How to Write a Thank You Note After a Job Interview

Everything You Need to Know About Writing a Thank You Note After A Job Interview
 

You just got out of the interview and are feeling good. You’re thinking you did everything right. You:

• Dressed to impress
• Showed up on time (with copies of your resume)
• Met with multiple people at the company (built rapport with everyone)
• Grabbed everyone’s business card
• Expressed why you were qualified for the position, and WHY you wanted the position
• Anticipated, isolated, and overcame every objection they might have had regarding your ability to join the company
• Went for the close and asked about next steps in the process

After acing all of these steps, you’re thinking you have to be in the top 3 candidates they are considering…but truthfully your interview isn’t over yet. If you really want to show them you’re the candidate for the job, you need to do one more step.

You still need to send your thank you note after the job interview.

I cannot express how important it is to execute this step in the interview process.  According to a CareerBuilder survey, about 57% of job seeker’s don’t send thank you notes after an interview. Trust me, you don’t want to be in the percentile. Most hiring managers will think a candidate is not interested in the job, and nearly 22% are less likely to hire a candidate who does not send a thank you note.

Whether it’s an in-person interview, a phone interview, or even a skype interview, you need to send a thank you note.

Here are 5 things you need to consider when writing your thank you note after the interview.

1. First things first, send your thank you note within 24 hours. I recommend email. A formal, hand-written note is always a nice personal touch, but email is immediate. Just like in sales, time kills all deals, so make sure you are sending your thank you note within the 24 hour timeframe. If you think the interview went really well, that’s even more reason to send a thank you note emphasizing your interest and excitement. If you wait too long, a hiring manager may think you don’t want the opportunity.

{Free Template: How to Write a Thank You Note After a Job Interview}​

2. Second, send individual emails to everyone you met with during the interview. That includes HR, the Sales Manager, Marketing Manager, VP of Sales, and any Sales Reps you met with during the interview. Remember, each person took time out of their day to meet with you so you want tothank each individual for taking time to speak with you about the opportunity and company. Also, take the time to personalize each email. This will make you stand out and be memorable when the hiring team round tables to talk about candidates.

3. Third, recap the interview. This is the body of your thank you note. You want to talk about the key points you covered in the interview. Highlight why you think you’re a great fit for the role, what excites you about the opportunity, company, and team, and how you think you can make an impact at the company. Keep this recap concise. Be articulate, but don’t write an essay.
    
4. Fourth, go for the assumptive close. What I mean by that is set expectations around next steps. You want to show confidence and let them know you are serious about the opportunity. Let them know that you plan to follow-up. Rather than leave next steps up in the air, eliminate gray area. For instance, state that you will wait to hear from them by Thursday (as discussed in the interview), and if not, you will follow-up on Friday by phone and email. This gives you control, and also demonstrates your closing ability.

5. Fifth, USE SPELL CHECK. This is a must! There is nothing worse than reading an email full of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Take the time to proof read your thank you note, and then have someone else proof read it before you hit send. This is a professional email, so make sure it is free of errors.

{Related Article: How to Prepare for a Sales Job Interview}

Remember the thank you note, is your chance to close the interview. Take the time to send a thank you note. Sign off with your formal signature which can be “thank you,” “regards,” or “best wishes.” Include your name and contact information. Encourage them to reach out with any questions they may have in the meantime.

There you have it. Good luck and if you need assistance in your sales job search, connect with Treeline.