Yahoo Finance Why you should always send a thank you note after an interview
So the interview has gone really well, you’re excited to hear back about your job prospects, but you’re unsure about whether to send a thank you letter.
According to Jessica Liebman, the executive managing director at Insider Inc., sending a thank you note is a prerequisite for getting the job. In fact, she won’t hire anyone who doesn’t send in a thank you note.
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While Indeed’s head of career insights, Jay Munro, thinks this attitude towards jobseekers isn’t helpful, he also agrees that sending in a thank you note is a no-brainer.
“What harm is there?” he said to Yahoo Finance.
“We all so many emails every day, it doesn't need to be an essay or something really long but it shows that … you're still here and it can be something that sets you apart because not all that many people do it.
“It’s a nice gesture.”
And, he added, it’s highly unlikely that a potential employer reject someone because they sent them a thank you email.
This is backed up by a study published in the journal, Psychological Science, by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Chicago which found that jobseekers were more likely to overestimate any potential ill-effects of a thank you note, and underestimate the positive effects.
“So I think, absolutely, why not.”
How to write a thank you letter after a job interview
According to HR and recruiting firm, Robert Half, the first step is to make sure that you get the names of everyone you’re talking to in an interview, and when you email, spell them correctly.
Then, say “thank you” to begin the email. You should start drafting your email within 48 hours of the interview to make sure you don’t appear disinterested.
It’s a good idea to then share references about something you got out of the interview, or share a piece of research or article that you may have discussed.
“It’s critical that the email doesn’t look like a copy-and-paste.”
A follow-up email is also a great place to restate your enthusiasm for the role, and emphasise why you’re perfect for it.
Now, proofread. Your spelling, punctuation and grammar should be perfect and professional - no matter how friendly the interview was.
“Draft your email, but don’t send it straight away. Take a break, do something else, and then come back and give it a final proof-read. One simple spelling mistake could cost you the job.”
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