For some reason, job candidates often over-think and over-analyze their post-interview follow-up strategy. Regardless of the type of interview (e.g., phone interview, panel interview, HR interview, etc.), a thank you letter is not optional. Skip this step at your own peril. A simple of rule of thumb…strive to send your thank you letter within 24 hours of the interview, as this will maximize its potential impact. As to the type of thank you letter, that really is a matter of preference. If you happen to know that the person you interviewed with has a preference or fondness for hand-written notes, then the debate is settled. Absent this first-hand knowledge–which is the most likely scenario–and you can choose from the following options: 1) Handwrite the letter or note and send by way of snail mail, 2) Type the letter and send by way of snail mail, or 3) Type the letter and send by way of e-mail as an attachment with the text pasted inside the body of the e-mail. My preference is option 3, as this allows me to stay top-of-mind with the interviewer. However, what matters most is that you write and send a thank you note. Remember to proof-read it multiple times to ensure your spelling and grammar are error-free. In addition, I would recommend having a friend or peer proof-read the letter for you.
In order to take this important step, you need to have the interviewer’s contact information. I strongly suggest that you ask the person you are interviewing with for his or her business card prior to commencement of the interview. Consider this step to be an important best practice. Usually, the interviewer will offer you his or her business card, as is proper business etiquette, but this does not always occur. This is something I do not only when I interview, but when I go on a sales call. You literally cannot follow-up without the person’s contact information. By asking for it up front, you no longer have to remember to ask for a business card at the end of the interview; which is when you are more likely to forget. For phone interviews, simply ask for the person’s contact information up-front so that you can follow-up with any questions you may have post-interview.
Referring back to conversation topics of interest or importance to the interviewer within your thank you letter is a good way to set yourself apart from the competition. If you discussed part of your work-folio (i.e., handouts that you can share with the interviewer that demonstrate your achievements, qualifications and/or credentials), then you may want to consider including a select piece from your work-folio as an enclosure. Remember, your primary goal is to make a positive first impression and make it to the next interview round. This crucial step will help you accomplish this goal.
Finally, be sure to inquire about next steps in the interview process along with the expected timeframe. The interviewer will communicate to you when they expect to inform candidates regarding next steps in the interview process. Take note of when you should expect to hear back from the company. If you do not hear back from the company within the timeframe quoted by the interviewer, then you have earned the right to follow-up with that person by phone or e-mail and inquire about the process and next steps. A word of caution is warranted. Do not, under any circumstances, contact the interviewer before the timeframe has expired. To do so demonstrates your inability to listen and follow simple instructions, not to mention impatience on your part. Do not give the interviewer a reason to screen you out of the running.
In my next posting, I will submit and share a sample thank you letter.
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