The Interview Went Well, Now What?
Monster Admin/Support Career Advisor
The thank you note is a necessary
tool for any job hunting strategy. But should you send it by email or snail
mail, handwritten or typed? In this fast-paced computer age, the question
baffles even the most sophisticated job hunters. Follow these guidelines to help
you through the maze.
Email Thank You
Notes How did the company initially contact you? If you have
always corresponded with them via email for setting up the interview and
answering questions, then by all means send an email thank you note as soon as
you return from an interview. However, make sure to follow it up with a typed
note to show that you are not Mr. or Ms. Casual. Email thank you notes have one
clear advantage over their snail mail counterpart: They can put your name in
front of the interviewer on the same day -- sometimes within hours -- of your
interview.
Snail Mail
If the company you interviewed with is formal and
traditional, use snail mail to send your thank you note. Should it be
handwritten or typed? Typed is standard. Not only will you show that you are
business-like, you'll also prove you know how to put together the salutation,
format a letter and sign off. Executives want to know their administrative
assistants can do this, since writing letters for your boss will be a big part
of your job.
Handwritten notes are appropriate if you'd like to extend
your thanks to others in the office who helped you out. For example, if a
receptionist, assistant, office manager, or other person involved with the
interviewing process was especially helpful -- say they took you to lunch or
guided you from office to office -- then a handwritten note is a nice gesture to
show your appreciation.
What to Say
More important is what you say and how you say it. A
standard thank you note should accomplish several things:
- Thank the person for the opportunity to interview with the company.
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- Recap some of the conversational highlights.
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- Clarify any information you needed to check on for the interviewer.
- And most importantly, plug your skills. Use the last paragraph as the chance
to state, "The job is a good fit for me because of XYZ, and my past experience
in XYZ."
Interviewers have short memories. A thank you note is
your final chance to stand apart from all of the others who want the same
position.