was what the actual interview was for.

-Express Appreciation for Their Time! -Summarize a Discussion Topic-"Your insights on integrating services in the new vertical got me excited for its potential impact. I truly enjoyed our discussion!" -Reaffirm Your Interest-"I am very interested in this role and taking the next steps. Should you require any additional information from my end, please feel free to ask!" -Highlight Relevant Skillsets-"From my [project/experience], I am confident that my proficiency in [Desired Skill] aligns seamlessly with the key responsibilities you are seeking for this role." -Further Clarification-"For any aspects needing clarification or more details about my experience in [area], feel free to reach out. I'm happy to provide any necessary information."

Here’s my simple and successful thank you letter exemple: “It was a pleasure meeting with you yesterday. Thank you for your time and for the information you offered about your company needs and future goals. Since our conversation, my enthusiasm for the (job title) position and my interest in working for (company) has increased. Based on my experience in (name 3 things relevant to the job you’re applying for), I am confident the role we discussed will be an excellent fit for me. Please let me know when we might be able to further discuss this opportunity and please feel free to contact me for any additional information.”

As much as everyone loves to get real mail, unfortunately, with the pace of the recruitment process, it is advised to always send an email nowadays and forgo the mailed thank you. An exception is if you can drop it by the office so it arrives next day, or send a thank you along with a treat for the office that arrives the next day.

- Salutation - Stated purpose of communication (e.g. "I wanted to follow up with you after our conversation . . . ) - General expression of gratitude (e.g. "Thank you for your time and consideration during the interview process.") - Specific expression(s) of gratitude (e.g. "I especially enjoyed our conversation about . . . ") - Call to action (e.g. "Please feel free to reach out if there are any follow-up questions.") - Farewell (e.g. "Have an excellent day!")

There are a few things you should keep in mind when writing this email: 1. Address the email to the person who interviewed you and ensure that you spell their name correctly. If they prefer to be called by a nickname, use that instead. If you interviewed multiple people, send each person a brief message. 2. Thank the person for their time and consideration. 3. Highlight or share a helpful hook to help them remember what you spoke about. This will show that you were engaged and interested. 4. Express your continued interest in the job opportunity. 5. Offer to answer any questions they may have. It's a good idea to take quick notes during the interview so you can refer back to them when writing your email.

Email is often preferred, especially if the recruiter(s) or interviewers are in different places! If this was a virtual interview, you may only have an email. Put your name in the Subject line - especially if your email address is something else. If you were interviewed in person, you could send a brief card/note thanking them, but if your handwriting is abysmal, I wouldn't!

Simple, Formal and Precise, do not get too emotional with all the gratitude around... understand this every possible opportunity of communication, you are making a point and that is Hire Me! :) So a thank you note in whatever format has to communicate that in the simplest and elegant way without coming across as someone who is overconfident.

Absolutely within 24 hours. Give yourself an hour or so, drive home, or get up from the computer and let the conversation percolate a while. THAT'S when you will probably remember something you wanted to say; a different answer to a question; an example of a solution.

Next Morning of the day of interview. First thing they should see in their inbox is a token of appreciation from you. Use the schedule feature to save time.

Interviews are about positioning yourself with the company to determine the best fit. My goal in any interview is to leave an impression that gives them something to chew on to remember me by. I use the thank you notes as another opportunity to bring me back into mind in later discussions. If you catch that you are the last interview of the day and they will be rediscussing in the morning, perhaps sending it at a time that allows it to be the first thing they see in their inbox will make the difference.

Candidates should send thank-you emails within an hour of their interview if they can. Keeping their names top of mind to their interviewers is important. While you want the email to be sent quickly do not forget to personalize it for each person you met with. Bonus: Do not forget any internal recruiters you met with either!

Send your note within 24 hours of the interview. Once you get outside of 24hrs, they have moved on to the next interview or req.

This followup has to be pleasant and not impatient! Although, it is tempting to say something like - I thought you said you were going to get back to me. Instead - thanks again for the interview. I was wondering if there was anything I could clarify or if there are any further steps that need to be accomplished.

Good morning (or other greeting) interviewer name, Wanting to confirm my notes correctly, the next steps in the process you had indicated were x and then y. I look forward to x and y if given the opportunity, if there is anything you need on my end to promote the next steps, please do not hesitate to reach out. Best, your name

This is a tricky one - do not rush, remember they are evaluating other candidates too... They would have given you a tentative time that they will get back to you and as the humor is around the world that HR does not get back to you:) then go with you gut feeling... there is no right answer to this... if you wait too much or too less. Just don't stalk the recruiter here :) be patient but not that too...

An emailed Thank You note will bump you to the top of their email list and, if they use an applicant tracking system, it will document this positive communication. Even if you don’t get hired for this position, it gives you a leg up if you are to apply with them again.

Another consideration is sending thank you notes to other employees who you may have met through the interview process. Did you do an in-person interview where you had the opportunity to chat with your potential future coworkers? Was there something that stood out in your interactions with them? Was there a super helpful security guard or receptionist? It is helpful to be intentional in looking for opportunities to thank individuals at all levels of an organization not just an interviewer. Sometimes those individuals will become a champion for you, however the most important part of this is being authentic in your gratitude.