Did you send a thank you note after your last interview?
Susan Peppercorn, PCC
Executive Coach, Career Strategist & Facilitator: Working with Leaders to Develop New Levels of Insight and Leadership Capacity.
I was taken aback when I read Anne Occipiniti's LinkedIn post about how few thank you notes she had received after interviewing job candidates that I read it a second time, assuming I had made a mistake. I hadn't! Anne is the Assistant Dean for Professional Education at Harvard's School of Public Health and has many years of hiring experience.
“I have an easy suggestion for job hunters, said Anne. I interview a fair number of people - for jobs, for fellowships, etc. A post-interview thank you note can go a long way, and yet so many people don't send one. A well-written note sets you apart, reminds me of the highlights of our conversation, reassures me that you are still interested, and may even point out some other strengths of yours." Anne told me that she had been on search committees where they compared 'thank yous' and gave bonus points to the candidate who writes something a bit different in each one!
Thank you notes are such a simple way to make yourself stand out. Here's what you should include making them memorable:
- What did you learn about each person during the “small talk” portion of the conversation? Did you discover you had anything in common, such as a school you attended, a team you root for, or a hobby you enjoy?
- What about your qualifications were they most interested in or excited about?
- Were they skeptical about anything on your résumé? Did they seem concerned about a particular skill gap or type of experience you lacked?
- If something in particular about the job opportunity really resonated with you, include that detail in your message. It will make your overall note sound more enthusiastic.
- If you forget to mention something during the interview that could improve your chances of landing the job, include it in your interview thank-you note.
Your interview follow-up note is one of the many marketing tools you’ll use during the job search to sell your candidacy. When proofreading each thank-you, make sure the note is flawless.
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Consummate Communication, Conscientious Coordination, Congenial Collaboration, Commended Client/Customer Care
3 年Such a simple act that can keep an applicant in employer's mind, another opportunity to highlight key qualifications or ask intelligent questions, and just a nice touch to maintain the human connection since both parties are dealing with a large volume during their respective searches. Regardless of ghosting from some (many?) hiring managers, send a quick thank-you note to stand out.
Innovation Catalyst. Speaker. Author
3 年Great reminder Susan Peppercorn. Whether or not you send one, it’s always noticed.
AVP - Private Wealth - Global Investments - Client Relations
3 年This is indeed an eye opening article. Something which we either don't know about or never thought of bothering. Thanks for sharing.
Instructor and Assistant Dean at Harvard University
3 年Susan Peppercorn I love your additional tips that candidates can use to make themselves stand out. They help us all to improve the connections we make. Thanks for highlighting this!
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3 年You have make understand how important it is to send a thank you note Looking jforward to have the job Great job