You wrap up an interview feeling like it went well and that your preparation and performance will pay off in the form of a follow-up interview or job offer. But you’re not done making your case just yet. Now it’s time to turn your focus to writing an attention-grabbing post-interview thank you note.
But how do you start it? What exactly should you say? Or not say?
Not to worry, we have you covered. The following tips can give you an edge over the many interviewees who underestimate the advantages of sending a timely and well-written job interview thank you note.
WHAT SHOULD YOUR JOB INTERVIEW THANK YOU NOTE SAY?
The post-interview thank you note conveys good etiquette, but it can also help you accomplish much more than just that if you think strategically. It’s your opportunity to recap why you are such an excellent fit for the role and what sets you apart as a candidate. You can also use the note to expand upon one of your top creative, marketing or tech skills or even briefly spotlight an additional selling point that wasn’t addressed during the interview due to timing (or your raw nerves).
In addition to covering the standard “thank you so much for your time” and “it was so great meeting you” formalities, reiterate your strong interest in the role, how excited you are to be considered, and touch upon at least one thing discussed in the interview. To help you with this, immediately after a job interview ends, always jot down the key learnings that most struck you. Making note of specifics will help you later when you go back to write the thank you note – or prepare for a follow-up interview.
Carefully proofread the note for any spelling errors or grammatical goofs. Also, read through it to make sure you captured everything you wanted to say. You might even ask a detail-oriented friend or family member to read it over. The bottom line: You wouldn’t want to miss out on an opportunity because of a spelling mistake or silly typo.
WHEN AND HOW SHOULD YOU SEND YOUR NOTE?
Make sure you have contact information for your interviewer so you know who and where to send the thank you note. Be mindful that timing is critical so aim to send it out within 24 hours of your job interview. Even if you send a message via email, you might also consider following up with a handwritten note as well. Snail-mail stands out these days.
Finally, remember that even if you have decided that you aren’t interested in the job, you still should send a post-interview thank you note. You simply never know when your path might cross again with this hiring manager.
When you’re competing for an in-demand creative, marketing or digital job, a well-written post-interview thank you note may just be the cherry on top that ultimately helps you land the role. It’s a small extra step that can be big dividends.
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This post was updated on July 5, 2022.
