Guidelines for Writing a Thank You Note After a Sales Interview

Thank You OR "No Thank You"

Dear Mr. Jones,

I am writing to thankyou for taking time out of your busy shedule to meet with me. I found our discussion about ACME's new Gizmo software to be very excirting, and I to believe in gizzmo's potential to be disrputive in the marketplace.

I understand from our discussion that you are looking for an agressive Sales guy that is not afraid to pick up the phone and make calls. I welcome the chance to further demonstrate that I am the right sales person for the job!

Thank you,

Jimmy

Can you find the typos in this note? You can bet that Mr. Jones will…

Sending a thank you note is general protocol after any interview. Not only is it a way to express your interest in a job opportunity, but a thank you note also exemplifies your ability to communicate effectively through your writing skills. As the internet continues to be a common tool of communication, it is imperative that companies hire individuals with effective writing skills. Would you hire Jimmy to represent your company?

Now more than ever, employers scrutinize every aspect of a potential hire. Remember, although the job market is getting better, there are still many candidates for companies to choose from.

Hiring Managers will look for any red flags or clues to alert them that a candidate could be a risky hire. The cost associated with a wrong hiring decision is quite significant for any organization. Therefore, the margin for error for any candidate is ZERO.

When writing a Thank You note, follow these guidelines:

• Send it within 24 hours of the interview. I recommend sending it in the form of an email.
• Keep it concise, but not generic. Put some thought into it. Write about 1 or 2 points discussed in the interview that really appeal to you about the job and company.
• Include 1 or 2 sentences about why you are a good fit for the role. Be specific.
• Express your confidence in your ability to be a successful member of their team.
• Sum it up with an assumptive closing statement, as well as a day and time that you will follow up.
• Use spell check. Every computer has it.

We have seen candidates on the verge of an offer have the offer rescinded because of grammar and spelling errors in their Thank You note. Unfortunately, careless mistakes often cost candidates the job; after going through a hard and tedious interview process it is a shame that the thank you note prevents them from moving forward.

And just a reminder, always have someone read your email before you hit that send button!