From the course: Writing a Resume

Use thank you notes to follow up

From the course: Writing a Resume

Use thank you notes to follow up

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- When was the last time you wrote a thank-you note? I don't mean the last time you typed a quick email of thanks. I mean a genuine, pen-on-paper thank-you note that you had to put a stamp on. If you can't remember when last you wrote one, there are hundreds of recruiters out there who can't remember the last time they received one, if ever. I did get flowers once. A candidate was so happy with her new job that she sent me flowers. Now, that's an excellent way to stand out. Of course I remember her, and I'll probably never forget her. But with advancements in technology, a handwritten thank-you note is almost as rare as flowers. So this is an excellent way to stand out as well as add any points you forgot. One of the reasons we don't send nearly as much mail as we used to is that it's slow. It's called snail mail for a reason. When you're trying to stand out and make a good impression, you don't want your note of thanks arriving long after the employer has already made a decision. So what do you do? A best practice is to write a quick and short email which thanks the interviewer for their time. An email within hours of the interview shows that you have an interest in the role and you're looking forward to next steps. But then follow that up immediately with a handwritten note. Snail mail isn't nearly as slow as it used to be. Often, if you mail something on Monday, it will arrive by Wednesday. Therefore, a savvy candidate will have the note prepared in advance. They will have the address written out and a stamp ready to go. Upon exiting the interview, as soon as you get to your car or a nearby coffee shop, write the note of thanks and mail it right then and there. If you interviewed with two people, they should each get a note, so bring extras. And if you interviewed with multiple people, you can mail individual notes to each person if warranted. You can choose to only send a thank-you note to the person with the decision-making power, or you can send one note and reference everyone in it. Sending a thank-you note does a few things. It puts your name and your interview back in the mind of the interviewer. It reminds the interviewer of your candidacy. It reiterates your interest in the position. It provides you with an opportunity to restate your qualifications, and it gives you an opportunity to mention something you may have forgotten or lets you answer a question you didn't handle well the first time. So few people bother to write a thank-you note at all that you're ahead of the pack if you stop after sending the initial email, but don't. Go the extra mile. Use the tips above and mail that note.

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