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The interview has ended and as you leave the room you have this gut
feeling that the job has your name written all over it. What do you
do now? (a) Wait, and hope you will be called with the good news.
(b) Act like the young college graduate who told me she did not
bother to send a thank you note because the lady’s business card did
not have her email address, or (c) Begin to formulate a thank you
letter reflecting on the key points discussed in the interview,
clarifying certain points and reiterating your interest in the
position. The savvy candidate would select (c).
Many people
believe that sending a thank you letter is tantamount to “kissing
up” or asking for special favours, but most recruiters and
interviewers have a positive impression of candidates who send a
thank you letter. They believe it is one way of distinguishing
yourself from the other qualified candidates and show the employer
why you should receive serious consideration. Here are some
additional reasons to send a thank you letter:
1.
It is an opportunity
for you to reconnect with the interview panel and reposition
yourself as the candidate they should choose.
2.
It shows professional courtesy; that you appreciate the
individual’s time and the fact you were chosen from so many other
candidates for the interview.
3.
It gives you another marketing opportunity; another
chance to reaffirm your interest in the position and highlight other
specific accomplishments as they relate to the job and were not
covered in the interview.
Do not write the letter just because you hear it’s a great idea to
do so. Instead, make sure to review two or three specific points
discussed during the interview, remind them of your successes in a
similar role, and state what contributions you will make within the
first couple of months on the job, if you are selected.
What if after the interview you realize you are no longer interested
in the position? A thank you letter is just as appropriate. In this
case, you will want to express your gratitude to the interviewer for
giving you a chance to learn more about the company, and then state
your reason for withdrawing from the process. It could be a case
where you have been offered a position with another company, or it
could be that after weighing the pros and cons, you decide to remain
where you are. Whatever the reason, you want to be as graceful as
possible and don’t burn any bridges.
While not every thank you letter results in a hiring, if
the interviewer had two equally qualified candidates and one person
took the time to write a thank you letter, this person stands a
better chance of being selected than someone who did not. So,
before you start dreaming of that corner office, mind your interview
manners by saying thanks and getting hired!
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WANT TO USE THIS
ARTICLE?
You can, as long
as you include this complete statement with it:
Daisy Wright is a
career transition coach, professional resume writer and author of
No Canadian Experience, Eh? A Career Survival Guide for New
Immigrants. She can be reached by phone at (905) 840-7039, by
email at
daisy@thewrightcareer.com. Visit her websites:
www.thewrightcareer.com and
www.nocanadianexperience-eh.com.
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