The Perfect Thank You Letter Following an Interview

It’s over. The interview you stressed about went great, or maybe not. Either way, it’s over. You can take a deep breath now.

But is your part over? Do you just sit back and passively wait for the next steps??

Absolutely not. There is still work to be done to keep you a top candidate.?

What you’re going to want to do instead of sitting back is send a thank you letter to the talent acquisition specialist.?

What do you say? When do you send this letter? Where do you send a thank you letter?!?

Continue reading to find out the answers to these questions and more!

What is a Post-Interview Thank You Letter?

A post-interview thank you letter is exactly that. A letter you send after your interview to your interviewer or recruiter to thank them for their time and consideration.?

It is typically short, to the point, and is best practice to include something that is relevant to the interview.?

Did you bond with your interviewer over your similar dogs? Mention that! Was there something about the company that really caught your attention and made you want to join even more? Point that out in your thank you letter.?

Don’t rehash the entire conversation, though. Keep it simple.?

Why Should You Send a Thank You Letter?

It isn’t just a common courtesy anymore. It could mean the difference between you and another very strong candidate.?

Just check out some of these statistics from a recent Career Builder survey:

·???????More than one-in-five (22%) of hiring managers say they are less likely to hire a candidate if they don’t send a thank you note after the interview.?

·???????86% of hiring managers say a lack of thank you note shows a lack of follow through.

·???????Lastly, 56% say it sends the message the candidate isn’t serious about the opportunity if they don’t send a thank you letter.

As I mentioned earlier, it could be the deciding factor between you and another candidate, so it won’t hurt you to send one.?

When and Where Should you Send a Thank You Letter Following an Interview?

You should be sending the thank you letter within 24 hours following your interview.

How depends on personal preference and the kind of interview you had.

If it was a virtual interview or video interview, it will be best to send one by email.

If it was in person, you could prepare ahead and plan to leave a little thank you note at the front desk on your way out.?

But the standard today is just a quick email follow-up.

What Should You Say in a Thank You Letter?

What you say can vary, but for the most part you’ll want to follow a simple format.

1.?????Thank the person for their time to meet with you today or review your video interview.

2.?????Restate your excitement about the opportunity.

3.?????Remind them why you’re a solid candidate.

4.?????Ask about next steps and if there is anything else they need from you.

Example 1:

Dear Jared,

It was great meeting you today. Thank you for taking the time to explain more about the company and the role. It’s such an incredible opportunity and I’m grateful to be considered for the position.

I’m very interested in becoming the next corporate pilot for your company and believe my experience will be a valuable addition. You mentioned wanting to expand the program and add more pilots. I wanted to let you know I have experience with hiring and managing flight staff in addition to flying.?

Please let me know if you have any further questions. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Michael Steele

Example 2:

Dear Ms. Franklin,

I wanted to thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. Your company seems like such an amazing place to work, one I’d feel lucky to become a part of.

As an experienced creative art supervisor, I feel I have the skills you are looking for in your next director.??I’m also already proficient in the software your company uses, as we discussed, and I will be a quick study to get up to speed and improve operations.

Please let me know about your next steps at your earliest convenience. If you have any additional questions for me in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to call or email. Thank you, again, for your consideration and time. I look forward to hearing from you.

All the best,

Andrew Powers

Example 3:

Dear Mr. Dent,

It was great speaking with you today about being a possible new team member.?

I appreciate your transparency in the position and requirements of the person you want to fill the opportunity.?

It seems like an amazing and exciting challenge, and I am ready to rise to the occasion.?

If you have any questions or would like to continue our conversation, please reach out.

I look forward to staying in touch.

Truly,

Ivy Smith

Are you ready to start landing interviews so you can use some of these examples in your post-interview follow-up?

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