Thank You Notes Promote Professionalism, Ability

Job interviews are like marketing campaigns; research shows the consumer (in this case the company) does not make a buying (hiring) decision until she has been exposed to the product (you) multiple times. By increasing the number of times the company decision makers interact with you, the more likely it will decide to pick you from the shelf.

Your cover letter, resume, and interview give you three chances to be seen by the company. A short note or email message thanking the interviewer for meeting with you may be your final chance to make an impression. It is estimated that only 20 percent of job seekers bother to send thank you notes. The other 80 percent are missing a great opportunity to sell themselves one final time before the decision is made. A well-written note can reinforce your strongest assets, serve as a “do over” on a clumsily handled interview question, and show you are excited at the prospect of working at the company, in addition to making your parents proud of your politeness.

Here’s how to use thank you notes to elevate yourself above the other applicants:

Remind the interviewer of a particularly insightful point you made. Many recruiters tell clients to write thank you notes in advance. Some even advise dropping them in the mailbox on your way home, or even leaving them with the receptionist on the way out the door! This is a mistake. Use thank you notes to reinforce a point that seemed to resonate with the interviewer; something like: “I am excited about the possibility of using the team-building course I created for a Fortune 500 Company to help ABC Corp. redesign its sales force training.”

Point the hiring manager to additional credentials. If you have an online portfolio, mention it in your thank you note. Highlight projects similar to those required by the new position. If you have received media accolades or company or industry awards, direct the decision makers to the story. This is much easier if you send the thank you via email, and can include a link.

Tailor the message and the medium to the company culture. This means email may be the preferred method if you are applying for an online media company, but a more formal letter probably will be the correct approach if the job is with a firm of estate lawyers. Consider the culture when crafting the message, as well. Hand-written may work when angling for an account manager position with a boutique ad agency; not so much if the position is for a membership director at a posh country club.

Thank you notes are not passé. They are both a way to extend and enlarge contact with the hiring organization and a way to demonstrate professionalism. By taking the time to thank the interviewer, you position yourself as someone who sincerely is interested in the position and is willing to invest resources to show yourself in the best possible light.

Ann Zaslow- Rethaber is President of International Search Consultants, a leader in Executive Search since 1999. Please reach out to ISC for any recruitment needs in the following 5 areas of focus: Sales, Financial Services, Healthcare (non-clinical), Higher Education, & Real Estate Acquisition & Development.

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You can reach the author directly at [email protected] or via phone at 888-866-7276.