A big step that most people miss in the interview process is the thank you note. Yes, I’m sorry to say that I am going to make you write a thank you note. It is important that an interviewer know that you appreciate the time that it took for them to interview you.
Let me take a moment to show you an interview from the perspective of the interviewer. My job requires that I interview, among other things, and so I have the ability to see it from an employer’s perspective.
I have interviews scheduled for the class I teach, but that is not my main responsibility. I have to teach the class, prepare curriculum, talk with employers, follow up with graduates and generate more referrals to the class by giving presentations for other non-profit groups. Interviewing really isn’t on my radar most days, but it is something that needs to be done. Usually, I will be right in the middle of a project when the receptionist calls and tells me that an interview has arrived. I have to set aside my work, straighten up my office so it doesn’t look like the disaster area that it usually is and then set aside about thirty minutes to interview the prospective student. It’s not that I hate the interviews – I actually do enjoy meeting new students and welcoming them into our program, but these meetings do take time out of my day that I often needed for something else.
Keep in mind that when you go to interview at a business, the person who meets with you is probably in the same situation. They have a number of other responsibilities and they had to move their schedule around to accommodate your interview. Because of this, it is important that you acknowledge their effort. I have talked before about the importance of thanking the interviewer at the end of the interview, but now I want to encourage you to take it a step further.
A thank you note after an interview serves several purposes. It lets the interviewer know that you appreciate that they took the time to see you. It also shows that you realize that the interview took time out of their busy day. Of the biggest benefit to you, though, is that it gives you another opportunity to put your name and credentials in front of the interviewer one last time. Often if the company is wavering between two potential employees, a thank you not can tip the scales in your favor.
What do you say in your thank you note? Keep in mind that it does not have to be fancy, but it does need to be professional. I would recommend that you type your note and that put it in typical business format with your name and address, then their name and address. Make sure you know the name of the person who interviewed you so that you can address the letter to them. After that, just write a sincere thank you for their time and tell them that you are looking forward to hearing from them and to the possibility of working for their company. You might also mention your best skills again and how you think they will fit in to the company. Be sure that your spelling, grammar and punctuation are accurate. Get someone else to read over it to check for errors and to make sure the flow of your writing makes sense.
Mail your thank you letter on the day of the interview or on the next day at the very latest. This will keep you and your qualifications in the interviewer’s mind and he or she will also be impressed with your professionalism and courtesy.