The JobSync Blog
The Thank-You Letter: Making an Impact
November 14, 2011
The thank-you letter after a job interview is one of the most neglected and underused components of a job search. By some estimates, as few as five percent of candidates overall send in a thank-you note. And the damage done by skipping this gesture shouldn’t be dismissed. According to one poll, nearly 15% of hiring managers say they would never hire someone who did not send a thank you letter after an interview.
The next biggest misstep is sending a thank-you letter that is forgettable and clichéd. Such letters often thank the hiring manager for their time and attempt to reinforce what a great match a person is for the company. Out of the relatively few thank-notes hiring managers receive, these letters are often disregarded because they've been seen before. While they may not hurt a candidate, they don’t necessarily help either.
Which is why candidates should take this unique opportunity to shine and stand out from their competition. One of the most important things you should do in a thank-you letter is highlight any achievements that were left out of your discussion. The question on every hiring manager’s mind is “What could this individual accomplish for our company?” The best way to help them answer that question is to tell them what you have achieved for your past employers. In addition, you should also clear up any concerns that were not properly addressed during the interview. Whether an employer is worried about your lack of experience or that you might not fit in at their company, use the thank-you note to reassure the hiring manager. Try and cite an example from your work history that addresses an interviewer’s issue or how your flexibility and attitude overcame a challenge at a previous company.
Your thank-you note should be no more than three concise and compelling paragraphs that express the additional points you want to get across. Anything long and tedious will leave an employer wondering why such information was not conveyed in the original interview. As time is often of the essence in hiring, submitting a thank-you note by email is perfectly acceptable in today’s digital age. In fact, it may even be preferable.
Gratitude shouldn’t be the only thing on your mind when sending a follow-up letter to an interviewer. So make that little note count. You’ll thank us later.
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